Coconut Oil Benefits, Side Effects and Reviews

Does anyone know what is used in some of the coconut oil capsules which are a bad-smelling liquid when cut open? Previously I had used the cold pressed virgin coconut oil and I could just take them by dissolving in the mouth, savoring the great coconut taste and smell. I feel like throwing out this new batch I bought. Can anyone explain the difference?

It's called cross-contamination. When you use a spoon to take out one lob of VCO, use a different spoon each time it touches your body. As soon as you redip the spoon, the VCO in the jar will be working against whatever germs you just contaminated the jar with and will not taste too great. VCO will stay good much longer than the expiration date if you do not cross-contaminate. Also, a good rule is to have a different jar for the bathroom than you have in the kitchen - just to be extra safe.

Grandmother Guffys Method for forever soft, clean, ageless skin.

My grandmother Guffys skin was as soft and smooth as a babys butt till the day she died at 94. One day, when I was a younger woman constantly on the go, she noticed how dry and ashy my skin was and elected to tell me about her method of bathing. It was the only thing she said she did to keep her body clean and soft. First, she never took long baths (and NO, she did not smell). She said bathing dried out skin. Second, she never used hot water on her skin. Third, she never needed lotions. I listened; yet, despite the evidence before me, I did not take her advise. Hot showers were invigorating, I exclaimed. Who ever heard of not bathing, I secretly thought. Why do not the young listen! For years now I have suffered with extremely dry and itchy skin. FINALLY! I recalled my grandmother Guffys bathing method for clean, itch-less, soft, ageless skin. Here it is:

1) Massage 2-3 tablespoons of (antibacterial, anti-fungal) coconut oil over your entire dry, naked body, but not your face. Be sure to include your private areas and feet - get utterly greasy with it! Let it soak 5 minutes.

2) Take a clean, white, DRY bath cloth, folded in fours and scrub your entire body. When one side of the cloth gets cruddy, refold to a clean side of the same cloth. Don't forget private areas.

3) Shower/rinse in very lukewarm to cold water and ONLY wash your private areas with diluted baking soda and water or an organic non-soap or as I sometimes do, diluted ACV.

3) Get out of the shower and barely pat dry.

Believe! This works! People who touch my skin always exclaim at how soft it is AND my husband who has scratched my back many a time has taken to gently rubbing my arms a lot. Just try it! It is not real expensive or hard to do and results are quick. If you are allergic to coconut oil, switch to a light olive oil or sesame oil. Soon you will do as I did - throw away all your bathing soaps and bottles.

Hi Sandra: could you share your lentil receipe that you add the coconut oil too. Thanks

Yes, there must be something to that. I took aprx 1 TBS of coconut oil for the first time two days ago (in my coffee), and about an hour later...I had a physical and mental state of well being just wash over me. Was not expecting that at all! I was probably very deficient in healthy fats at that time.

Francisca,

Thank you so much for your input. I will consider a perm next. I have been going to physical therapy for my shoulder and as soon as I can hold my arm above my head long enough to color again THAT will be my first mission. i am almost 45 but the gray is nearly 55-60% and has taken over since my shoulder has been out of commission. I will consdier the perm as soon as I get the color taken care of; a week or two later of course as not to irritate anything further. Thank you so much for your input!

Pat

PS for Pat: if you send me an e-mail I will send you a photos of myself with dyed hair and perm, it will give you an idea what "bad hair" can look like when it turns good! ([email protected]).

Hi again Pat, I am 52 and I also think that I am too young to be grey so I do dye my hair. The only care I take is that I don't do dye and do the perm at the same time. If I go to the hairdresser to do the perm I will have to go again to do the color or else do it at home. Dye never changed the condition of my hair as the modern dyes tend not to dry your hair anymore, only the perm does. But I have to say that although one would tend to think that if you have weak hair and a problem scalp dying and perming would completely ruin it that is not true, at least not for me and I have been doing it for years. As I said I am going to try not to do a perm again for a while and see how it goes. I only do a perm maybe once every 8 or 9 months. The curls are not really strong anymore, of course, but the effect on my scalp stays. I have actually never heard of anybody having a perm done to solve scalp problems but in my case, as you know, it works wonder! People compliment me on my beautiful dark curls....... Best of luck and cheer up!

Francisca,

You mentioned the perm helping with the itchy scalp. Have you had the same experience with hair color? My stylist says I can do one or the other but that both would fry my hair. I'm only 44 and reluctant to be grey just yet. I used to color my hair, up until about 4 months ago and am about 50-60% gray and now that it is growing out it looks awful I hate to cut it because I'm trying to grow it out. I haven't had a perm in about 10 years and my scalp is already sensitive and having some "issues" thus the reason for my not coloring recently. I'm not a happy camper with my hair at all. Falling out, turning gray, scalp is red, oily, itchy and irritated and I'm at a complete loss. Not sure what to do and my dermatologist just says come back in 4 weeks, if not better by then we'll do a biopsy - scary on it's own accord. I'm really wanting to color again and another reason I haven't done so is I recently had shoulder surgery and just can't get my arm up there long enough to do the deed. I'm very frustrated and I jokingly say I'm ready to just shave my head - but really my heart is aching over the whole ordeal. I'm desperate for a cure. I was just wondering if you've had any experience with color helping this, should I try a perm or should I just leave well enough alone and see what happens and give the natural remedies a chance... I'm getting impatient as this has been going on for some time.

Thanx.
Pat

i have been using coconut oil for 3 days and i cannot believe the reduction of cravings for sweets!

