Coconut Oil Benefits, Side Effects and Reviews

Broad Benefits

Posted by Elisabeth (Encinitas, Ca) on 09/11/2009
★★★★★

My acupuncturist recommended I use Virgin Coconut Oil as a more stable cooking oil than olive oil and for it's is generally beneficial qualities. I loved it so much I started using it on oatmeal, on salad, in smoothies, on toast. Probably about 2-4 Tbsp a day total for the last 7 months. I also started buying organic coconut milk to make rice with and smoothies, fresh coconuts for the water and meat and ice cream made of coconut milk. Although I am extremely active my weight rarely fluctuates down - to my surprise I lost a few pounds after the first month of gorging on coconut products and it never came back. My recovery time (lactic acid pain) after sports has completely vanished and my joint/tendon issues are much shorter and less painful. I also used to have extraordinarily fragile skin and hair from years of medication and am noticing much less bruising, tearing, scarring etc and overall better tissue strength suppleness.

Appetite Suppressant

Posted by Shiva (Hyderad, Andhra) on 03/26/2009
★★★★★

drink two spoon of pure coconut oil which helps u to increse the apatite and helps u to cure thyroid .. it is my own experience.

Hypothyroidism

Posted by Cathy (Villa Park, Illinois USA) on 02/13/2009
★★★★☆

I have been using Extra Virgin Coconut Oil since April of 2008. One tablespoon per day. I have Hypothyroidism and was having a lot of problems with brain fog. I was having difficulty doing my job and sometimes would forget where I was going when driving home for a few seconds. I am a creative person but was totally unable to express my ideas in artwork or my writing. I could not organize my thoughts. I could not make decisions or remember what I was supposed to do. This on top of all the other symptoms of hypothyroidism. 2 weeks after I started taking it the brain fog totally went away. I am very dependent on the coconut oil now as I do not want to go back to not knowing what I was doing. As for my other symptoms such as totally lost my sex drive which is destroying my relationship and sleeping too much and low energy etc. it has not changed any of that. My thyroid has gotten worse and I have had to double my thyroid medication (Thyroxine). I am working with a Naturalpathic doctor which was a very wise thing to do. She told me to keep taking 1 Tbsp of coconut oil per day. I just wonder if I should take more than that since I have heard of other people have been able to go off the thyroid meds when taking 2 Tbsp per day. She is also treating me for Adrenal Fatigue and cervical dysplaisia and fibrocystic breasts. I guess I'm a mess right now and just want to be well again. I am a big fan of the coconut oil because it is the one remedy that has made the most difference for me. Also I want to add that the doc specified I should use the solid coconut oil instead of the capsules which I started out on because she said that way you can tell if it has gone rancid. But I still use the capsules for backcountry trips and road trips for convenience.

If anyone knows a way to bring back the sex drive I would be grateful.

Autism

Posted by Tegan (Illinois) on 03/14/2018

Hello,

I have 2 children one 5 one 3 one more moderately autistic the younger seems less if that makes any sense. I need help there is so much info out here I really believe that most of what causes autism is the overload of toxins produced by bad bacteria, outside, the fake food that we are given. I want to start some detoxifying programs but I'm afraid of the detox side effects I just want something that is safe. I keep hearing about cilantro, garlic, turmeric but how do I get my little ones to eat this when all they want is oatmeal and nuggets and French fries. Unfortunately my first born would not eat solids for a long time she now does but its all about texture she wants things that crunch and how can I give them these things. Can I somehow use it in the oil I cook their food in switch to virgin coconut oil to cook their food is that the same benefit as ingesting it..probably not. Looking for guidance as where to start.Thank you.

Canker Sores

Posted by Maddy (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK) on 05/09/2008
★★★★★

I was suffering with mouth ulcers for some time and my GP gave me some cream to put on my tongue. The stuff was awfull and left a dry residue on my tongue. It did nothing for the pain. So I started using coconut oil. 1 Tablespoon, melted in microwave in a plastic cup (if you use glass the oil explodes and covers the inside of your microwave). Leave to cool enough so you can hold it in your mouth for approx. 1 minute, then swallow. I did this 2x a day for 2 days and my mouthulcers where gone. Maddy, UK

Cellulite

Posted by Veronika (Frankfurt, Germany) on 04/07/2008
★★★★★

I just want to quickly join this wonderful post and thank you all from the bottom of my heart for sharing your experiences. Recently, I started to use coconut oil internally and also as a moisturizer due to my dry skin and slight cellulite on my thighs. The cellulite disappeared within 2-3 weeks. What a joy! However, I got very ill. From your experiences I know now that the coconut was detoxifying my digestive system. I was miserable for two weeks, not knowing what was happening to me. I realize now how much I needed it. I salute to the coconut oil.

