Coconut oil for Dry Hair

You can use coconut oil as a deep conditioner.  It can be used prior to shampooing, or as an overnight conditioner.  I've found it works best to apply it to dry hair.

• Take a tablespoon or two of coconut oil (depending on how long your hair is) into your hands and rub together to melt it.  
• Rub your hands in your hair all the length of your hair.  
• Massage into scalp as well.    
• Leave on at least 15 minutes before shampooing.  
• If you are using it as an overnight conditioner, put a shower cap on your hair to protect your pillow.                      
• Shampoo out in the morning.  
• Enjoy your shiny, healthy hair!!  

There are lots of articles on how great coconut oil specifically, is the best oil for dry hair!

Another way to apply it if you are going to take a bath with coconut oil in it is to just dip your hair in the water and squeeze the excess water out.

COCONUT MANNA

I got Coconut Manna from Nutiva, and it's delish!!! Think peanut butter, but from coconut.  They take the whole flesh of the coconut and grind it up into a smooth paste.  It has all of the coconut oil, fiber, and flesh you want. I've had it on toast and in my hot chocolate.  Others recommend putting it in smoothies! Definitely on my "to do" list!!

https://store.nutiva.com/coconut-manna/ FREE SHIPPING on orders over $30!!!

SKIN...

 I've been struggling with my complexion for the past 5 years.  It's not something I'm happy about, it's all over my chin! I've tried many, many, many things and spent many, many, many, hours researching what others have tried.  This is what I've come up wiht that seems to work for me. I take MSM daily (5000 mg in the morning and if I'm really broken out, again in the evening).  I also use my NitroFx (truly AMAZING stuff)!!  The two together seem to be really good. 

Topically I like to use Zinc Oxide during the day.  It helps to dry any weeping and is white, so it reduces any redness.  It's a great barrier and moisturizer at the same time.  My teenaged son loves this stuff.  It really hides the blemishes.

(I use Clearasil Vanishing Cream or Zapzyt during the day if I really need some drying power.)

I also recently discovered Cetaphil face wash and lotion.  I can't say enough.  I wash with apricot scrub every morning and follow up with Cetaphil wash.  GOOD STUFF!  If I use the lotion, it's after I've put Zapzyt and or zinc oxide on.  I let those soak in and about ten minutes later I smooth it all out with the Cetaphil Lotion.

At night I need to moisturize to help heal my skin.  I love my coconut oil (of course); but I often use Palmer's Cocoa Butter (in the tub).   I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!!!

Coconut Butter

So, I've found that there's a product called coconut butter that includes the flesh of the coconut and the oil that naturally occurs.  The problem is, I can't find where to buy it.  I can find it online and that may be the route I go, but I really would like to try it right now!! Looks so yummy!!

Tell me if you've found it in a store...and I'll let you know when I get some and how it tastes!

This is the brand that I see most often on the internet. http://www.premierorganics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=35

I just can't get enough!!

I am finding more and more info on Coconut oil.  I'm replacing all of my oils with Coconut oil and Olive oil (although, I'm favoring the coconut oil).  Found this on Nutiva's website :


Coconut oil is about 50 percent lauric acid, 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. Overall, coconut oil contains 92% saturated fats, and only 1% Omega-6, the fat Americans get way too much of.


Now, why wouldn't I use this stuff?!


My favorite info on coconut oil...


In the 1940s, farmers tried dishing up coconut oil to fatten their animals but instead discovered that it made them lean and more active. Those who use coconut oil consistently for several weeks often report an increase in energy, better sleep patterns, an improved sense of well-being, and weight loss a low-carb diet is important to follow, but adding coconut oil has made the difference in the weight coming off and staying off.

Why Is Coconut Oil Effective? Simply explained, most oils from animal and vegetable sources are composed primarily of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), whereas coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). This means that the fatty acids in coconut oil are not packaged into lipoproteins and do not circulate in the bloodstream like other fats, but instead are sent directly to the liver where they are immediately burned up and converted into energy. It¹s like adding kindling to a fire, rather than a big, damp log.

Coconut oil yields fewer calories than any other oil because of the MCFAs, unlike the LCFAs in vegetable oils, which tend to get stored as fat. MCFAs actually speed up metabolism so we can more efficiently burn the calories we eat.

Coconut oil is also shown to enhance thyroid function. This in turn stimulates the conversion of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol into the anti-aging hormones pregneonolone, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These valuable hormones not only aid in weight management, but also in preventing heart disease, senility, and other degenerative diseases. It is believed that coconut oil helps convert thyroid hormone T3 to T4, a big bonus for the thousands of people who have sluggish thyroid function that causes weight gain and inhibits weight loss.

