Coconut oil speeds up metabolism, boosts the immune system, and has many other benefits. Here are 10 ways to add coconut oil into your diet and daily life.
You’ve read how amazing coconut oil is…
You know it could potentially speed up the metabolism, boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, kill fungi, yeast and bacteria, improve calcium and magnesium absorption and support the development of strong bones and teeth. You may also know that there’s evidence that coconut oil could potentially improve digestion and bowel function, support thyroid function, help to prevent wrinkles and sagging skin, and can improve the look and health of your hair.
How do I add coconut oil into my diet?
This is a question I get asked quite often. So I decided to list a few different ways you can add coconut oil into your diet and how to use to replace your personal care products.
1. Cooking With Coconut Oil
This is the most common way people use coconut oil. Use coconut oil in all your cooking. Replace your other cooking oils (like canola, corn or all purpose vegetable oils, which are toxic) with virgin or expeller pressed coconut oil. You can also bake with coconut oil too! If you check out my recipes page, you will see that I use coconut oil in almost all my baking! Find quality coconut oil here.
2. Add Coconut Oil To Smoothies, Yogurt, Soups and Hot Drinks
Aside from cooking, you can add coconut oil into your smoothies, coffee or tea, yogurt and homemade bone broth. Just make sure to gently melt your coconut oil and slowly pour and stir it into your smoothies and yogurt. This will help the coconut oil from clumping in your cold goodies! The coconut oil will melt when added to hot drinks or soups.
3. Make Coconut Oil Candy
Coconut oil candy is by far the most yummy way to enjoy coconut oil! Its also a great way to get your kids to eat coconut oil too! My favorite coconut oil candy recipe is my Coconut Oil Chocolate Bars!
4. Use Coconut Oil As A Moisturizer
This is one of my favorite ways to use coconut oil! Your skin will be super soft and smooth from using coconut oil. I’ve exclusively used virgin coconut oil as a moisturizer for my daughter from the day she was born! No need to purchase lotions, which can have toxic ingredients! Also, did you know that what you put on your skin can absorbs straight into your blood stream? If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put in on your skin! Coconut oil can also be used in place of diaper rash cream! My daughter has had 3-4 diaper rashes and every time she’s had one I applied Virgin Coconut Oil to the rash and within 24 hours the rash was gone! My whipped coconut oil moisturizer recipe is super easy to make.
5. Brush Your Teeth With Coconut Oil
This may sound odd to some of you, but coconut oil works great for cleaning your mouth and teeth. Remember, coconut oil kills bacteria! Mix coconut oil with sea salt and baking soda and use like you would toothpaste. If you don’t want to exclusively use coconut oil for brushing your teeth you can use it after or before brushing your teeth too. I rub coconut oil on my toothbrush then add my toothpaste and brush my teeth. I do this for my daughter as well! You can also make homemade coconut oil toothpaste with clay, baking soda and coconut oil.
6. Deodorant
You can use coconut oil as a deodorant! You can also make a homemade deodorant made with coconut oil. (That link goes to my personal recipe!)
7. Coconut Bath Oil & Salt Scrub
Add a teaspoon of coconut oil to your bath and use as you would any bath oil or make a salt scrub using coconut oil, salt and essential oils. I made some this week and my family loves it! We used real sea salt, as it is the only salt I use, but you can use any salt.
8. Coconut Oil Hair Treatment
You are missing out if you haven’t coconut oil for hair! Use a tablespoon of Virgin Coconut Oil and massage your hair and scalp. Leave it in for at least an hour, then wash hair. This can be done 1-3 times a week. The coconut oil will nourish your scalp and hair and will help your scalp from drying and your hair from breaking.
9. Drink Coconut Milk
Enjoy a glass of raw homemade coconut milk! When you make homemade coconut milk you will see and taste the coconut oil in the milk. The coconut oil will bead up in fresh cold coconut milk (making it easy to extract and use if you want to). Use fresh coconut milk as a beverage, in smoothies, baking (can be used in place of milk in some recipes), and in soups!
10. Oil Pulling
From Coconut Research Center, “Some people think I’m crazy when I tell them that oil pulling can help those with asthma, allergies, chronic fatigue, diabetes, migraine headaches, PMS, and chronic skin problems. Oil pulling works by detoxifying or cleansing the body. In this way, disease promoting toxins are removed, thus allowing the body to heal itself. As a consequence, health problems of all types improve.” To oil pull, all you have to do is use Virgin Coconut Oil like mouthwash. Swoosh for 15-20 minutes a day. Read more about Oil Pulling here.
