The paleo thing hasn’t taken off in Maxabellaland the way I thought it would so I had a massive jar of coconut oil in the pantry just waiting to do something.
There are apparently lots and lots of somethings my coconut oil could be doing. About a year ago I did a post for Kidspot that rounded up a whole heap of them and I thought I’d try out my favourite ten and report back here. There’s so much hype surrounding coconut oil that I wanted to see if the stuff actually did any of the things it claimed.
Now, I reckon you could probably use olive oil or even regular canola oil for all of these uses if you can’t get your hands on a jar of the coconut variety. Back in the eighties I’m pretty sure olive oil was a revered as coconut oil is today. And canola oil is only just getting started…
1. Oil pulling
Not quite the strangest use for coconut oil out there, but certainly up there, oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing coconut oil around in your mouth for about 20 minutes a day. Apparently the oil absorbs toxins held in the salivary glands, turning it viscous and white in the mouth. Sound yummy? Among loads of other things, oil pulling is said to detoxify your body, whiten teeth, prevent insomnia, reduce arthritis inflammation and reduce the severity of migraines. Surely worth a try even for the benefits of doing nothing for 20 minutes but mindful swishing?
Really, it’s not. I was so bored and the oil became so icky as it mixed with my saliva/toxins that it made me vom a little bit in my mouth. So effectively I was just swishing vomit around. I didn’t make the 20 minutes, but then, I’m not very good at mindfulness in general. It’s a bit boring.
2. Condition your hair
Use coconut oil as a leave-in mask prior to washing your hair. Apply about a tablespoon of oil and massage well into the hair and scalp. Leave to work for at least 10 minutes (longer if you can), before washing as normal.
When I tried this, my hair was definitely softer and less fluffy, but you have to remember that I’m coming off a baseline of ‘nothing’. If you have a regular hair-care routine, I’d love you to try it and let me know if you noticed a difference.
3. Scrub your teeth clean
I doubt we’ll be giving up the Colgate anytime soon, but when we gave this one a go it really did feel like our teeth looked super-clean and shiny. The kids hated it.
You add coconut oil to bicarbonate of soda to make a thick paste, scoop some up with your toothbrush and shine those teeth back to white. When you think about it, you could combine this with your 20 minutes of oil pulling and your teeth would be all mega-white and well-rested.
4. Scare away the head lice
This one actually does work, but I can’t confirm whether it works any better than the condition and comb method, which we have also used with success. Let’s face it, with nits, it’s all about the combing.
If you want to try it, you’ll need coconut oil and apple cider vinegar. Drench the hair well in the apple cider vinegar, don’t rinse out and allow to dry (this apparently dissolves the ‘glue’ that binds the nits to the hair). Once dry, apply a generous helping of coconut oil and massage through the whole head and scalp. Leave for as long as you can (the longer the better, overnight is ideal, although my kids weren’t having none of dat). Comb through with a nit comb as usual and then shampoo and condition the hair. You will need to shampoo twice to get rid of the oil, but your child’s hair will be beautifully soft and shiny and, best of all, nit free (at least until next week, right?).
5. Fight smelly feet
If you (or someone else, of course) are plagued with stinky feet, rubbing coconut oil into your feet morning and night will apparently keep them fresh and odourless. I tried this one and while I can’t attest to a reduction in foot odour, my smelly feet have been lovely and soft, which makes them seem a tiny bit more attractive. I keep this up at night but I stopped doing it in the morning because, you know, slippery feet syndrome.
6. Condition your skin
I got Bart to slather me up in coconut oil as a mask for face and body – good times, people, good times. For the less adventurous, you can apply a small amount and massage into the skin, focusing on needy areas like knees, elbows and the back of your hands and neck. Leave for at least 10 minutes before washing with your regular cleanser. This makes skin baby soft and smooth, but I have dry skin so I’m not sure what the oil would do to oiler skin. Anyone want to try it?