Hi Pat, I make different juices every day. I tried the organic, shop bought ones first but that didn't work at all, or at least I didn't see any benefits. When I bought my juicer I also bought a couple of juice books and I get a lot of ideas from there. Unfortunately my husband and I are not at all into the green smoothies but we do like other kinds of vegetable juice. As far as fruit juices go we often take the less sweet ones like green apples, grapefruit, blueberries, raspberries..... One thing I forgot to tell you is that I also started brushing my hair according to the instructions I found here, brushing to the back a number of times and then bending down my head and brushing to the front.

One thing which has always helped me when my hair is falling a lot, my scalp is greasy and itchy is, strangely enough, to have a perm. That dries my hair a bit and it stops falling right away. My perm is now almost out and I want to see how my hair is going to behave without it because not only do I want to avoid the chemicals but also the money I pay for it.

Thanks to all of you who have responded thus far. I am curious about the juicing a couple of you have mentioned. What and how are you juicing? Will regular fruit or vegetable juices drank daily work? I know I'm not getting enough fruits and veggies in my diet, but the idea of juice sounds like a sugar rush and a good way to gain weight as I'd like it way too much - like a soda or something (I don't drink soda - but juice sounds yummy). I did start the ACV with a tad bit of baking soda just this morning and am mixing it with about an ounce of grape juice (reconstituted frozen - it's all I had on hand) to get it down. I do intend to keep this up I am doing a spoonful of blackstrap molasses and a spoonful of coconut oil a day too. I guess I need to start supplementing with some zinc too. I'm open to more suggestions. Also, what are sea vegetables? That's not something I've ever heard of here in North Alabama.

Thanks,
Pat

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil cured my athlete feet in about a week. I also use the oil as a deodorant and i rub it on my face instead of a moisturizer. I had a very bad cyctic acne ( had to use accutane in the past)and i have left a lot of scars on my face. All the scars are fading away after 1 week of use evco. My skin feels smooter and softer. I recommend coconut oil to everybody.

There is a short video on youtube called coconut oil treatment. She just uses the coconut oil on clean damp hair. Work it through until it is saturated. Wrap head with towel or plastic bag and leave on for about 30 min. Then clean with clear water or a non toxic organic shampoo.

I have used it for years and love my hair. There are several other videos on youtube about this subject.

Hope this helps
Annie

Hi Pat,

That is so awful, I know. I had a terrible experience of having such a bad reaction after having my hair dyed. I have dark brown hair- close to black- and every time I would get it dyed I would have a reaction to it. My husband would tell me I was ridiculous because the itching would be so terrible for the first week after dying it. My vanity kept me going though. Then, it changed to also feeling burned. Finally, the last straw was the time that, in addition to these two symptoms, clumps of hair started falling out. Red Alert! That was it for me too. I can live with gray hair but not NO hair! So, now I have gray throughout my hair.

I did the coconut oil thing and had the same experience. Washing and washing to get it out and still it didn't all come out. My hair was limp and lifeless. Haven't done that since. Too much work and not the results I had hoped for.

My hair has finally been restored. It grew back in and thickened up after about two months of green juicing. We use lots of various veggies each day changing them up so we get a variety of vitamins and minerals. Also, we added in eating sea veggies daily because I read that that is also a reason why Japanese women often have such healthy hair. We continue to juice daily and my hair continues to get thicker. My next goal is to see if I can get it to grow dark again!

Another benefit is that, like you, I always had to wash my hair everyday otherwise it would start to itch and get oily quickly yet my scalp would flake. Contradictory sounding but true. Now I can go for 3 days without washing it with no bad effects. It's found a healthy balance- soft but not oily, no more dandruff and itching completely gone!

I hope this info can help you Pat. It really is distressing when your hair falls out and being distressed certainly doesn't help the situation! One other suggestion that I began about 3 weeks ago and now hair doesn't even fall out when I wash it is scalp stimulation. What I do is take hanks of hair in my hand and pull in different directions which stimulates and strengthens from what I understand. It actually feels really good.

Keep us posted, Lisa

Hi Pat,i had the same problem as yours before but the falling hair was solved when i change my shampoo from synthetic to organic. My shampoo contains aloe vera and peppermint and other organic ingriedients. Its very effective my friend introduce me this product. just email me for details as im in a hurry to go [email protected]

Pat, try supplementing with Evening Primrose oil, about 500 mgs twice daily..(can substitute for Borage oil)
also, take a zinc/copper supplemnent..(copper because zinc can effect copper absorption)...also a good B vitamin with Biotin....(or just Biotin 1000mcg daily) give this a test for about six weeks to see results... freeze dried stinging nettle may help as well...

Hi Pat, most of my life I had hair loss as well, maybe not so much as you but too much anyway. In December I started drinking fresh juices everyday (fruit and or vegetables) and in a few days my hair was not falling at all anymore. Now with Spring it does fall a little bit but nothing like before (hair always seems to fall more in Spring and Autumn, for some reason). Maybe you are missing some vitamines and minerals...... As far as putting oil in the hair I have tried a few oils like mustard oil and sesame oil and they go out all right but I only do it because right now I have a perm. When my hair is normal maybe I won't do it anymore as my hair is oily. Good luck.......

