The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Jennifer (Phoenix, Arizona, USA) on 06/14/2009:
I have had malabsorption issues for sometime. My ND wanted me to introduce 100% virgin coconut oil into my diet because of the medium chain fatty acids. I needed to gain weight and muscle. I was using 2T per day in fruit smoothies, cooking, or on toast. Loved the flavor but the side effects were not good. My ND pooh-poohed my questions about possible side effects so I was extremely relieved to find this forum with postings from a number of people who have experienced what I did. My side effects were: severe stomach and gut pain with bloating and tenderness, bad reflux (which I had never had before), heart palpitations, severe sleeplessness, general anxiety-like symptoms, concentration problems, even gum sensitivity . . . just a general sense of continually deteriorating function the longer I was on it. After researching this forum I went off the oil and the symptoms I listed disappeared within two weeks. Although I have no doubt it is a great product for many people, I will never take it again. It just isn't okay for one food item to make me that ill and affect so many areas of my life. The bottom line for me is to learn to listen to my own body and to respect and act on those messages.
Coconut oil, virgin, capsules: A big NAY for virgin coconut capsules....I am 63 with normal cholesterol and blood pressure. I took it to raise my HDL. I have GERD and it made it worse. I also had chest pain and palpitations and my BP went up to concerned levels. I have NO heart problems and see a doctor twice a year. I would suggest only a trial period for everyone to see what effects one might have. I was only taking one capsule and the bottle said to take four. Thank goodness I didn't. I am no longer on the virgin coconut capsules.
I have taken vco for about 5 months. After I got over the candida die off effects I started to notice my heart racing and pain in my chest area. I just didn't feel right anymore. I started taking my bp when I went to a store that had a monitor and it was high. I have never had bp problems before. It was always around 118/76. I stopped taking the oil (which was only 1 tbsp. a day) and started drinking the apple cider vinegar and my bp is normal (actually a little better than normal 115/74) and the heart and chest pains are gone. I decided to take another tbsp of vco last night and when I went to bed my heart started racing and hurting. I since then had bought bp monitor and got up and took my bp and it was 155/81. It was always the top number that was high (weird, I know). So I am now sure that the vco contributed to my high bp. I actually feel so much better and more energetic now that I am taking the apple cider vinegar. Also I had blood work done a month before I ever started taking the vco and my chol. tests were great, then when I started having the chest pains I had a follow up blood work and my chol. had jumped up 50 points. I am not familiar with chol. tests but I am sure that is alot! So unfortunatly I will not be taking the vco anymore but will def. use it for the other benefits I have gotten from it such as clearing acne, hair cond and my husbands toe nail infection. It works great on the outside, just not the inside.
I started all my remdies a year ago this month. I don't think that the coconut oil is working for me any longer. I find everytime I cook with it I break out in hot flashes all morning. If I don't eat the coconut oil then I'm fine.The coconut oil is N_____ virgin oil. Has this happened to anyone else? I went to my doc last week and i had not been doing my remedies like I used to and my blood pressure is up I've never had high blood pressure, but I had started using estrogen cream and shortly after started having bloody noses. I stopped the estrogen and started back on my ac vinegar regiment and no more bloody noses and bp dropped some, but now I think I still can't use the coconut oil. Any body else have this happen to them? My thyroid test is high normal meaning almost to hyperthyroid.
I began taking 1 tablespoon of coconut oil per day - really good in oatmeal. Only problem was that I was also on a Candida cleanse at the same time, and I had a reaction of extremely dry lips - felt like a former reaction I had had to Bactrim, the antibiotic, where it burned my mouth. I think the combination of both at the same time was way too much for my system. I am going to go off of both, and start back on the Candida cleanse alone. Once that is over, then I will begin to try to take the coconut oil again. Not sure if this was the problem, but think perhaps it was. Overload. I would appreciate someone checking this out for me if you have any information that this may be the problem.
I have tried using coconut oil several times and one thing has been consistent: when I take it by the spoon, even a teaspoon full, I immediately feel my heart racing. This does not happen if I cook with it. Sometimes rubbing it on my neck or face induces a reaction in my pulse but not as severe as drinking. Cooking is ok for me. If anyone can think of a reason I'd be happy to hear of it.
I have been taking 1 to 2 tbsp of coconut oil daily in my tea, as well as using it as a moisturizer for 5 days. after the 3rd day i started to and continue itch in various spots all over my body. I don't want to stop using CO because of all the benefits but its becoming a pain. literally! :) Has this happened to anyone else? Is this normal, could it be the toxins that are fleeing my body? or am i possibly allergic? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Hello, just wanted to give some feedback in regards to my experience with coconut oil usage. I took about 1 tbsp. of coconut oil and in less than 1 hour I had intense pain in my stomach along with heartburn (I never get this). After that I developed diarrea and vomited. Those reactions lasted well through the night and for two days after taking the coconut oil the intense stomach pains persisted. If you are going to try cocunut oil it might be a great idea to use it as a cooking agent as suggested by another reader rather than ingesting it.
