Nourish - 26 Ways to Use Your Jar of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has suffered from quite a bad reputation in the past. Thankfully, however, that’s now changing due to many scientific studies revealing the true makeup of coconut and its wide array of health benefits.
Coconut oil boasts the following properties:
- antifungal
- antibacterial
- antiviral
Plus, it offers immune, hormone and healthy cholesterol supporting benefits too. Seriously though, this oil is one of the most versatile (and tastiest!) substances on the planet!
So with that being said, here’s a list of 26 ways to use your jar of coconut oil!
No. 1 – As a Cleanser
Perfect for light and deep cleansing and typically done in the evening prior to bed, coconut oil makes an amazing cleanser.
Massage a fingertips worth of the oil onto a damp face to cleanse your skin and wash off with a hot facecloth for an amazing clean feel.
For a deep cleanse, do the above procedure but massage into your face for up to 3 minutes. Soak your washcloth in clean, hot water, rinse and hold over your face to gently steam your pores to release the oil carrying the impurities. Allow it to stay until it cools.
If you suffer from acne, you’ll be pleased to know that coconut oil contains lauric acid that works as an antibacterial agent to help with breakouts and clear up your skin.
No. 2 – Make-up Remover
Coconut oil is a totally natural make-up remover and works wonderfully – even on waterproof mascara!
Just dab some oil on a cotton ball or reusable makeup wipe and gently wipe your make-up off. Alternatively, do the cleansing method as above.
No. 3 – Make a Body Scrub
Mix coconut oil with an equal amount of coconut sugar (or regular sugar) until you get a thick paste to create an exfoliating scrub. Your skin is going to feel super smooth and smell insanely delicious!
No. 4 – All Over Moisturizer from Head to Toe
Coconut is a great moisturiser for your face and all the way to your toes. It has amazing moisturizing properties so works wonders for anyone with dry or cracked skin. It’s also full of natural antioxidant properties making it great for banishing wrinkles and soothing skin irritation.
No. 5 – Oil Pulling
Coconut oil has both anti-microbial and antifungal properties, making it perfect for killing off harmful bacteria in your mouth.
Swishing your mouth with this oil helps remove toxins from your system as you pull the oil through your teeth and gums. Toxins get drawn into the oil, so when you spit out the oil, you spit out the toxins.
Starting with just 5 minutes once a day (in the morning before food), and over a couple of weeks building up to 20 minutes a day, slosh 1 tbsp coconut oil around in your mouth and spit out. DO NOT SWALLOW!
Learn more here from my previous blog on Oil Pulling.
No. 6 – Lighten Age Spots
Coconut oil may help to lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin.
No. 7 – Use as Massage Oil
Coconut oil works wonderfully as a massage oil. Plus you have the option of adding a couple of drops of a favourite essential oil to make delicious smelling, skin-loving massage oil.
No. 8 – Lip Balm
Use as a moisturizing natural lip balm for dry or chapped lips. (Also helps with cold sores thanks to its antimicrobial/antiviral/antibacterial properties!)
No. 9 – Dry and Cracked Feet
Coconut oil mixed with salt and rubbed into feet helps to remove and moisturize dry skin on your feet. Additionally, you can the massage more oil into your feet afterwards and put on a pair of thick socks to hydrate your dry skin while you sleep. When you wake up in the morning, your feet should feel soft and smooth.
No. 10 – Dry Flaky Elbows
Rub into elbows daily to help alleviate dry, flaky elbows.
No. 11 – Overnight Hair Conditioner
Get dazzlingly shiny and nourished hair by using coconut oil as a deep conditioning hair treatment. Rub a small amount of the oil into the ends of your hair (and on your scalp too if you have dandruff). Put your hair in a loose bun and wash out the next morning. (You may need to shampoo 2-3 x)
No. 12 – Remove Head Lice
Rinse the hair with apple cider vinegar, then comb using a fine lice comb. Dry hair and then apply coconut oil, leave on for 12 to 24 hours. Wash the comb thoroughly, then comb through again and wash hair with shampoo.
No. 13 – Natural Nipple Cream
During the first few weeks of nursing, nipples can become cracked and inflamed. Try making your own homemade nipple cream here at Just Making Noise.
