My Name is Hannah and I'm Addicted to Coconut Oil

 

Sometimes I write on commission. 

This simply means that someone sends me an email or a Facebook message and says, "Hey, will you write a post about ..."

Then I bow low from the waist and say gravely, "I am, dear madam, your humble servant."

So, a couple peoples wanted to know what might inspire me to order vast quantities of coconut oil. In truth, there are all sorts of reasons to consume coconut oil -- here's one list. In short, it's anti-viral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antidisestablishmentarianistic. 

Well, OK. Maybe not ALL of those things. 

It's also laden with medium-chain fatty acids -- the kind of fat that gives you energy instead of floating to rest on your hips. 

And now, without further ado, my personal enumerations of just how I use a bucket of pure tropical goodness:

1. Put it in fruit smoothies (Note: If you want your oil to actually taste coconutty, buy the unrefined stuff. Refined -- which is cheaper but not as tasty or nutritious -- is best in stir fries or anything that has no business tasting like your dream trip to Hawaii.)

2. Make this raw fudge, and eat embarrassing quantities thereof. 

3. Stick a spoon into it. Stick the spoon in your mouth. Swallow. Repeat. (Remember, it's antibacterial!)

4. Make your own deodorant. I add a couple drops of lavender essential oil. This works better than any "natural" deodorant I've tried, (by "it works," I mean that I don't sweat excessively and haven't lost any friends or spouses) and it contains none of that yucky aluminum stuff. 

5. Rub it on your face at night. (I've read it can be comedogenic, but I haven't found it to be particularly so.)

6. Bake it into quick breads, pancakes, cookies ... anything on the sweeter side. You haven't lived until you've eaten banana bread made with coconut oil. 

7. Use it as lip balm. 

8. Tame the hair frizzies with a teeny amount. 

And for many more uses, check out these links: 

A Millionish Uses for Coconut Oil - CrunchyBetty

The Wonders of Coconut Oil - Simple Organic

P.S. Coconut oil  is so expensive at the health food store, you'd think it was made by tiny leprechauns. I recommend buying it in bulk online -- preferably by the gallon, or, if you have similarly afflicted friends, by the five-gallon, at Mountain Rose Herbs. VitaCost carries slightly smaller quantities if you're not quite ready to spring for the gallon. 

Hope that helps! I'd love to hear from other coco-nutty fans out there.