I ran out of moisturizer the other day. The combination of living in an arid climate coupled with my love of hot showers means I am pretty susceptible to dry, itchy skin. So I’m pretty religious about applying lotion as soon as I’m done showering, usually before I even step out of the shower. I had remembered reading that coconut oil could work as a moisturizer so I ran to my cabinet, pulled out the jar, and brought it to the bathroom.
It was fabulous.
I took a small amount (coconut oil at room temperature is semi solid, kind of like candle wax in the beginning stages of being warmed) and rubbed it on my legs. It goes on easily, absorbs very quickly, almost locking the moisture on your skin and dries within moments. My skin was soft, not itchy and best of all, smelled like pina colada.
Coconut oil gets a bad rap because it’s high in saturated fat. But here’s the thing. It’s comprised of medium chain fatty acids as opposed to long chain fatty acids which are rotten for the body. MCFAs are more easily digestible plus they help lower cholesterol, provide instant energy, fight heart disease and speeds up your metabolism. There are a great deal of potential health benefits from ingesting some of the oil as well.
• Kills bacteria and parasites like tape worm and liver flukes
• Eases acid reflux, aids in proper bowel function
• Heals and relieves intestinal problems
• Strengthens the liver and protects against degeneration
• Reduces joint and muscle inflammation
In addition to making your insides all sorts of great, coconut oil can also be used in a myriad of different ways. There is a great blog post that lists 122 different uses for coconut oil. Some I’ve tried, some I find simply curious. Here is a sampling:
- swishing coconut oil helps detoxify your system and reduce congestion
- make up remover
- eye cream
- helps get gum out of your hair
- treat lice
- eases canker sores and promotes healing
- helps bad dog breath
- soothes bees stings
- helps ear infections (putting a few drops in at the first sign of infection)
So what are some ways to start using this marvelous oil? Well, you can rub it in as I have or try putting some into your morning smoothie, spreading it on toast, using it to prep your pans before baking, or use it instead of vegetable oil in cooking. You could also simply swallow some. The benefits of coconut oil appear to be without limits. And personally, I rather enjoy smelling like pina colada. It makes imaging yourself relaxed on a beach at the end of a busy day much, much easier.
To continue the conversation, I offer a free health consultation. You can find me at www.roslynwellness.com; courtneye@roslynwellness.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roslynwellness and on Twitter @courtneyabrams