Circulation

Posted by Jamie (St. Petersburg, FL) on 01/31/2008
★★★★★

My boyfriend was tired of seeing me uncomfortably cold all the time. He became uncomfortable knowing that I couldn't relax from always being so cold. He did some research and discovered that my body temp. was averaging 96.8 F. He suggested I take Coconut Oil for a while to see if it would help. We honestly can't believe it! I, for the first time, am not constantly cold. Yes, I do occasionally get cold but nothing like I use to. I'm actually relaxing now. It's has made such an improvement to my life. Would definitely suggest it for anyone with a similar situation.

Cholesterol

Posted by Pegiot (Leavenworth, KS) on 12/01/2007
★★★★★

My cholesterol was a little high (212) although my ratio of low to high density cholesterol was fine. I was already using a low carbohydrate diet and I added 1 tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil daily. After 3 months, my blood work was re-done. My total cholesterol had declined to 187.

Herpes

Posted by SG (Bakersfield, CA) on 08/25/2007
★★★★★

I wrote earlier about my experience with eight years of un-diagnosed herpes. Since then, I've been experimenting with it, and I've got complete control over it--I can make myself completely symptom-free, or cause an outbreak within 30 minutes.

THE CURES: Coconut. Yep, another vote for that one. I recently discovered Thai food, and they put coconut milk in just about everything. Taking special care to eat Tom Kha Gai (Food of the gods!) or Thai curry dishes several times a week, I've discovered that I have no need for my previous supplement: Gigartina Red Marine Algae, 1000mg (4 capsules) per day. And it's a lot more fun! To be fair, though, the Red Marine Algae works just as well.

If I want to cause an outbreak within an hour, all I have to do is not eat any coconut products for a few days, and then have a Diet Red Bull. Chock full of both Aspartame and arginine, if your doctor needs you to have an outbreak for testing purposes, this will do the trick. Drinking two of these per day sent me to the emergency room with horrible sores, and was how I discovered I had herpes. Other energy drinks (containing arginine) kept me having sores for the next few months until I realized the connection.

Circulation

Posted by Deloris (Covington, GA) on 07/06/2007
★★★★★

My husband suffers from cold hands and feet, but since he's using the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil(Organic) he has not had any problems since. I use it on my hair and it makes it look healthier and stronger than it has in years.

Hair

Posted by Tammy (Montreal, Canada) on 04/29/2007
★★★★★

LOVING this site. In my late thirties and sick and tired of all the products THAT DON'T WORK. Looking for a nautural way to help me stay young and fit. decided to use coconut oil unrefined to moisturize hair and had great results. Started to use it on my skin and after day one i'm impressed. I will start to ingest in a cup of tea in the morning because of all the benefits i'm hearing about. will update next week. Also so much hype about apple cider Vin. that I'm going to try it to cleanse hair, reduce pores, and ingest with honey to see what everybody is raving about. Keep you posted. comments are welcome.

Cellulite

Posted by J (USA) on 12/05/2006
★★★★★

I saw a reduction (though not a total elimination) of the cellulite I've had on the back of my legs since I was 18 (I'm 28 now). I ate a very poor diet high in refined flours and no amount of high-intensity cardio and rigorous dieting would reduce the rolls on the backs of my legs. I saw results in about a month. I also used it on the tiny red bumps on my arms and saw results in a week. I just this week started using it as a moisturizer on my face -- I have painful cysts around my chin. I had been using Proactiv, which worked for about a year, but the cysts came back. Also, I was concerned about what I was hearing about benzoyl peroxide damaging the skin. So I've been applying a thin coat of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil to my skin morning and night. So far, the results have been... bad. I've had about a dozen tiny pimples and several old spots that I thought had healed flared back up. I'm not sure if my skin is healing itself and getting all sorts of junk out, or if I'm just clogging up my pores. I'm going to try to stick it out for another week or so and will update if it improves. I'm wondering which is worse... a few painful cysts around my chin or numerous tiny pimples all over my forehead and chin? Hmmm.