I've started taking Coconut oil, and for the 1st time in my life I get terrible heartburn. What can I do to rectify this? I really want to try coconut oil for a number of benefits to my health, but what to do???
Up to two weeks of v.c.o. usage I've got great looking/feeling skin but my face has broken out and experienced dryness. I've also got diarrhea and nausea with usage but am almost certain it is because of candida die-off symptoms as I understand vco has caprylic acid qualities used in fighting candida infection. Otherwise, I've lost weight, thyroid pulsating has subsided quite a bite and no vaginal discharge. Will up the dosage from 1 TBS. to 1.5 gradually during next week.
I began using VCO on doctor's orders to help combat hypothyroid. My skin, hair, energy levels were all positive results. I also used VCO as a deodorant. However, after a few days I began gaining weight, got dizzy spells and some diarrhea. My blood pressure soared! After continued trials for a couple of weeks, my doctor advised me to stop using it. This was disappointment as I got good results in other areas; however, every attempt made to try it again caused my BP to go higher. I do full body cleanses once or twice a year. Possibly it might help if I did just liver cleanse? I'm 60 years old, exercise daily, eat healthy foods, do drink 1.5 cups coffee in morning and am Blood Type A. Disappointed as not being able to use coconut oil due to HBP. Would appreciate any comments on my HBP problem to be answered on this site. Any insight would be beneficial. Thanks, a CA gal
Shane McManus (Sunbury, Victoria/Australia) on 11/07/2007:
Better But With Side Effects
I've had mixed results taking coconut oil. It cleared my eczema and improved my skin but have been light headed and dizzy after 2 weeks of taking it. Also my hayfever has come back where i was fine before. A herxheimer reaction should have settled after 2 weeks. I'm wondering if others who have had reactions are Blood group O, as according to the blood group diet coconut oil does not agree with type O blood.
the many times I tried massaging my head with coconut oil, if I leave it on for too long on my head, I end up with a fever. After many years of not using it, I used it a few days ago. Left it on for many hrs and the next day, I had the worst flu and still am feeling very lethargic, weak.
it has now been over two weeks since i started taking VCO, i had stomach pains and diarrhea at first but the pains have subsided. I havent experienced any weight loss but i havent gained any weight either. It does give me a little bit of energy.
vco has been giving me bad stomach pains and diarrhea. I've only been taking it for several days now but i'm hoping these side effects subside in the near future...
I've used one 29 oz bottle of coconut oil inconsistently over a 6 month period. Used it to cook eggs & yam fries. Also regularly put 1 tbs in my hot oatmeal. Haven't noticed much change in my weight, but I eat a lot of junk food at night, every night, cause I'm always on the road. Yesterday I had some negative side effects that I'm guessing came from the VCO. In the morning I had it in my oatmeal along with green tea extract and raw cocao. No problem. Later in the day I tood two spoonfulls prior to heading out for work. About ten minutes later I stopped at Wendy's and got a small chili and downed that following the instructions of a popular TV Cure-All guy who says to eat it before a meal for weight loss. Well, not sure if the added saturated fats in the chili meat affected me or the VCO or both but soon after eating the chili I started feeling light headed, weak (like I wanted to pass out), dizzy and chest pains. Thought I was having a heart attack. Finished work, went home and right to bed. Slept pretty well but upon arising still felt dizzy & weak. Ate only veggies all day today and no VCO and still had the symptoms most of the day. Around 8 at night symptoms started subsiding noticably. Now at 2 a.m. i'm feeling pretty much back to normal. I'm thinking the two spoonfuls was too much too fast. I never took that amount before. Forgot to mention, the night prior to waking up and having it in my oatmeal and later taking the 2 spoonfuls before the chili, I did use it as a spread on my dark wheat toast with honey about an hour before bedtime. Noticed a very restless sleep, as though I'd drunk a cup of coffee before bed. All-in-all it seems like I o-d'ed on VCO. I'm going to try reintroducing it orally in a more gradual and regular regiment and see what happens. Also - I've been using this stuff on my face after a shave in the winter and it really gives my face a glow. Haven't experienced any zits; but I only shave every three days so I'm only apply the VCO that often.
I took coconut oil last year for my CFS. I ended up off work for 4 months because it made me so ill. I think it works if you have a slight underactive thyroid, but it made my nerves bad.
I read all of the information and people feedbacks on your web site. Now TED is saying only hydrogenated coconut oil will cause heart palpitations etc. That is so NOT true! I took virgin coconut oil for one week and my heart started to race. Please watch what you advise people.
