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I’ve always been a fan of using natural products, such as Argan oil and sweet almond oil and a few weeks’ ago, I added virgin coconut oil to my oil “store”.

The smell of coconut-enhanced products has always hooked me in; whether they are hair products, sun-screen lotions or bath products, if they smell of coconuts, then I’ll be using them! I guess the fragrance is reminiscent of hot, sunny holidays and lazy days. Either way, I have them in abundance. Finding out that coconuts are also extremely good for your health just put them further up the scale!

I was researching coconut oil and its benefits when I came across a great book by the leading authority on the subject, Bruce Fife. Having bought the book, I was amazed to find out exactly how beneficial virgin coconut oil can be, in so many ways!

I’ve bought and tested a couple of brands of coconut oil, both pressed and fractionated and these are my two favourites to date:

The smell from the Barleans jar when the lid is removed reminds me of summer holidays on the beach …. coconut-scented suntan lotions ….. mmmm

There are plenty of different brands of coconut oil around, it’s simply a matter of personal choice. I prefer organic and virgin oils and I’ve found Barleans and Naissance to be perfect for my needs. Fractionated oil (the runny oil) doesn’t have much of a coconutty smell but leaves your skin luxuriously smooth and silky when massaged in. It’s great for your hands and nails and also as a facial moisturiser. You only need a very small amount which will disappear into your skin, leaving it soft and hydrated without any stickiness at all. I’ve also found that if you rub it in sufficiently, it won’t leave any marks on your clothing or bedding.

Following the advice in Bruce Fife’s book, I began eating virgin coconut oil on a daily basis, both neat from a spoon and also as a cooking oil and adding it to various dishes.
You might not know it but adding virgin coconut oil to your diet is one of the most valuable things you can do to help you lose weight and also improve your overall health and your immune system.

Coconut oil can also help control food cravings and the essential fatty acids the oil contains are great for your general well-being. If yoo’ve never used coconut oil in your cooking, try using it instead of vegetable oils. Many people like to eat coconut oil neat but start off slowly – if you’ve never used coconut oil before, begin with just a single teaspoon a day and slowly work up to three tablespoons per day. This will help your body slowly adjust to all the beneficial effects of the oil. Make sure you use only organic and unrefined extra virgin coconut oil.

Although coconut oil is actually a fat, it can help promote weight loss. The reason for this is due to the healthy medium chain fatty acids contained in the oil. These fatty acids don’t circulate in the bloodsteam like other fats in our body but go directly to the liver, where they’re immediately converted into energy, exactly like carbohydrates. In this way, the body uses the fat in coconut oil to produce energy rather than be stored as body fat.

It’s early days yet as to whether my health will improve, but I have noticed that my skin has been clearing itself out, detoxing if you will, by a few days of spots and blemishes suddenly appearing (not a wonderful thing at my age!!)and my face is definitely softer and smoother.

Coconut oil’s been used as a beauty aid for hundreds of years, and once you’ve tried it yourself, you’ll see why it’s such a good choice. Here are some of the more popular uses:

• Use pure virgin coconut oil as a moisturizer for both your face and body. Simply scoop the oil out of the jar and apply it all over your body, paying attention to any dry areas. If you prefer, you can use fractionated oil (the runny oil) which is easier to apply to your face
• Try mixing some virgin coconut oil with sugar to make a body scrub. Rub over your skin then rinse off with warm water to leave your skin silky soft and smooth
• Apply some oil under your eyes to help reduce puffiness, bags and wrinkles. Use on your eyelids before going to bed to nourish the delicate skin whilst you sleep
• Coconut oil is a great hair conditioner. Apply a teaspoon of oil to the ends of your hair, then run your fingers through your hair to distribute the rest evenly. If you want a deeper treatment, rub a tablespoon of oil onto your dry scalp and then gently work through to the ends.
• Coconut oil makes a great lip balm – simply rub a little onto your lips to keep them soft and smooth
• Coconut oil on a cotton ball makes a great natural cleanser and make-up remover

Organic coconut oil also has restorative and medicinal qualities, which you can easily try yourself.It’s been used for centuries and has many benefits, including helping maintain your cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity and aiding digestion. It can also aid with relief from kidney problems, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and improving bone strength.

Coconut oil contains lauric, capric and caprylic acids – the body converts lauric acid into a substance called monolaurin, which is said to help with fighting viruses and bacteria-causing diseases, such as influenza and herpes.

Coconut Oil Is:

· Anti-inflammatory
· Antimicrobial
· Antifungal
· Antiviral

When applied to any scrapes and cuts, the oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust and bacteria. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues.

If you’d like to find out more about the healing qualities of virgin coconut oil, take a look at Health Impact’s comprehensive list or check out the book I mentioned earlier, by Bruce Fife (see above)

I’ll post on here with my thoughts as I continue to use coconut oil over the coming weeks …..