Coconut oil is truly one of the best things to have in your home. It is natural, safe, and extremely versatile. It can replace so many other products in your home and is safe for people of all ages. It is not only beneficial for our skin, but is great in recipes and for oral health. It is known for it’s antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. These properties carry over to our dogs too, which is why I always keep a big Costco size tub on hand. In this post, we will go over 30 ways you can regularly use coconut oil.
Skin Health
If you have a skin related issue, coconut oil can easily be your go-to. Here are 10 ways you can use it to support your skin.
- Apply to scalp to help minimize dandruff
- Use to clean off eye-makeup
- Apply to dry skin and skin irritations
- Use to dilute essential oils before applying to the skin
- Use to moisturize dry lips/hands
- Apply after shaving your legs
- Natural and safe lubricant for sex
- Use on scrapes and cuts to help prevent infection
- Can relieve burns
- Use for diaper rashes
In the Kitchen
Coconut oil can be heated to high temperatures, making it great for frying. You can get really creative with it in the kitchen and use it for all kinds of recipes. Below are a few of my favorite ways to use it.
- Make popcorn with it
- Melt dark chocolate in it for a healthy chocolate drizzle
- Fry donuts in it
- Cook sweet potatoes in it
- Use in cookie recipes to replace butter
- Use in granola recipes
- Use to sauté onions and garlic
- Stir in to hot oatmeal
- Add to smoothie recipes
- Use in a carrot salad
Oral Health
Coconut oil is extremely beneficial when it comes to our oral health. The best way to use it is to “oil pull”. This is when you swish the oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes to help cleanse the mouth and reduce bacteria and plaque on your teeth. Coconut oil is antibacterial, so it can help to prevent bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay. The more regularly you oil pull, the more beneficial it will be. It can also help to reduce inflammation in the gums.
- Oil Pulling
Dog/Pet Health
Most of my research about coconut oil for pets mainly had to do with dogs. My guess is that the benefits for other animals would be similar, but take the time to do your own research. This oil is a superfood for dogs! It is composed of mainly saturated fats and is known for its antimicrobial properties. Just as it can be used to combat harmful viruses and bacteria in humans, it can do the same for dogs. It also helps to maintain healthy skin and bones in dogs. It is easy to apply coconut oil on them topically or let them eat it. My dogs love when I add a spoonful on top of their dog food.
- Gives the dogs energy
- Promotes healthy skin and fur
- Can help alleviate allergic reactions
- Healthy for their brain function
- Helps their teeth to stay clean
- Can disinfect cuts and wounds and sore pads
- Can repel fleas and ticks
Other Random Uses for Coconut Oil
- Use to shine furniture
- Helps to remove residue from hard to get off stickers
I typically buy my coconut oil from Costco. If you do not have a Costco card, I recommend buying a bigger tub that will last, like this one. You can also purchase an MCT oil, like this one, that makes it easy to add in smoothies or on a raw carrot salad. I would prioritize buying organic coconut oil when you can. Once you get in the rhythm of using it, you will see just how amazing and versatile it is. It is so nice when a safe and natural product can be used for so many different things within our homes, even on our babies.
If you would like to learn a simple product swap idea each month to work toward a more holistic lifestyle, subscribe to my newsletter below. Thanks so much for reading this post!
Leave a Reply