100 Amazing Uses for Coconut Oil

 

Coconuts, and more specifically their oil, have gained quite the reputation over the past few years – and it’s no wonder! Touted as one of the healthiest foods to include in our diets thanks to its high lauric acid (a medium chain fatty acid that supposedly positively impacts our cholesterol levels – don’t worry, I didn’t know this either!) content and its impressive vitamin profile, coconut oil also has a myriad of other uses in areas ranging from beauty and grooming, to pet care or house cleaning.
Thanks to its increase in popularity in recent months, this brilliant product is becoming more and more accessible, meaning that now is the perfect time to stock up and experiment with its numerous uses. If you’ve bought a jar but aren’t quite sure as to what to do with it, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Here are 100 amazing uses for coconut oil – we guarantee you won’t have heard of at least half!

Cooking and baking

1. A substitute coconut oil for butter or shortening in baked good recipes.
2. A safe oil for deep-frying.
3. Use instead of butter or oil to grease your cake tins.
4. A delicious, healthy alternative to other coffee creamers.
5. An essential ingredient for bulletproof coffee.
6. An alternative to other oils in Asian-inspired dishes, such as stir-fries and soups.
7. Add it to your food processor with your nuts of choice to make a deliciously smooth nut butter.
8. Melt it with peanut butter, add sea salt and set in the fridge for your very own healthy peanut butter fudge.
9. Add to cacao powder and honey and set in the fridge for delicious chocolate treats.
10. Mix it with cacao and pop it in the microwave for an – almost – instant guilt-free chocolate and coconut microwave cake.
11. Try a different take on mayonnaise by using half coconut oil, half olive oil in your next batch.
12. Use it to elevate your winter vegetables (especially sweet potatoes) by tossing them in coconut oil before you roast them.
13. Try an alternative salad dressing.
14. Use it in a delicious, healthy granola.
15. Use it on toast instead of butter.
16. Substitute it for peanut butter in your oatmeal for a healthy and tasty alternative.
17. Try it in a delicious Brain Power smoothie.
18. Mix with a tablespoon of chia seeds for an all-day energy boost.
19. A different and moreish topping for your freshly popped popcorn.
20. Use for seasoning your cast-iron pans and giving them a non-stick coating.
21. Use for conditioning your wooden chopping boards.

Beauty

1. An alternative to expensive hair treatments by whipping up a coconut oil and honey hair mask.
2. Apply melted oil to damp hair and place under a heated towel for 40 minutes for a deep-conditioning treatment.
3. Use it as an intensive overnight hair treatment.
4. A great flyaway, frizzy hair tamer.
5. A natural way to fight split ends.
6. Apply to damp hair, let it sit for 2-3 minutes, and comb gently for detangling.
7. Use it to shape and moisturise your moustache or beard.
8. Whip up your very own lip balm to treat sore, chapped lips.
9. Mix it with your favorite lipstick for a moisturizing lip tint.
10. Mix it with some pigment or eye shadow for a fashionable, glossy look.
11. A natural alternative to highlighter for a gorgeous, healthy glow.
12. A wonderful way to soothe and heal dry and sore nostrils in the winter.
13. Rub into your nails and cuticles to restore softness and shine.
14. An excellent moisturizer for dry and cracked feet.
15. Melt and mix with sugar for a simple, moisturizing body scrub.
16. Swirl into your bath water for a moisturizing soak.
17. Smooth over your eyebrows and eyelashes to soften the hairs and keep them in place.
18. Use as a make-up remover..
19. Use as a shaving and after-shave lotion.
20. Preventing ingrown hairs by applying regularly to affected areas.
21. For glowy, dewy skin, mix with baking soda and apply in circular movements onto your face before rinsing.
22. Use as a facial moisturizer if you have very dry, sensitive skin.
23. Use as an intensive night-time moisturizer.
24. Got new ink? Apply oil as a DIY tattoo moisturizer/healer.
25. A natural way of reducing age spots.
26. A wonderful massage oil either on its own or with essential oils.
27. A natural way of helping stretchmarks fade.
28. An ingredient for making your own soothing coconut soap.
29. Use as a (very weak) deodorant.

Health and wellness

1. Simply mix with peppermint extract for a natural alternative to Vapor Rub.
2. Helps fight diaper rashes.
3. Helps calm eczema flare-up.
4. Helps to reduce sweeling and itching for any bug bite.
5. Repels insects very effectively.
6. Very useful to help soothe burns and help them heal faster (this works for sunburns, too).
7. Increase levels of “good” cholesterol due to its high levels of lauric acid.
8. Its anti-viral properties make it super effective against cold sores.
9. Melt and mix with honey and lemon juice if you have a sore throat for a comforting anti-bacterial drink.
10. Try adding to ginger tea to alleviate heartburn or nausea.
11. Great for repelling lice and protecting your children from any outbreaks.
12. Protects your feet from athlete’s foot.
13. Great for oil pulling.
14. Has strong anti-viral, -bacterial and -fungal properties and will help boost your immune system.
15. Soothes dry, scratchy coughs.
16. Can be used in aromatherapy.
17. Helps prevent cracked nipples during breastfeeding.
18. Can improve calcium and magnesium absorption into your system, making it great for boosting bone health.
19. Its medium-chain saturated fats are also fabulous metabolism boosters.
20.Has also been proven to be an effective appetite suppressant.
21. Significant evidence states that ingesting coconut oil regularly may help with Alzheimers.
22. Helps ease arthritis.
23. Helps wounds and small cuts heal faster.
24. Helps with constipation by lubricating your digestive tract.
25. Helps keep your digestion regular and looks after your gut.
26. Mix with baking powder for a DIY toothpaste.
27. Use it in tandem with sunscreen for a gorgeous, even tan, and protected skin.
28. A great natural remedy for cradle cap in babies.
29. Adding a little oil to baby’s bath is a wonderful way to keep his or her skin supple and healthy.
30. Mix with 10 drops of grapefruit essential oil for an effective cellulite remedy.
31. Mix with lavender essential oil and sprinkle on a pillow to encourage sleep.

Cleaning and housekeeping

1. Replaces your traditional wood polish.
2. Helps remove rust from household appliances.
3. Apply to a rag and clean your shower to get rid of pesky soap scum.
4. Lubricate door hinges with it to avoid irritating squeaky sounds.
5. A super effective way to remove chewing gum from clothing.
6. A great alternative to shoe polish - just remove dirt with a cloth and rub into your shoes using a circular motion.
7. Use instead of gasoline as an all-natural fire starter.
8. Use unstick zippers and keep them in good condition.
9. Use to lubricate small motors, such as your blender – a little goes a long way!
10. Very effective for greasing bicycle chains.
11. Use to buff up metal and give it a healthy shine.
12. Combine with lye, water and essential oils of your choice for an all-natural laundry detergent.

Pet care

1. May help reduce hair balls: simply apply to your cat’s paws.
2. Apply to your dog’s paws to help soothe cracked, painful skin.
3. Very effective for repelling fleas.
4. Rub through your dog or cat’s coat to give it a healthy sheen.
5. Very effective for keeping your horse’s mane and tail healthy and shiny.
6. If your pet regularly gets allergies, feeding him a little oil daily can help reduce itchiness.
7. If you live on a farm and keep cows, it is a wonderful udder soother.
Phew, what a long list! I bet some of these amazing uses for coconut oil surprised you. Which ones did you already know of, and which did you discover today? Let us know in the comments!