I would like to know HOW to use the coconut oil for my hair. I have been losing my hair - about a handful or so a day, not so great for a girl mind you. My scalp is very oily and sometimes I get small pimples and pustules and itching. I wash my hair daily to keep this under control and have just begun using a tea tree oil shampoo with good results for the itching etc. but the hair fall out has not improved and remained about the same. I've read several posts about the coconut oil and this morning I coated my hair with it and also massaged my scalp well prior to washing my hair. I had a terrible time getting it out and off my scalp. I was hoping for the conditioning effect and shine for the rest of my hair if nothing else. Instead I ended up having to wash my hair 3 times to get this stuff off my scalp and my hair ended up looking more "stripped" than shinny. What did I do wrong? Any, and I mean ANY guidance would be appreciated. with my hair coming out and this scalp problem too I'm at a loss. I recently started taking the VCO and blackstrap molasses internally but I don't think it's been long enough to have had any real effect yet. I'm hoping to start the ACV within the next week or two as well. The hair thing is getting scary though. I don't want to end up losing all my hair and if this keeps up I'm gonna be shopping for a wig within a few months... not a pleasant idea.

Thanks Earth Clinic, I'm glad to have found you. Just need to know how to do the VCO thing right.
Pat

Hi Francisca...Yes, fresh coconut milk will contain a significant amount of fat, but this is a saturated fat with a big difference. Most vegetable oils(Long Chain Triglycerides) are transported in the blood and stored around the body as fat. But coconut milk contains saturated fat that consists mainly of Medium Chain Triglycerides -- this goes straight liver and is extracted and converted to glycogen as required for energy and the unneeded oil is then excreted directly and not stored. The glycogen can also be used for energy directly -- which is why its so useful for diabetics. And when I started taking VCO, I actually lost weight.

My stance with saturated fats -- as you know -- is quite friendly. I also distrust most polyunsaturated vegetable oils. My reasons are simply historic. Before 1900(and for centuries before this time) the fats we used in the West were mainly lard, tallow and butter - with a very small amount of monounsaturated oils like olive oil. During this time there was no heart disease, arteriosclerosis, Alzheimer's, high blood pressure, Parkinson's Disease, Arthritis, Obeisity, Diabetes, Cancer etc., that we now have today. So we can therefore say that, as proof from history, these saturated fats do not cause these auto-immune problems.

Since most vegetable oils today are manufactured and are heavily processed chemically -- as well as being unstable and suffering from relatively quick oxidation -- I therefore regard veg oils as unnatural to the human body -- in the large amounts we take them today, and simply not good as food. The main enemy, of course, is too much chemical processing and too many additives.

There are many ways you can take coconut milk or oil. You can mix the milk with ordinary milk and use it on cereal or simply use it in cooking as I do, or you can mix the VCO, perhaps, with natural honey and use it as a spread for bread or toast. I also often use coconut milk when cooking Malaysian Rendangs, makes it taste very creamy and delicious. I use a teaspoon of VCO in my coffee on most days, and I think coconut milk would make a wonderful additive to coffee as well.

Unfortunately, we have all been brainwashed into thinking that ALL saturated fats are bad for us. If you research coconut oil, you will find that this oil is remarkably stable and good for you in it's natural form. It was really only because of the big vegetable oil cartels in America that used what I call "spoiler research" to denigrate coconut oil's health benefits in order to sell more veg oil via inaccurate saturated fat propaganda (because coconut oil was capturing more and more of the world market in the 50s and 60s) -- and, sadly, this poor reputation continues to stick to all forms of saturated fat, animal or vegetable, even today.

I was taken aback by the popularity of the VCO recently and the wide variety of its benefits recently when I read it on the web. We over here have been using it for time immemorial and little do we realise its true potential. Our method of extraction: boiling. The oil is mixed with other herbs for external application while the pressed milk is an ingredient in cooking. My grandmother used to choose different species of nuts for specific ailments. What we seldom do is to take the oil straight from the spoon and is what interest me in this thread. These are new ideas and experiences are learnt.Thanks everyone!

Hi Bill, I was away for a while so I hadn't see your response to my questions. I did the spit test yesterday and it came out a bit like in the drawing but less clear. This weekend I am going to ask my husband to try as I don't think that he has Candida, at least not in his mouth as his tongue is always pink. Then I can compare, maybe we both do it. Since I use a salt based toothpaste without flouoride and more natural my tongue looks a lot cleaner. One question, I am trying to cook with coconut milk as it seems to be healthier than normal milk but my husband doesn't want to use it in his tea because he finds that the fat content is too high. Do you know anything about that? I never drink milk, never done for most of my life, I can't stand it but I do make dishes using milk so maybe coconut milk might be a good substitute. In a book I have the author says that it is actually very healthy.

Hi Francisca...Apologies for not seeing your post, I've been dashing about the last few days, and it's coming into the hot, humid season here in the tropics, so I've been resting a bit...lol.

In answer to your questions:

"One more thing, do you ever use olive oil or none at all?"

When I was living in UK, yes I used it a little for salads and Italian dishes, but never for English cooking, it's taste was just not right for this. And since moving to the Philippines, I've stopped using olive oil altogether, since much of my cooking is now Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai or Indian and olive oil also just does not suit these styles of cooking as far as I'm concerned. And of course, every third tree in the Philippines is a coconut tree, which makes VCO much cheaper than imported olive oil...lol.

As well, and as I've said already, olive oil is a mono-unsaturated oil -- so it will break down and oxidize much faster in sunlight or high heat than coconut oil which is a fully saturated and more stable oil. I've done some heavy heavy research between olive oil and VCO over the years, and have simply reached the conclusion that VCO is the better oil in terms of health. I would never argue about the health properties of olive oil, but the fact is that VCO seems to have even more health benefits.