No. 14 – Avoiding Pregnancy Stretch Marks
A must-have for pregnant women who need to be especially careful about what they put on their skin. Coconut oil provides nourishment and hydration to the skin, and it works well for belly skin that is stretching.
Regularly applied, this oil is a must-have to help with preventing stretch marks.
No. 15 – Coconut Oil and Honey Facemask
I love a good facemask evening, don’t you?
Coconut is a great ingredient for the skin as it removes dirt, grime and makeup from your face, whilst moisturizing and keeping bacteria at bay. Combining honey and coconut together will create a brightening mask with all the antimicrobial powers of honey with all the moisturising cleansing properties of coconut oil for shiny, glowing skin.
Simply mix Use 1 Tablespoon coconut oil, 2 teaspoons honey, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
If facemasks are your jam, check out this post:
No. 16 – To Soothe Insect Bites
Apply coconut oil to mosquito bites, ant bites, and other small insect bites to help alleviate that infuriating itching.
No. 17 – For Eczema and Psoriasis
When applied topically on the affected skin, coconut oil penetrates the skin to moisturize and help soothe the itching from eczema and psoriasis.
It’s also good to take coconut oil internally as it has both anti-inflammatory qualities internally and externally.
No. 18 – Cradle Cap
To get rid of cradle cap on your baby just massage some coconut oil into the head, leave on for a few minutes and gently rinse with a warm washcloth.
No. 19 – On Toast
Looking for an alternative to butter on your toast? Try coconut oil! It’s also amazing on scones, crumpets and my favourite, hot cross buns!
No. 20 – In Smoothies
Add 1 teaspoon or up to 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to your daily smoothie to obtain all the health benefits of coconut oil in a sip. You’ll keep yourself full for longer, plus you’ll even help to boost your metabolism. (Remember, the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are easily digested and converted to energy rather than stored like other fats.)
When used with green smoothies, you’ll absorb more nutrients by adding coconut oil, especially fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin K from your greens!
No. 21 – Replace Unstable Cooking Oil
Coconut oil is very heat-stable, meaning it’s very slow to oxidize when cooked with therefore it won’t produce free radicals during the heating process. This makes it a great oil for cooking anything at a high temperature. Oils like sunflower are much less stable and prone to oxidising. Opt for coconut instead, and use your less stable oils for salad dressings instead.
No. 22 – Roasting Veggies
Swap out your regular oil for coconut oil to get all the advantages of medium-chain triglycerides found in coconut oil. I love using this oil over sweet potatoes to make sweet potato chips mmmm… but you can use it when roasting regular potatoes or root veggies.
No. 23 – In Baking
Try swapping out butter in your baked goods for coconut oil. A 1:1 substitution usually works.
Coconut is a staple ingredient in raw baking that creates delicious creamy cakes and slices, chocolates and more. Give these chocolate caramel bars from Deliciously Ella a go!
No. 24 – Make Your Own Raw Chocolate
You can make your own raw organic chocolate with it and it’s to die for! There are many many recipes, but for starters, try Food Matters 3 Ingredient Chocolate Recipe here.
Try out this recipe from our recipe archive:
No. 25 – Make your Own Granola
Use coconut oil in homemade granola recipes like this one from our 4 Delicious Chocolate Treats Blog.
No. 26 – In Coffee or Tea
Melt a teaspoon or so of coconut oil in your tea or coffee as an easy way to work this oil into your diet. I love it in Turmeric lattes and green tea to keep me going if I’m having a busy day.
It’s also useful to help speed recovery from a cold or flu thanks to its antimicrobial properties.
MCTs are also well known for their ability to contribute to focus and mental performance, so by adding some coconut oil to a drink in the morning, you may just help improve your mental performance all day!
It’s also worth adding that this oil can be used to alleviate constipation by helping to soften and ease the movement of the stool.
For anyone struggling in this area, adding coconut oil to your meals or beverages could really help. Coconut oil also contains medium-chain triglycerides, which boost your metabolism to stimulate bowel movements.
(Please note, most causes of constipation result from dehydration, lack of fibre-rich foods in the diet and stress, so please address these points and don’t just rely on coconut oil.)
– Emily Nöth
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*Please note that while we are knowledgeable about our products and nutrition, this blog should never be a substitute for medical advice and attention
Please remember that you should always obtain the all-clear from your doctor before starting any new supplement plan or diet if you’re on any medication.