Athlete's Foot

Posted by Dianne (Mansfield, MA) on 07/02/2006
★★★★★

within 2 days of using my athlete's foot has totally cleared. My husband has also had the same results.

Sinus Infection

Posted by sshz (annapolis, md) on 12/28/2021
★★★★★

I've been dealing with allergies and poor sinuses since 2005. The nasal dryness was as bad as it gets, I was miserable day in and out. I've seen numerous doctors, allergy specialists, ENT doctors and on and on. I was constantly sick..........my latest MRI of my sinus cavities showed an infection deep down at the bottom of the sinuses, which was worse at night and while laying down.

About a week ago I was reading about the benefits of coconut oil and decided to take a few drops and put it deep into my nostrils. I also mix a bit in my netti pot with warm water.

So, I'm using steam, coconut oil drops and the netti pot with warm water and some oil. The improvement has been nothing short of amazing. I even cancelled a doctor appointment I had scheduled for tomorrow.

I'm a new guy of late, my mood is a lot better, and I'm not obsessing over my nasal issues any more. I strongly recommend everyone try this remedy, it's been nothing short of amazing.

Blood Pressure

Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 11/12/2021

Hello Brett RN from Hawaii

The Chinese recommend Hawthorn for High Blood Pressure but you didn't hear that from me. Schuss, keep it a secret.

Cheers from Down Under

Blood Pressure

Posted by KS (IL) on 11/17/2021

I think it's more complicated than using/not using coconut oil. Your medication increases potassium. If you eat foods with lots of potassium it may cause an imbalance. Too much salt or too much potassium could have you swinging with your BP, same with cholesterol, as you have noticed. https://www.getroman.com/health-guide/losartan-and-bananas/ Since medication is more powerful than food the BP pendulum will swing much further than with just food. Then the type of coconut oil you use is important. "Although heated coconut oil and indeed lots of other oil has been found to increase the level of blood pressure, virgin coconut oil, however, has been found to effectively lower the level of cholesterol, which is a risk factor to high blood pressure." https://www.greenworldfriends.com/coconut-oil-and-high-blood-pressure-does-coconut-oil-help/ Personally, I just use a good olive oil and occasionally a little Kerry butter, and only lean poultry, fish. I had dropped coconut oil just because it didn't go well with what I cooked. Of course, you have to have a good diet, with lots of vegetables and some fruit. So far, my BP has been good lately and refused meds when it was somewhat high a few years ago.

Insomnia

Posted by Maureen Davis (United States) on 07/02/2019
★★★★★

I've googled for this but I haven't found any thing about using coconut oil externally and sleeping better. Since I hit full blown menopause a couple of years ago getting a good night's sleep has been a problem. I've had, at times, difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep. Quite by accident I noticed that on the nights I used coconut oil to moisturize my leg, feet, hands, and arms I would fall asleep within 20 minutes instead of my hour or more of tossing and turning. I tested using it and not using it and consistently the nights I used it I fell asleep effortlessly. So, one night when I had something I was worrying about I woke up at 4:00 in the morning and was unable to go back to sleep. I thought to myself, well why not try rubbing on some coconut oil. I couldn't believe it when I found myself waking up at 7:00 fully refreshed. Like I said, I haven't seen this anywhere else on the internet so I hope it helps someone else.

Energy Booster

Posted by Bonnie (Ohio) on 06/27/2015
★★★★★

Reading all the reviews re: coconut oil---I buy it in 54 oz jars from Sam's Club--use it every day. In my coffee, on my skin, cooking-it goes on and on.

I feel I have more energy taking a tablespoon day, also give it to my dogs in their food, they love it.

I'm 84 and get compliments on my skin-when I tell them my age they say "no way, I thought you were in your 60's". I don't use expensive face creams-just VCO. When I have a pain in my neck or shoulders---I get the coconut oil and rub it on.