"And as far as Ted's alkalizing drink, doesn't the bicarbonate neutralize the effect of the lemon juice?"

Yes, the sodium bicarbonate does neutralize the citric acid in the lime or lemon juice -- but that is a great advantage anyway because this creates sodium and potassium citrate salts which are then directly and easily absorbed in the duodenum with no need for further digestion processing. If you don't first neutralize the citric acid (from the lemon and lime) or acetic acid and malic acid (from ACV) or even ascorbic acid(Vit C) with BS, then your pancreas will have to use all its own stored bicarbonates to neutralize all these acids into citrates, acetates, malates and ascorbates etc. so that they can be absorbed into the body. More work for your body.

And also remember that the bicarbonates in the pancreas are also used for another important job -- if the bicarbonates from the pancreas aren't used in digestion, then they are simply released into the blood -- thus alkalizing it -- and they also play a vital role in helping to swap out carbon dioxide for oxygen in cells during respiration.

So if you create these these citrates, acetates, ascorbates etc before digestion, then you are actually helping to strengthen both your immune system as well as making your cell respiration more efficient. In other words your helping your body do its job.

Coconut oil - questions for Bill

Hi again, I don't think that you saw my last post:

Thanks once more Bill, you have been a great help so far. I have just received a book on Coconut oil in the post and I have started using it. I am starting to think that my allergies (never tested positive for anything), warts, tiredness, white spots on my skin which are not Viltiligo, bad digestion, coated tongue and maybe even the little red pearls on my skin might be Candida so maybe the VCO might help (I also had constipation for many years but I corrected it by eating fruit first thing in the morning). Worth a try..... My worry is that my husband who has daily medicines for high blood pressure might not react well to it. He is going to ask his doctor. Otherwise I will try sometimes to cook separately for myself. After seeing the bad effects those pills have on him I am trying my best to stay clear of them. And yes, so far VCO here is always solid, maybe in the summer it will change........ Anyway, if this oil was so bad why wouldn't all people in Asia be dying? One more thing, do you ever use olive oil or none at all? And as far as Ted's alkalizing drink, doesn't the bicarbonate neutralize the effect of the lemon juice?

Hi Elsaeasterly...There are three ways of making natural VCO. The first method is simply to boil the coconut milk until only the oil is left. The second method is to put the coconut oil in a centrifuge where the aqueous portion and the oil distinctly seperate as two different halves. And the third method is by fermenting the coconut milk.

What I think you must have purchased is a form of VCO made from the fermentation process. I have also used this form of VCO internally, and -- yes -- it does smell sour and rancid even, but it will not hurt you. The sourness is basically the coconut wine turned to "vinegar" that is left over from the natural fermentation process. Alot of Filipinos make VCO this way -- and regularly make a brew called "Lambanog" or coconut wine. I've tried this wine which is pretty unique, sort of like a tasty nutty wine but deceptively powerful stuff !! Interesting that coconut wine turns to vinegar very rapidly, so the Filipinos just adapt and use it for cooking instead. Nothing is wasted.

Check on the your bottles of VCO and see whether your VCO was made by fermentation. If this is the case, then this is why your coconut oil smells off or vinegary and it won't hurt you.

If you're not happy with this fermented VCO form, then next time just buy another VCO made from the boiling process or made by centrifuging -- this should be stated on the label.

Bill,

I have been consuming VCO for a few months with no problems. A couple of weeks ago I put a spoonful into my oatmeal, took a bite, and it was rancid! It ruined my whole bowl of cereal. I had to throw away about 3/4 of a jar of oil. I bought a new jar, checked the expiration date (2011), had it for a couple of weeks and the same thing happened. I'm confused. I went through 2 or 3 jars with no problems. The storage temperature has been the same - 76 degrees, a soft solid state. I thought VCO was stable at room temperature. Anyway, this is becoming very expensive. Do you have any idea why this would be happening?

Thanks once more Bill, you have been a great help so far. Today I ordered a book on coconut oil on Amazon in order to get more information. I am starting to think that my allergies (never tested positive for anything), warts, tiredness, white spots on my skin which are not Viltiligo, bad digestion and maybe even the little red spots on my skin might be Candida so maybe the VCO might help. Worth a try..... My worry is that my husband who has daily medicines for high blood pressure might not react well to it. He is going to ask his doctor. Otherwise I will try sometimes to cook separately for me and for him. After seein the bad effects those pills have on him I am trying my best to stay clear of them. And yes, so far VCO here is always solid, maybe in the summer it will change........ Anyway, if this oil was so bad why wouldn't all people in Asia be dying? One more thing, do you ever use olive oil or none at all?

Coconut oil is indeed the business. It is the very essence of the 'tree of life'. It is just fabulous. Anyone who thinks otherwise should open their mind and try it for a while - and also search out info in the libraries etc., etc., and of course the WWW. If the world ate virgin coconut oil it who be a far, far happier and healthier place. That we all eat (... or have eaten) crappy grain oils is a crying criminal shame. Organic lard (pork fat) is also very, very good. Variously some sort of mix of lard and coconut oil should should suit just about everyone's palate.

Hi Francisca...I guess your having a bit of a battle with yourself using coconut oil at the moment!! I confess, with my candida problems, I really didn't hesitate to use VCO raw to begin with. I had bad constipation for about 7 years with my candida, VCO helped to cure this aspect of my ailment very quickly indeed.