I have hypothyroidism. I started taking EVCO. For a week, I was fine. No real improvements noticed. But the second week, I started having heart palpitations. I can only point this to the EVCO. I will go off of it and see it the palpitations stop.
Coconut oil, and I used virgin non-hydogenated which I bought at a whole foods store, caused similar reactions in my body to the reactions sheena from belize had. I got tachycardia which went into atrial fibrillation which landed me in the hospital. I feel this is a serious problem that some get and should be researched and addressed.
I and also my dog have tried the coconut oil capsuls. I took them as directed, 3 with a meal...for the first 2 days I was a little nauseaus, but not too bad..the 3rd day I became severely bloated with terrible gas...my heart raced some but not bad. I have stopped taking them now, but wanted to give them to my dog because I read where it would cure his bad hip problem....I gave him one coconut pill a night, for the first 2 nights he felt great and walked better, after the 3rd dose, he feels terrible has diareaha and his hip problem is so bad he can hardly move and cries if he does. I was shocked to see so much negative feedback on coconut oil and realized I wasn't alone, but don't understand why it continues to be praised as a miracle cure. I am all for natural cures and continue to try different things, but I firmly believe coconut oil does more harm then good to people and pets.
I first tried coconut oil to combat the symptoms of hypothyroidism 2 weeks ago.By the first day, I had fantastic energy and felt like I've never felt before! One week ago however, I started having heart palpitations, high blood pressure and tachycardia (rapid heart rate), even at rest, that landed me in the ER. I had never had these problems before and I am wondering if the oil boosted my metabolism so much that it is causing these symptoms. Is there anyone else that has experienced this? I feel great otherwise, but my unbelieving doctor has told me to stop taking the oil and put me on antihypertensive meds. I was taking a tablespoon with every meal. Was this too much? Can somebody please help me?
I avoid anything with coconut oil in it! It gives me terrible migraine headaches. My whole family runs this allergic reaction. Now, I don't know if it's "virgin" - it's the C.O. you see in lots of products (candy, esp.) A small amount can set me back for a day; more has caused me a visit to the ER! I did not run across anyone else who said they had the same reaction, but my dad, aunts, cousins, etc. all are allergic to C.O.
I thought I was doing my friend a favour by massaging his back and face with organic cold pressed coconut oil. Two hours his skin was burning. The next morning his face had come up in numerous blisters which took a couple of weeks to heal. Please test for allergic reactions before using.
I tried coconut oil to kill intestinal parasites but it made me feel ill..I used Parachute 100% coconut oil...Is this Ok to use, it doesn't say whether its virgin or not...Do i persevere when feeling sick? Thanks
Reading the feedback on nausea following the first few days of the oil was helpful if only i had found it earlier starting slowly is so important as after initial dose of only one dessert spoon i was sick with terrible headaches almost ten minutes after first dose felt sick rest of day. so i am now proceeding with a little caution.... as I don't want to miss out on all the benefits i read about. will update on progress soon.
My son and i are both celiac - so we must totally avoid gluten. Even so, we still had lingering health problems. I bought coconut oil and used it as a replacement oil in cooking and baking. (It's great that way) In about three days my son and I both had a herx "die-off reaction" of some sort and then things seemed to go better for us. He really started to look healthy. It was a few years ago - so that it all I recall right now. It took may things to bring our health back. Later, I cut back on coconut oil and I have only recently re introduced it to fight a serious cold in the sinuses and the throat and the lungs. It helped immensely. But i believe it is important to keep other known healthy oil in the diet, too. Olive, fish, etc.
Been taking coconut oil for over one month so far. Unfortunately, i wasn't aware of the "side-effects" when i started, and started taking the standard 3 - 5 tbsp daily, thinking this is good for me. The nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting were not pleasant. I would become nauseous around 8 - 10 hours later, diarrhea would follow, and sometimes i'd wake in the middle of the night to vomit. It took a while to work out these symptoms were caused by the coconut oil. I kept thinking it was food poisoning. I stopped taking coconut oil temporarily, and the symptoms disappeared. Started the coconut oil again, and the symptoms returned -- just like clockwork. I found the trick is to start off with smaller doses, say 1 tsp the first week, then gradually increase. Wish i'd known this prior to starting, would've saved me nearly a month of continually feeling nauseous and ill. On the plus, it has helped with a few things -- it's diminished cravings for sweets and alcohol. And that's great! I'm hoping the longer i take this oil, the more i'll receive some of the other wonderful benefits that i've read about.
I put a teaspoon of organic virgin coconut oil in my tea after dinner a month or so ago and within 30 minutes I was throwing up! Yuck. Now I can't stand the smell of coconut oil. But I do rub it on my hands every day (and rub in another moisturizer on top of it to mask the smell). I have the softest hands now!
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