Lactose Intolerance

My two youngest children have suffered from lactose intolerance. They both were a result of being on antibiotics. Our first experience was with Aidan. He went on an amoxicillin twice before there was any problem. At the time, we had no idea what had caused the problems. He was having chronic diarrhea, so runny that he leaked through all of the diapers onto every outfit. This went on daily for weeks. We took a trip and packed every item of clothing he owned, and he managed to soak every single one. It was miserable. We were at Disneyland, so I ran to the nearest Walmart and spent quite some time reading all of the formulas. Knowing that soy had given our older child horrible diarrhea, I didn't want to necessarily go that route. I stumbled onto Lactose-free Enfamil. It said on the label that it was for gassiness and diarrhea. We tried it and it helped. He never had apple juice, nor any fruit juice. He didn't have fruit baby food other than applesauce (which actually works as a regulator for moisture in the intestines). I started putting Culturelle in his bottle everyday. I can slide the capsule open and pour the powder in. It's the strongest probiotic I could find, 10 billion cells per capsule. Now I've found a stronger one, 20 billion live cells per capsule. It's a generic for Culturelle that Walgreens carries. It's called Super Probiotic. It works great by replenishing the good bacteria in your intestines.

When you take an antibiotic, it can't tell good from bad, it just kills everything. So, if you go on an antibiotic, you should always then go on a probiotic to replenish the good. You may know of it as the good bacteria in yogurt. Unfortunately, our yogurt has so much sugar in it, that it doesn't work as well anymore. Also, the killing of all of the bacteria when on an antibiotic, is what allows yeast to take over...thus the reason kids get thrush after going on an antibiotic.

I've read recently that beans producing gas in the intestines actually grow probiotics in your own body! I love when we can find the benefits of eating healthier!

It took about a year or two of limiting milk and then slowly introducing a local dairy milk, Winder Farms, into his diet before he recovered completely from his lactose intolerance. Knowing all of this, we were much better prepared for our youngest to battle this same problem. In his diet, we also included lactose intolerance tablets which are lactase. The lactase is what helps to eat and digest the lactose. The lactase is what gets wiped out with the diarrhea when on an antibiotic. I'm not against antibiotics, but I am all for taking care of putting back some good bacteria after the medicine takes care of the bad! Interestingly enough, I think my baby's eczema is related to his lactose intolerance! Anyway, I also feed him coconut oil and coconut milk in his foods. I think this is helping. He loves the coconut oil on toast. I also put a spoonful in his bath everyday. It makes his skin so soft and smooth.

We did the whole rice milk thing with him, but I worried about the lack of protein and fat in it. We now have him on Winder Farms milk. I believe the healthy fats and oils in the coconut oil help with his dry skin! We've cut out too many good fats in our diets and are now suffering from so many issues like mood problems, depression, and skin issues like eczema. That's my opinion anyway!

Please, let me know what you think and what has worked for you.

P.S. I would also like to note that we tried everything from rice cereal to bananas to gas-x to mylanta to benadryl...nothing would stop the diarrhea. I found out through this trial that some of the rice cereals and crackers for babies and for adults have lactose in them as a sweetener. Interesting!

Love the ease of Microwave popcorn, but not the cost?

This is my new favorite gadget! It's a Nordic Ware Crystal View Microwave Popcorn Popper. I can use my beloved coconut oil and kernels to make popcorn in my microwave. I bought mine at Target for about $9, but Walmart typically carries it also. You can use the same bowl for nacho cheese and chili and more.

I put a few tablespoons of coconut oil in the bowl, warm it in the microwave until the oil melts, pour in 1/2 cup of kernels and then microwave with the lid on for 2 minutes. You'll need to play a little to find out the right length of time in your own microwave. Enjoy!

I tried the West Bend brand Stir Crazy popper, but wasn't impressed. I had to tip it upside down to get the popcorn out and the oil would drip down the side. I didn't think this was a great option for my children.

Coconut Oil~ antifungal, antibacterial, anti-influenza, instant energy, anti-sugar cravings

My newest favorite thing is Coconut Oil! I love this stuff. It does so many things for you. It's gotten such a bad reputation over that last few years(or maybe longer, I don't know); but it's really awesome stuff!

I've started using it in everything. I use it instead of butter on my toast in the morning. It tastes delicious sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. I use it to grease my pans. It totally cleaned my square pan, that I love, that had horrible build up from using Pam and olive oil for years. I used it in my brownies instead of vegetable oil. We took them to my son's football banquet and not one brownie was left. I'm still playing with the amounts. I was subbing it straight across for the veggie oil, but I think I can use less of the coconut oil. I think next time I'll try just 2/3 of the called for amount. I make popcorn in the microwave with it. It tastes delicious!! It's what the theaters used to use.

My favorite brand is Nutiva. I buy it here. Vitacost.com is the best deal I've found. Let me know if there's somewhere better to get it.

I'll put a spoonful in the bath, especially for my baby who has eczema; and for me. I keep a squeeze bottle of it in the bathroom for after shower. It's solid at room temperature so I soak the bottle in a sink full of hot water to melt it. You can put it everywhere...honestly everywhere.

This website lists tons of benefits of coconut oil, from thyroid to diabetes to hair and skin..http://www.coconut-connections.com/index.htm.

Try coconut milk, too! It's awesome if you have lactose intolerance, too. There's no lactose in coconut milk.

Another site I just found...http://nutiva.com/articles/category/coconut-oil/