Perhaps the best way to use coconut oil to begin with is to use it for cooking, as this seems to cause the least problems. Many here on EC use it for oil pulling because it tastes so much better than olive oil but appears to achieve the same thing. Perhaps you could try oil-pulling with VCO first?

Using coconut oil for cooking seems to be the quickest way to get used to coconut oil. Since I'm living in the Philippines, my bottles of VCO are always as a liquid oil(The temperature here is always above 76 degrees). But if you're using VCO for cooking where you are(colder), then I would just treat it like butter for cooking, no difference really. Coconut oil is very safe for cooking -- safer than most other vegetable oils -- because it doesn't oxidize so quickly.

In my own mind, if you take the plunge and actually start using coconut oil, the worst that can possibly happen is the die-off or Herx effect. In my case, it wasn't that terrible, and always uppermost in my mind was the fact that I knew all about the problems that I had, so I also knew that my flu-like symptoms -- or die-off effect -- were confirmation that the coconut oil was actually helping and doing good. Many people on this site report that taking coconut oil has caused problems -- so they immediately blame the VCO or assume that they must have an allergic reaction to it.

Although an allergic reaction is possible, my argument is that VCO is very safe. However, all those people arguing against VCO have given their opinions and reasons as to why these adverse reactions have occurred in their bodies, without realizing or addressing or including the possibility of them having candida causing a Herx reaction -- Simply because there are many similarities between the symptoms of a Herx reaction and an allergic reaction and this causes confusion I think. And behind all of this is this seemingly ingrained and unmovable belief that saturated fats like VCO are bad for you, despite all the evidence I've provided to the contrary on EC.

In regard to its safety, why else would they have used coconut oil both in baby foods and with food for people in hospital with intestinal trauma since the 1960s? Isn't this a testament to VCO's safety? These facts alone, perhaps, represent the greatest proof that allergic reactions with VCO must be rare indeed.

Bill, how do you use coconut oil in raw food? Mine is solid... do you warm it up or do you use some liquid kind? I only find the solid form where I live..... I am still a bit afraid after reading about people who had so many problems.... haven't tried it yet!

It's excellent in the instant hot chocolate, too. It seems to make it a lot richer...yum!

Hi Francisca...Forgot to add that I took VCO either raw or in my coffee. When I had candida, I took 3 tbspns a day. Now I just take it a few times a week. VCO is nice in coffee, makes it taste sort of creamy...

Hi Francisca...I certainly understand your confusion regarding the internal use of coconut oil. If you have used VCO on your skin without problems then it's very likely you will have no allergy to coconut oil.

But if you have intestinal candida, then the likelihood is that when you start taking VCO you will feel worse before you feel better because of the fungal die-off or Herxheimer effect. I've been through this same Herx effect when I was getting rid of my candida, the symptoms are flu-like and you feel liverish because of the initial strain of the liver removing all the fungal toxins from your body. I simply persisted with the VCO, because I wanted the candida gone. Sure enough the Herx effect went after a while, but it still took about a full year to get rid of my candida(I was also using Ted's alkalizing protocols plus taking Blackstrap Molasses and liver/kidney support herbs as well).

I also suspect that some new users of VCO who perhaps may have had candida and didn't know it, have mistaken the Herx or fungal die-off effect for an allergic reaction, since both sets of symptoms seem very similar.

Coconut oil has also been used for years in baby foods, it contains lauric acid in similar amounts to human breast milk fats, which is a major ingredient that protects the baby and builds up the baby's immune system. Coconut oil is also regularly used in foods now given to hospital patients with intestinal trauma or after major intestinal operations -- such are its gentle and protective effects and qualities.

I also live in the Philippines now, all the locals use coconut oil for cooking here. Extra virgin coconut oil for me is way the best of all the veg oils, for all the reasons that I have given already. I only cook with VCO now, and sometimes take a raw tablespoon in my coffee when I'm ill or constipated now and then and I also use it on my own skin. I've been using VCO now for over 4 years.

I hope this helps to allay some of your fears about VCO.

Many thanks Bill but I am even more confused because just before I got to your answer I saw a post where someone says they had bad side effects from eating coconut oil so I went to the page where this post was posted and I found a lot of similar comments. I don't know what to believe now.... I do use it for my skin but I am afraid to use it internally. I am going to my homeopathic doctor tomorrow and I am going to ask his opinion. By the way, how did you take the oil? Mine is not liquid.... do you just spoon a bit out of the jar and take it? Thanks!

By the way, I have started to try the watch this feedback option but I thought that I would get further feedback on the post in my inbox. It didn't happen so far though... not even with this one!