7. Remove make up
Dab a little coconut oil onto a cotton pad and wipe off your makeup. It even works on waterproof mascara and dark lipstick and it’s a great solution if you have a young daughter who likes to plaster her face in her mother’s make up (looking at you, Badoo).I rinsed my face with warm water after using the oil and then I needed to kind of ‘towel dry’ my face because it was pretty sheeny. This is one that any oil works just as well for (I tried olive, canola, baby and macadamia, just for you), although olive oil feels a lot more like you are prepping your face to cook a meal on…
8. Tame the frizz
This is what I wrote for Kidspot: “Slick a little coconut oil on flyaway ends and frizzy curls. The oil tames the frizz and adds a nice shine.” Again, my dry hair loves a little oil treatment, but be cautious if you have oilier hair! When it comes to hair, the line between “oil shine” and “greasy” is a very fine line indeed. I think I crossed it.
9. Substitute for eggs in cooking
This worked really well in a batch of apple muffins we made, but not so well when we made scrambled eggs for brekkie last Sunday (boom, tish). Instructions for how much and when are on Hope’s Kitchen, a gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free (but obviously not hope-free) food blog.
10. Make Paleotastic food
Coconut oil appers to be an essential ingredient for Paleotastic living. Here are some recipes that my family have given the thumbs up:
- Chocolate, banana and zucchini muffins {my own put-together-from-many recipe and already a classic in the lunchbox}
- Poo slice {this is only what I call it in my head – it is actually DELICIOUS and I made a version with a squeeze of lemon juice instead of the rosewater and it tasted like pineapple Snack bar… result!)
- Chicken fajitas {you can use gluten-free as suggested, but everyday wraps worked just as well}
- Soy and honey chicken with coconut brown rice {super-yummy super-fiddly recipe that I will not be making again}
- Pumpkin coconut pancakes {we made these with many ingredient modifications!}
- Grain-free protein bars {loved these bars and if you use seeds instead of nuts they are good for lunches}
So, for me that was a big 9 out of 10 for the coconut oil remedies, with only the oil pulling being a complete write off. My conclusion is that buying coconut oil in bulk is not such a bad thing, even if you miss butter after only one or two Paleotastic weeks.
Do you slick up with the coconut oil? What’s your favourite way to use it? !!!
{Image source: Thomas Lefebvre via Unsplash}
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Kelly Exeter says
Agh I tried the oil pulling once and I didn’t get past the first minute! The taste was too overpowering. My favourite use for coconut oil is on roast veggies – just makes them taste so nice!
Amy @ Mrs Smyth says
Kelly I have recently become a convert to the ways of coconut oil – I have also discovered that there is a difference in the types of coconut oil. I am a refined coconut oil person, LESS SMELL AND TASTE (thank god). Then there’s cold pressed and blah blah blah blah zzzzzz…. But refined. Yes. 🙂
Zoe Meunier says
Wow, 20 mins is a loooong time to be swishing any kind of substance in your mouth, even if it tastes delicious! The most I’ve done is use any excess to rub into my cuticles or apply as lip balm, read those somewhere… Probably you’re original post!
shannon @my2morrows says
Very interested to read this and thanks for being our official tester. I love this stuff and keep a jar in the pantry for cooking/smoothies and a separate one in the bathroom for moisturiser and popping a bit in the kids bath. I love it as a moisturiser. It absorbs and seriously feels like the softness lasts days. I felt like the oil pulling made my teeth feel cleaner but there’s no way I can do more than several minutes! Definitely going to give the bicarb/coconut oil toothpaste thing a Crack now! Xx
Helen K says
Oh good – looking for some way to use up the coconut oil after a bad experience with sugar free chocolate mousse (none of us could cope with it) and a salted chocolate kale cake (don’t ask). The recipes look good – plus Kelly’s idea with the vegies, so I’ll give them ago. Now with some ideas to use up the rice syrup …
Maxabella says
But, but, but I HAVE to ask: salted chocolate kale cake… you really went for it, didn’t you!?! x
meegan says
OK I am super glad you did this for all of us! All in the name of research! Woohoo!
On the oil pulling… That FREAKS me completely out!
While I like using coconut oil to roast my veges, and in cooking various things, and on my hair.. but the mouth swishing thing for so long?! Weird! Just too weird!