I love the smell, the taste and the benefits.

Bonnie

Coconut Oil and Healthy Fats

Posted by Mama to Many (Tennessee) on 06/25/2014

Dear Rebel,

You ask some good questions. I agree that there is not a one size fits all solution to health problems. I find it fascinating that here at EC, different people respond differently to the same things. It is one of the beauties of EC; lots of people sharing a variety of experiences and options.

The “what to eat” issue is huge. There are so many options, so many opinions. And I don't think there is just one answer. I think different diets are appropriate at different times. Even nature tells us this. For example, a baby cow drinks cow milk, exclusively. As an adult, she eats grass. (Well, cows are fed lots of things, but her natural diet is grass.) Baby humans do best on human milk for many months. Sick or convalescing people need gentle diets. Sedentary people need less food than those who are active.

I don't think there could be a “perfect” human diet. Human beings live all over the globe in different climates with all sorts of different availability of food. Different cultures have different values, beliefs, etc that affect what they eat. My understanding is that people living near the North Pole would eat things like seal and blubber. They won't have much availability for fresh fruits and vegetables, but still the culture lives on. And living in that climate people will need the extra fat to stay warm. The ladies there probably won't look like Barbie, but Barbie would freeze to death living there. I get nervous when I hear about the perfect diet “X.” It is often expensive and not available to many people. I don't think good health is only available to the wealthy who have internet access. If I have to get all of my food online to get the ““best, ” that makes no sense to me. Until recently, it was normal for people to live on local food. So I think a variety of diets will sustain a variety of peoples quite nicely. Sally Fallon's book, Nourishing Traditions has oodles of fascinating stories of people eating an unprocessed local diet. It seems to work out quite nicely for them.

Regarding fats, I agree that processed oils are not healthy. Olive oil is a food that has been used for food and healing for thousands of years. I think it is tried and true. Having seen coconut oil heal my son of mono a few years ago was pretty convincing to me of its health benefits. Should people be taking large amounts of it daily? Well, I am not sure. Most cultures did not have access to that until recently. So, when I consider what local options for fat I would have, it might be possum or raccoon fat. Oh, dear. I am not ready to go there! :)

I think sometimes our problems come in with eating mostly processed foods, eating too much food, getting too little exercise activity. I don't mean at all to imply that anyone with a weight problem or health problem is a lazy glutton. Not at all. It is much more complex than that. Chemicals from a variety of sources (foods, cleaning supplies, vaccines, mercury fillings etc…) can affect our health in a bad way. Overprescription of modern drugs is also affecting health poorly.

But I am not a purist in my food choices. I like to cook and eat healthy and like to use natural medicines. But for me there is a balance in that and being able to enjoy life. While eating potato chips on the couch in front of TV is not usually relational, often meals are a relational activity. To be unable to enjoy a meal prepared by someone else for you because of the fear of its contents will affect relationships. I am not suggesting celiacs eat gluten, nor diabetics sugar but the pursuit of a perfect diet tends can make some people obsessive and fearful, which isn't fun or healthy. I know because I have been there.

I do think food choices affect health. But I also think activity level, attitude and environment and lots of other things affect your health a lot too. Just my very wordy two cents! :)

~Mama to Many~

Broad Benefits

Posted by Greta (Kamloops, Bc, Canada) on 01/16/2015

They symptoms as described above must have been horrible!! And I really empathize with each one of the ladies. Rather than an allergic reaction to VCO, it sounds more like a response - something being kicked out of the body. Quite possibly parasites.

The boils, zits, itching, stretch marks darkening, constipation and bloody wipes all sound indicative of parasites and I can only imagine how terrible the itching might have been. Naturally the symptoms would eventually cease once the VCO is discontinued however, the original problems would still exist. When one says they are fine, I would question what that means. Constipation would occur if there is a large mass of material in the bowel that was dislodged from the effects of the VCO and perhaps an enema would have helped solve the problem. Bloody wipes can occur from material being excreted from the bowel was not excessive, this would be sporadic until the material (parasites?) was eliminated.

The first thing that comes to mind when one incurs symptoms such as above is a bowel cleanse.

I really hope others experiencing similar symptoms will look at doing a bowel cleanse.