MY FATHER HAS PARKINSONS, I BOUGHT COCONUT OIL AFTER ACCIDENTLY FINDING A SITE ABOUT THE OIL, I FOUND IT INTERESTING READING, MY FATER HAS 2 TBS A DAY AND WE HAVE NOTICED HE IS MORE ALERT AND TALKATIVE AND INTERESTED MORE IN WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND HIM, AMAZING, I READ THAT THE BRAIN IS MADE UP OF FATS, AND MY THEORY IS THAT AS WE ARE TOLD NOT TO EAT SATURATED FATS THAT BEING THE BAD STUFF,WE ARE ACTUALLY STARVING OUR BRAINS, I NEVER KNEW THE COCONUT OIL WAS MADE OF 92 % HEALTHY AND GOOD SATURATED FATS THE KIND OUR BRAIN NEEDS TO FEED ON, I AM ALSO TAKING 2 TBS A DAY I HAVE LUNG DAMAGE DUE TO SEPTICEMIA AND AT TIMES HAVE TO TAKE STEROIDS, I HATE THEM AS THEY MAKE MY FACE LOOK FLUSHED, SO I STOPPED AND JUST TAKE THE COCONUT OIL ALONG WITH A WARM DRINK OF CAYENNE PEPPER A LITTLE GINGER AND LEMON, I FELT BETTER VERY QUICKLY, IT WORKED FOR ME, I ALSO NOTICED MY HAIR IS GETTING MORE COLOURFUL I AM A NATURAL REDHEAD AND OVER TIME THE COLOUR HAS BECOME DULL, AFTER A FEW WEEKS MY HAIR IS GETTING RED AGAIN I AM SO HAPPY, I RUN TO THE MIRROR EVERY MORNING TO CHECK IT L.O.L. I THINK COCONUT OIL IS AMAZING.

Hi Francisca...Coconut oil is probably the best oil to use raw or for cooking -- even better than olive oil in my opinion. I took 1 X tbspn of coconut oil three times a day in my regimen that cured my Candida -- also helped me to loose over 20 lbs and I never even changed my diet much. I cook everything in extra virgin coconut oil now. I also use real butter, and absolutely no margarines or other chemically processed vegetable oils or sugar or sweetners are allowed in my diet at all.

Read the research about why coconut oil is so good for us here(no adverts) :

http://www.coconutoil.com/research.htm

Extracts from "Coconut Oil: Why It Is Good for You"

"In 1987 Lim-Sylianco published a 50-year literature review showing the anti-cancer effects of coconut oil. In chemically induced cancers of the colon and breast, coconut oil was by far more protective than unsaturated oils [or vegetable oils]. For example 32% of corn oil eaters got colon cancer whereas only 3% of coconut oil eaters got the cancer. Animals fed unsaturated oils[veg oils] had more tumors. This shows the thyroid-suppressive and hence, immuno-suppressive effect of unsaturated oils[read vegetable oils]. (Cohen et al. 1986)."

From "Thailand: Land of the Coconut"

"We hear a great deal these days about the presumed health benefits of Asian diets. China and Japan are presented as exemplars of "low-fat, high fiber, largely vegetarian" Oriental regimes. The foods of Thailand are often ignored in such discussions. The delicious, spicy cuisine of Siam is rich in saturated fat from coconut oil and lard, relatively low in fiber and features many and varied animal foods. Yet a comparison of autopsy reports on a group from Bangkok with a group from the US found that coronary occlusion or myocardial infarction was eight times more frequent in the US, diabetes was ten times more frequent and high blood pressure about four times more frequent.(4) Even more intriguing is the fact that Thailand has the lowest rates of cancer, for both men and women, of all the 50 countries studied by the World Health Organization.(3) Here is yet another paradox - Le Paradoxe Thailandais - that the "experts" would rather ignore than explain."

My own reasons for adopting my diet are simply historic. Before 1900, the only fats used within the Western diet were saturated fats like lard, tallow and butter, with a very small amount of monounsaturates like olive oil. This 1900 western diet was also enhanced by a much greater intake of salt(natural) by eating large quantities of salted fish and/or meat(or "jerky") because there were no refrigerators or freezers around to preserve these meats in 1900.

And even with this diet -- which by present day standards would be dismissed or defined as a "horrible and unhealthy" saturated fat and salty diet -- there was no Heart Disease, Cancer, Obesity, Altzheimers, Parkinson's, Diabetes, Arthritis etc. that exists in such epidemic proportions in the West today. Makes you wonder exactly how all that marvellous(sic) pro-vegetable oil research could have got it so wrong, doesn't it ?

In the Philippines, where I now live, I have observed that in the beautiful semi-provinces where I reside, most poor Filipino families make their own coconut oil for cooking by boiling or fermenting the coconut milk and living on a purely sticky rice diet that includes much caught fish as well as a considerable amount of dried, salted fish. And strangely, these poor people on this diet suffer no plague of 'western modern ailments' such as those I've defined above.

But also I've noticed in my treks into the larger and more modern Filipino towns and cities such as Manila or Cebu, I see and hear about the heart disease, the obeisity, diabetes, arthritis, Altzheimer's etc. The reason for this must be linked to the influx of MacDonald's, KFC, Burger King's and other fast food chains that always seem to spring up first in all the major towns and cities of poor developing countries. All that chemically processed food and fats from the fast food chains makes quite a difference in your diet or health and seems to have an entirely detrimental effect on the human body.

My diet hasn't got a fancy name. Just stay away from all processed food, avoid all veg oils, avoid canned goods, avoid sugar and sweeteners and you should become much healthier. And its not really a diet for me -- because a diet always implies that you will "come off the diet eventually". This has simply become a habit for life for me now.

But isn't coconut oil bad for your health? I have a book about healthy oils and they say that conconut oil is highly saturated and that it is not sure yet whether it may harm your health.

It is great for pancakes. Coconut oil will cook to a higher temperature without browning.

I have been taking coconut oil mainly because I heard it helps UTI's and i got them chronicly. I never expected it to help my asthma! Iv been taking it a few months and I noticed I wasn't useing my asthma meds. I couldn't believe it. Iv been studying coconut oil like crazy for a week now and found that this stuff is incredible! I eat a lot less cause the oil suppress my hunger, my chronic UTI's are gone, I have way more energy, my asthma is going away, my skin is clearing up, dry skin is gone, candita symptoms are gone, chronic headaches are gone. Coconut oil has given me hope for a new life! Don't take it from me! Educate yourself. There is a ton of science behind this stuff, and research that can help you understand what it does and why.

