Coconut Oil Benefits, Side Effects and Reviews

I see a lot of people still preaching sun avoidance. If you will only think about it, you will realize nothing could be more unnatural than avoiding the sun. The most important thing is to moisturize with a good plant based oil. I use EVOO, and though it takes considerably longer than more popular oils to absorb, once absorbed it does a much better job healing. Conventional wisdom says there is no such thing as a protective base tan. Reality shows there is.You do need to build up slowly, but a half hour a day of full body exposure is really quite minimal, and will pay benefits in terms of natural Vitamin D production. Don't hide from the sun, you will make yourself sick. Use moderation, and moisturize, and you will be much happier and healthier.

I've had Coconut Oil sitting around my house and only used it for cooking. I heard it was a great alternative to Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils. But since reading about the health benefits from Coconut Oil on this website, I thought it would be good to try for my depression and lack of energy I feel mainly in the mornings. Sometimes, I just cannot move or do anything! I ate a tablespoon and managed not to gag from the texture or lack of taste. Within a HALF-HOUR, I went from not wanting to be around and lethargic to INSTANT ENERGY! I was doing chores, showering, moving about and realizing that the Coconut Oil helped me start my day. It felt like I drank two cups of coffee! Throughout the day, my heart was beating pretty heavy so I will try taking half a tablespoon in the upcoming days. This is a WONDER FOOD!

While the word cure is a very final type of word, I would like to say that Coconut oil has been a welcome remedy in my life for the HIV virus. More and more information is becoming available about how the monolaurin and lauric acid in organic virgin coconut oil does its work to literally kill lipid-coated viruses such as HIV. I have been taking VCO off and on and have seen my viral load of 1100 (when 1st diagnosed) digress to 570 6 months later. I will be having another test shortly. My doctor said it was unusual for the virus to digress without medication, letting it not progress is one thing, to have it go backwards is another. Coconut oil remedies so many other ailments too, my skin feels amazing and its the only thing I use on my skin. You shouldn't put on your skin something you wouldn't ingest. Your skin is your biggest organ. I am a loyal user of this product and grateful to hear it endorsed by people like Gary Null.

I have suffered from fever blisters (herpes simplex) on my lips for many years. I read that VCO reduces viral loads in the body so I gave it a try. Have had spectacular results (better than lysine) and no more outbreaks for 9 months. Regarding some of the negative feedback, I was shocked to read of the problems people have had with VCO - I guess because my experience has been so positive. My suggestion is to add some butter along with the VCO. Not sure why this works but it also works to stop repeat when taking fish oil.

I also buy my VCO from Vitacost and through Amazon in which I can get some great deals! Yes, it does come in plastic, havent found it in glass yet but I use it after I shower, in all my cooking and have made desserts using VCO instead of the "oil" that was called for. I get compliments on my skin all the time and my son loves to snuggle up to me smelling like a coconut. I wont use anything else to cook with or slather with!

I wrote earlier about my experience with eight years of un-diagnosed herpes. Since then, I've been experimenting with it, and I've got complete control over it--I can make myself completely symptom-free, or cause an outbreak within 30 minutes.

THE CURES: Coconut. Yep, another vote for that one. I recently discovered Thai food, and they put coconut milk in just about everything. Taking special care to eat Tom Kha Gai (Food of the gods!) or Thai curry dishes several times a week, I've discovered that I have no need for my previous supplement: Gigartina Red Marine Algae, 1000mg (4 capsules) per day. And it's a lot more fun! To be fair, though, the Red Marine Algae works just as well.

If I want to cause an outbreak within an hour, all I have to do is not eat any coconut products for a few days, and then have a Diet Red Bull. Chock full of both Aspartame and arginine, if your doctor needs you to have an outbreak for testing purposes, this will do the trick. Drinking two of these per day sent me to the emergency room with horrible sores, and was how I discovered I had herpes. Other energy drinks (containing arginine) kept me having sores for the next few months until I realized the connection.

re: Mite Infestation -- I, too, like others have suffered similar ailments--intense itching and red, swollen bites on upper part of body for three years, and until recently, my face. I am of African descent and my skin does not heal well, after any kind of bruising. When the redness and itching finally go away, I'm left with lots of black spots. Needless to say, it leaves me quite depressed and I'm not able to wear short sleeves, shorts or go to the beach (due to eczema on the lower part of my body). Well, I though it was bedmites or dustmites and replaced my mattress and linens and even wash these in hot water, ammonia and borax every couple of days. But almost every morning when I wake up, I find more red bumps.