Will try it on my tootsies next 🙂
Megs x
Maxabella says
I tried it last night with the vegies and it was really yummy! x
Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life says
I grew up in India where coconut oil was used frequently. I can attest it’s good for the hair and skin but we were taught that it’s bad for cooking food in. And then recently I hear about all the health benefits. I’m still sceptical and use it sparingly in cooking but love it for my skin and occasionally my hair (I have oily hair but I used to leave it overnight once a month and wash it off).
I’d never heard of oil pulling…sounds gross!
Maxabella says
That’s really interesting that it wasn’t used for cooking. I wonder if it was a ‘saturated fat’ thing or something else… x
peregrinationgourmande says
I used it to make a homemade scrub and that was great. Especially the nice smell. But I don’t use it in my kitchen yet. I have to try… Not very comon in France…xx cathy
Erin says
When I bother to take care of my skin (oh you poor dry nose) I just rub coconut oil on my face and leave.
I really should do regularly as it truly makes my skin softer and look younger.
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says
Just quietly, I used to coat myself in coconut oil, and lie in the sun for hours!! Only in the dark ages would this be a thing to do. Remember the original Puberty Blues? That was my guide……eeek!!
I think I’ll stick to using it in cooking and hair treatments, both excellent uses x
Kathy says
I’ve used coconut oil in baking but not much else. I might try oil pulling (which I’ve heard of but am sort of a bit grossed out by it). I would like white teeth though. Thanks for the recipe collection.
Life With The Crew says
I do a lot of baking with it – subbing it for half the butter required. i also use it on my hair – I’ve now been “no ‘poo” for about 3 months and a little REALLY does go a long way. (Speaking from a week of greasy experience.)
Nicole - Champagne and Chips says
I’m not paleo at all (as evidenced by all my ice cream pics on Instagram) but I quite like to cook with it. I use it in muffiny things quite regularly. Also, it makes THE BEST fried eggs.
I’ve often wondered about oil pulling… But then I don’t think I could stay silent for 20 minutes and might accidentally inhale the stuff, requiring CPR – not very peaceful 😉
Sonia from Sonia Styling says
Coconut oil is such a lovely body lotion… but I like the sound of the husband apply it even better – hello!
Maxabella says
Heeeeeello!
Amy @ Handbagmafia says
There’s bugger all evidence for oil pulling if that makes you feel better! 🙂
Maxabella says
In all honesty, nothing NOTHING could make me feel better after 20 minutes of oil pulling. Bleh! 🙂
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid says
You totally took one for the team especially with the oil pulling. I sometimes use it in cooking but not nearly as much as I should and I keep promising myself to buy a jar for the bathroom to use as a moisturiser but I keep forgetting. id I’m interested to know if you smelt like a bounty bar when you used it as a skin conditioner, because if you did, I’d better not try it. I’d probably end up trying to eat myself!
Bronnie - Maid In Australia says
I have used coconut oil for pulling – that sounds rude doesn’t it? In my mouth, I mean. Oops, still in trouble. Anyway, it does make sense and it makes my mouth feel lovely and clean. But I’m with you. 20 minutes is just a bit gross and first thing in the morning I usually feel a bit dodgy, and it can make me sick. Plus, if the kids are around, I need to be barking orders, not swilling oil. I tried doing it in the middle of the day when I thought of it, but I’m not sure if it has the same effect. My daughter and I have also used coconut oil for our hair, but although it conditions beautifully, it is then difficult to remove … leaving the hair looking greasy and lifeless. So I’m not sold. I do like the taste of coconut oil in certain recipes, and I’ll continue to swill when I remember. The moisturising sounds a good tip and we also put it in the bath when our skin is itchy and dry in winter or after too much swimming in summer.
Karin @ Calm to Conniption says
I tried oil pulling but it was so gross I may have only made it to one minute, definitely not two. I love coconut oil on my roast veggies.
Holly says
I have tried all of these at one time or another but, call me lazy, now I use ewg.com to source non-toxic beauty products instead and I don’t have a problem with using eggs in my cooking! I patted myself on the back for trying but it was too messy and too much like hard work I think. That is not a very fashionable view though!