Thank you so much for sharing your good and bad experiences about coconut oil. I used coconut oil in all my foods for 2 months and lost 10 kilos. i didn't know coconutoil was a weight loss support. I just learnt about it yesterday.

A few weeks ago,a friend gave me a bottle of unrefined coconut oil from West Africa. After reading it's uses,i have decided to apply it on my acne destroyed face.I have tried washing my face with warm water then apply coconut as a moisturiser.It has done wonders in just two days and im determined to use it forever.

I have wasted thousands of dollars buying a hell of creams and drugs to cure acne but with no success. My last and only trial is coconut oil.my mom had advised me to use it sinc eit's available in Africa my motherland, but i ignored her advice but have chosen to take it now. will update u on my progress.Thanks to your website.

I've been detoxing for a few months, I added the two tablespoons of coconut oil to my detoxing program, in addition to raw plant aloe and have also seen more liver flukes and tape worms! This combination seems to be working better than any I've tried!

Three years ago I started using raw coconut oil for my seizures after reading about the ketogenic diet which has helped people control their seizures. I kept my seizures away for three years until one day I stopped to detox with smoothies. That day I had a seizure and have since then gone back on a high fat diet to control them! I use coconut oil, olive oil, and real butter.

You can get gel capsules at your local vitamin/supplement store.

Favourite way to consume Coconut Oil

Delicious Dairy Free Alternative Coconut Chocolate Spread: I like to get my daily dose of VCO by making a spread with 1 part coconut oil, 1 part agave, 2 parts raw cacao powder, pinch crystal salt, pinch stevia - stir. I love it on wholemeal organic spelt toast :).

Ive just started trying the Organic Virgin Coconut Oil and have read quite a bit here on your website and have read almost every single letter/email or comment. But Ive also read on another site that the oil is pretty high in saturated fat which is normally very bad for you and can cause heart disease and high cholesterol so how is it that so many people have claimed that it does the exact opposite? Is there a difference between the fat is from a fruit versus from an animal? Thanks and Im looking forward on seeing in the next few days how it will affect me.

Virgin Coconut Oil is great for sunburns (any kind of burn for that matter). If you mix Lavender and/or Eucalyptus essential oil in with VCO it will take the sting and heat out, helps prevent blistering and peeling. My friends and family laughed and thought I was crazy but now all come to get the "Burn Cream"

Hi, I read your post. Could you please let me know how to use/apply clove oil to reduce bleeding gums. Your reply would be much appreciated. Thanks, Tristan

I have been suffering from pressure in the back of my (L) eye and then radiating to my forehead and (r) eye. I went to the doctor was given an antibiotic for possible sinus infection. Took antibiotic, did not work well. Still experienced pressure. I was reading a book about Barbados and the Rastafarian culture. They mentioned the use of coconut oil for head congestion. I am a firm believer in natural healing, and the use of herbs. So, I tried it along with clove oil (a droplet of clove, very strong). I mixed the coconut with the clove, and that night I slept all night without being awakened to pressure behind my eye and in my head. I have been doing this for 4 days and have not experienced the pressure that I have endured for close to 4 months. Also, clove oil is such a powerful oil, it has helped me with gingivitis (no more bleeding gums), muscle aches, bad breath, bee stings, and infections of the skin. Check it out.

I feel your pain! I recently have broke out on my face and wanted to calm down the bumps and redness. I mixed turmeric, msm and a little bit of honey to make a paste and plastered it on my face. I am VERY fair skinned and it turned my face orange at first. I freaked out and used a beauty bar soap mixed with a little borax to make a scrub. This helped tone my face down to a faint yellow. Still not good! So I took a cottonball and saturated it with jojoba oil and that took the rest of the color off perfectly. Let's just say lesson learned! I'll stick to just drinking the turmeric :)

This is just a feedback to Che from Roxas City, Phillipines of June 26, 2008 post. I followed her formula for the facial and just beware before you try it. The turmeric burned my face and left it with a yellow tinge, no matter how much ACV and hydrogen perioxide mixed with water I used. My face now has red spots and a rash....hopefully the VCO will calm it down. If not, there's always make-up. ")

I read several excellent books on coconut oil and gave it a try. After two years of taking around one heaping teaspoon a day or extra virgin organic (either eating it or cooking with it), I have not had a cold, sore throat, flu, cough etc, and I used to be cold a lot and have a lower body temperature. Taking the coconut oil has kept my body temperature normal. I believe I wasn't getting enough fat in my diet, since I eat about 75% vegetarian foods. I also stopped taking the flu shot when I started the coconut oil and still no flu. While everyone around me at work was sick during flu season, I got nothing! The books tell you to take much more, like a couple of tablespoons, but I am a small person, and coconut oil is expensive, so I decided to start with a small amount and stick with that. During the summer, I don't take it regularly, but during flu season, I take it or cook with it daily or at least 5 days per week. You can also just buy coconut and crack it yourself, but it takes time. The stores also have shredded coconut, which is great in oatmeal. Try different forms so you don't get bored. It's all good.