Well, much thanks for Earthclinic!!! After reading many testimonials on different skin issues, I purchased ACV to neutralize my body's acidity and Organic Coconut Oil for eczema, etc. I was still getting my usual number of bites and tried 3% Hydrogen Peroxide for the itching; it helped for a couple of hours. Just by chance, I read about the lady who had tried Pond's face cream with the intent to "suffocate" the mites and I reasoned that coconut oil has such tremendous healing properties--bacterial/viral/fungual; this just might work. So, I put some on all over my face, chest and arms where I had bites and voila! The itching subsided within several minutes and by the end of the next day, the swelling and redness was 97% gone and I still have NO more itching!!! (I've also been taking the coconut oil internally but not diligently as I should be.)

I'm so ecstatic to share this with others and hope that you would have as much success as I did.

P.S. Ted, can you share any light on this. Also, since using ACV and baking soda, my eczema has flared up. I'm now trying baking soda only. (I also suffer from chronic BV).

LOVING this site. In my late thirties and sick and tired of all the products THAT DON'T WORK. Looking for a nautural way to help me stay young and fit. decided to use coconut oil unrefined to moisturize hair and had great results. Started to use it on my skin and after day one i'm impressed. I will start to ingest in a cup of tea in the morning because of all the benefits i'm hearing about. will update next week. Also so much hype about apple cider Vin. that I'm going to try it to cleanse hair, reduce pores, and ingest with honey to see what everybody is raving about. Keep you posted. comments are welcome.

Wow! I just read this cure [oil pulling] for the first time and decided to try it with my organic coconut oil. I still can't believe it but the chronic sensitivity I had in two of my teeth is gone! It's hard to tell which teeth were hurting! And my teeth feel different.

I have been taking virgin coconut oil for eight months now because I read it will help regulate my thyroid.I am hyper-thyroid and have been on medication for the past four years.Last month I stopped my meds.because I was told my thyroid is in remission now.I believe the oil is what helped me.

In the Philippines, studies have shown that coconut oil can cure HIV. Test subjects were given at least 12 tablespoon of coconut oil a day, and and after 6 months, HIV have been cured. I had no time to confirm this report but the story had been featured several times in radio and tv programs.

Coconut Oil cured my IBS and Bowel Distention. It was a little tough getting used to the taste tried all sorts of ways to get used to it but I actually don't mind it in my morning coffee. It has also made my skin very soft and my nails are growing like crazy. I will keep this one in my diet I feel so much more energy and it has only been a week!

My daughter came home with lice, and a friend told me to use some coconut oil overnight to suffocate the lice and the nits. I had no trouble getting the nits out, and there didn't seem to be any bugs when I combed through her hair. The only problem I had was getting the coconut oil out of her hair. I used the coconut oil conditioner, which I think is different than liquid coconut oil, but it worked so well I had to share the tip.

I began using Coconut Oil as I heard it helps you lose weight and can lower your BP. My blood pressure has always been erratic, sometimes it will be as low as 117/70 or as high as 150/95. I exercise regularly, eat right, don't smoke, but still cannot get my BP under control. I started taking 1 tablespoon of the oil in the morning and at night. I noticed my BP was leveling off - but I also found I was gaining weight. I am not sure if it was due to the coconut oil, or if it was coincidental, but I put on 12 pounds! I stopped taking the coconut oil. I just purchased a bottle of organic Apple Cider Vinegar and hope this will aid in lowering my BP and get the 12 pounds off.

I have used it all over & here's what I do - I keep some in a rubbermaid container (with the top on) that I toss into he tub while I shower. The heat makes it melty, so then I just pour it onto my palm afterwards & slather it everywhere. I also use it on my hair like a hot oil treatment before a shampoo.

For internal use: I soften it & pour it into those little candy molds & chill it, then eat them. My dog comes running when she hears me getting it out so she can have her VCO. (I saw a recipe here that mixes it with cocoa & honey) In the summer I use it before sun exposure - and gently tan without peeling.

