Coconut oil: Have you tried this miracle product yet?

Do you use coconut oil, for cooking or anything else?

I must admit I didn’t, until a baby boomer girlfriend came to stay for the weekend recently.

“Do you have any coconut oil?” she asked me. “No,” I said, “but I’ve got heaps of other types of oils and creams.”

She looked back at me with raised eyebrows.

“Don’t you know how good coconut oil is?” she said. “It’s the latest in thing.”

It turned out you could use coconut oil for a myriad of uses. It seemed the only limit was your imagination.

You can use it as an oil in cooking and it is great as a dairy-free substitute for butter.

But that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Here are just a few of the multitudes of uses for coconut oil:

1. On the skin as a basic lotion
2. As an eye-makeup remover
3. To lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin
4. As a delicious tropical massage oil
5. Mixed with equal parts sugar for a smoothing body scrub
6. Rubbed on lips as a natural chap stick
7. As an incredibly intensive natural conditioner
8. In natural homemade sunscreen
9. As a replacement for vegetable oils in any recipe or in cooking
10. Can help reduce appearance of varicose veins
11. As a natural personal lubricant that won’t disturb vaginal flora
12. It’s anti-inflammatory properties can help lessen arthritis
13. Can help speed weight loss when consumed daily
14. Can help improve sleep when taken daily
15. To dilute essential oils for use on skin
16. A tablespoon melted into a cup of warm tea can help sooth a sore throat
17. It has been shown to increase absorption of calcium and magnesium
18. Some evidence shows that the beneficial fats in coconut oil can help with depression and anxiety
19. Many use it as an anti-aging facial moisturizer
20. In a salve for cracked heels
21. Rub into elbows daily to help alleviate dry, flaky elbows

via Wellness Mama

It seems coconut oil can go far beyond what one would assume though. The only question is what will you use it for?

Do you use coconut oil, if so what for? Are there any other “secret weapons” you swear by for cooking or around the home?