Coconut oil helps with menstruation

I am 32 and started using extra virgin coconut oil Oct 2009 (it is now Jan 2010). This is the first period I have gone through where it last half as long. I have noticed it was not heavy at all. I still had some cramps, but not as bad as usual. I have never had a period as short as this in my life, I didn't even think it was really possible...down from 7-8 days to 4. I take about 1 Tbsp of EVCO in my coffee daily. I did have to start out with a smaller dose and work it up. I hope to be able to consume more on a daily basis.

Sorry you feel the need to use birth control pill for your acne. The pill is conected with breast/uterin cancer and heart disease, as well as just messing up our system the way it is beautifully intended to work. As for acne, I found that pure lemon juice used on a cotton ball for an astringent works great for acne. Pure olive oil as a follow-up moisturizer is great and absorbs quickly with no greasy feal. I use a cotton ball to apply that as well. I hope this helps. It's a whole lot cheaper all around.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Just had to add my two cents as I am fairly pale (white as ghost in winter though I tan well in summer) acne prone 31yr old female. I have suffered acne since puberty.

About 4 months ago I started using ACV as a toner which started to clear acne. I started turmeric capsules (i make these from the spice) and VCO as a face moisturizer about the same time (a month ago) so not sure which is giving me good results as they both work for acne. The first few week I experienced clearer skin but I did break out even more the second and third but now it is starting to get under control and the last few days it seems any break outs are not as severe and skin is almost blemish free.

Most likely it is a detox effect and will pass as I now believe I have some candida die-off symptoms. Try it on a different part of your body say hands or a small patch on your back. As I read these testimonials of side effects--it is sad for the ones that stop (most I read sound like candida die-off) seems they are the ones that can benefit the most. I agree there are a few that should not take it--do your own research on the internet and treat the advice of at least american dr's like a grain of salt. This is the information age--do your own research! No--nobody wants to deal with diarrhea, vomiting, embarrassing acne, flu like symptoms, brain fog and other possible side effects. These are temporary side effects of toxins that are in the body--and the body needs to expel them in some way or another. Start with a small amount--and start as young as possible (i read it is good for diaper rash) before you develop ailments that one by one rob you of YOUR life!

Check out the BV page on this website. Peroxide does wonders for BV. Read all the comments and come up with a regimine that works for you.

It is great that you did not experience any side effects. I have read more in other sections what causes side effects--"candida die-off". My personal opinion is every american within the last 2-3 generations is probably affected by some degree of candida overgrowth even young children (myself at 31). I have been using Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) for just over a month now. I use it as a mositurizer after a shower and before applying make-up (even with very oily skin I have great results) and have used it a few times in my hair; all of which I absolutely love the results. I have eaten it once in eggs--it will be awhile before I do it again. They tasted better than my old recipe but within 2 hours I was in the restroom with a bad case of #2.

After researching the die-off symptoms I have self diagnosed myself with this. VCO has antifungal properties--killing disease-causing bacteria and leaving good bacteria alone, it will also kill candida and other fungi in the intestinal tract, further supporting a healthy intestinal environment. The road may be a little bumpy for some. The best advice in beginning VCO is start out small and listen to your body. If symptoms occur--back off the VCO. Around about week 2 and 3 was when I was having to back-off. Somewhere in week 4 and I know all last week I used as a moisturizer everyday after a shower. I might still have some minor flu like symptoms coming up but I think i'm in the clear of most the bad stuff that I was experiencing. I have also used it to oil pull but nothing on a regular basis. OP does not require you ingest VCO and you spit out most of it.

Go easy getting started and I wish everyone a sucessful experience with VCO in the long run. Dosages for this one is difficult as each person is different you kinda have to find your own dosage. Internally use less than 1/2 teaspoon. Externally on a small portion of your body say hands and face. Either way start small and increase as needed in a week-2 weeks. This will help reduce die-off symptoms if one were to have this existing condition and not know as was the case for me. I love VCO and this site. Thank you Earth Clinic!!

Did major research on why I was having digesting problems and learned bad foods like fast food and what not decreases the good bacteria in the stomach thus leaving the bad bacteria to roam freely. I tried prilosec which didnt help much, I even tried changing my diet and finding that waking up on an empty stomach I will burp uncontrollably even drinking water.

So I researched on the why's, how's and what are my options? I found Colloidal silver to help eliminate any toxins or unhealthy bacteria, but that was not enough! I had to also give Acidophilus a try. I repopulated the good bacteria and taken Colloidal Silver precautiously. I started to see great progression with the belching, indigestion and heartburn. Then I ran out of my Acidophilus awhile back and have purchased Coconut Oil and said "Maybe I should give it a shot" What won't kill me will make me stronger, right?

So I took a teaspoon and noticed within a few minutes of ingesting it with food I noticed I wasn't burping or getting that sharp pain in the chest which I compared to a heart attack (scary stuff right there)

Since I stopped taking Acidophilus and Colloidal Silver, I just stuck with the 1tspn per meal of oconut oil to maintain a healthy digestive tract. I narrowed it down to either I encountered Candida Albicans or H.Pylori which both are in comparison of many symptoms. Gradually reducing the indigestion, heartburn, and other various problems I see going away and not at a slow rate or fast.

Everyday I notice a better progression. I'm only 26 and been eating unhealthy for at least 15 years. Sad America teaches us to stuff our face with fastfood instead of serving more healthy alternatives besides a salad or bottle water. Additives and antibiotics and horomones being injected in our cattle and other food eating products and hydrogenated products which in time will lead to dire situations. Yes I am young and shouldn't have these problems but yes People who don't eat right or exercise is heading down a dark road and might not come back, Jack!