You should only buy the Virgin Coconut Oils like Nutiva. If you're going to bother doing it, use the one that will give you the most benefits and have best quality.

http://nutiva.com/products/10_coconut.php find it on Amazon, Swanson, Vitacost etc.

I used Coconut oil as a hair conditioner to treat dry damaged hair. I use all natural hair care products from a wellness company I work for and the shampoo really dries my hair out pretty bad and the conditioner doesn't work at all, so I needed a natural hair conditioner and this worked awesome.

Re: How to take coconut oil -

I swallow a spoonful as if it were a pill. Down the hatch and there you go!

Also last night as my cat was sitting on the ledge over the sink- I dipped the spoon in the jar and put a little on it to see if he liked it. He ate it right up-so this morning I gave him some more. I'm hoping it helps his coat with all the scratching he does, as he does have fleas. I also have flea traps plugged in 24/7 all year round and it keeps them at bay...

Hi Deedee - from one Mainah to another, coconut oil is great. I'm happy to hear of its success for you and your husband (and your cat! ).

I used two drops of grapefruit seed extract in about three tablespoons of water for a facial wash. I guess I put too much G.S.E. in not-enough water because my face was burned by it....my skin was dry, dry, dry for almost two weeks....coconut oil helped tremendously. It's great for so many uses! I <3 it.

Dear Rebel,

You ask some good questions. I agree that there is not a one size fits all solution to health problems. I find it fascinating that here at EC, different people respond differently to the same things. It is one of the beauties of EC; lots of people sharing a variety of experiences and options.

The “what to eat” issue is huge. There are so many options, so many opinions. And I don't think there is just one answer. I think different diets are appropriate at different times. Even nature tells us this. For example, a baby cow drinks cow milk, exclusively. As an adult, she eats grass. (Well, cows are fed lots of things, but her natural diet is grass.) Baby humans do best on human milk for many months. Sick or convalescing people need gentle diets. Sedentary people need less food than those who are active.

I don't think there could be a “perfect” human diet. Human beings live all over the globe in different climates with all sorts of different availability of food. Different cultures have different values, beliefs, etc that affect what they eat. My understanding is that people living near the North Pole would eat things like seal and blubber. They won't have much availability for fresh fruits and vegetables, but still the culture lives on. And living in that climate people will need the extra fat to stay warm. The ladies there probably won't look like Barbie, but Barbie would freeze to death living there. I get nervous when I hear about the perfect diet “X.” It is often expensive and not available to many people. I don't think good health is only available to the wealthy who have internet access. If I have to get all of my food online to get the ““best, ” that makes no sense to me. Until recently, it was normal for people to live on local food. So I think a variety of diets will sustain a variety of peoples quite nicely. Sally Fallon's book, Nourishing Traditions has oodles of fascinating stories of people eating an unprocessed local diet. It seems to work out quite nicely for them.

Regarding fats, I agree that processed oils are not healthy. Olive oil is a food that has been used for food and healing for thousands of years. I think it is tried and true. Having seen coconut oil heal my son of mono a few years ago was pretty convincing to me of its health benefits. Should people be taking large amounts of it daily? Well, I am not sure. Most cultures did not have access to that until recently. So, when I consider what local options for fat I would have, it might be possum or raccoon fat. Oh, dear. I am not ready to go there! :)

I think sometimes our problems come in with eating mostly processed foods, eating too much food, getting too little exercise activity. I don't mean at all to imply that anyone with a weight problem or health problem is a lazy glutton. Not at all. It is much more complex than that. Chemicals from a variety of sources (foods, cleaning supplies, vaccines, mercury fillings etc…) can affect our health in a bad way. Overprescription of modern drugs is also affecting health poorly.

But I am not a purist in my food choices. I like to cook and eat healthy and like to use natural medicines. But for me there is a balance in that and being able to enjoy life. While eating potato chips on the couch in front of TV is not usually relational, often meals are a relational activity. To be unable to enjoy a meal prepared by someone else for you because of the fear of its contents will affect relationships. I am not suggesting celiacs eat gluten, nor diabetics sugar but the pursuit of a perfect diet tends can make some people obsessive and fearful, which isn't fun or healthy. I know because I have been there.

I do think food choices affect health. But I also think activity level, attitude and environment and lots of other things affect your health a lot too. Just my very wordy two cents! :)

~Mama to Many~