Why I Love Coconut Oil

A couple of years ago, I read about the nourishing qualities of extra-virgin coconut oil and bought my first small jar from a health food store. Now I'm buying 54-ounce jars and using it for several things, from cooking and baking to skin care. Just this week, I used it to make hard lotion bars and peanut butter oatmeal cookies. It does have a slight coconut flavor, so it is best for baking, although some people use it for cooking eggs and pan-frying. We also like to add a spoonful of coconut oil to our oatmeal, along with honey and cinnamon.

As far as skin care, you can use it straight from the jar for dry skin or as a massage oil or you can mix it with other natural ingredients to make things like diaper rash cream, hair conditioner, lip balm, toothpaste, and deodorant. There is also reason to believe that it can be used to treat some medical and nutritional issues, such as yeast infections and hypothyroidism.

"One of the good fats that comprises about 50% of coconut oil, is lauric acid. Lauric acid is a rare medium-chain fatty acid found in mother’s milk that supports healthy metabolism and is now being studied for its anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial health-protecting properties." - Nutiva.com

And it's not just good for humans. It has multiple benefits for dogs also. I plan on giving Ruben, our mini doxie, a very small amount each day to see if it helps with his scratching. He had fleas last summer and, although they are gone, he has continued to scratch like his skin is dry.

Tip: You can use Amazon's Subscribe & Save to get a two-pack of 54-ounce jars of Nutiva EVCO for a great price. If you don't need that much, order with a friend.


Update 4/29/11: Get a 54 oz. jar of Nutive EVCO at Vitacost for less than $22!

Disclaimer: I am not a medical expert, nor do I suggest believing everything you read on the internet.  Please be responsible and do your own research. This is not a sponsored post, I just happen to use Nutiva. The links are Amazon affiliate links, though.