Coconut oil

Let me tell you about my love affair with coconut oil.  It's really incredible stuff!  For starters it's antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, and antifungal.  It is about 50% lauric acid, which is a medium chain fatty acid also found in high levels in breast milk.  Coconut oil has the longest shelf life of any other oil, make sure you keep some in your doomsday bunkers!  The stuff also smells amazing!  Here's a list of things I use it for.

1. Cooking.  Coconut oil is excellent to cook with because it is heat stable.  Other oils, like olive oil, are not heat stable.  When you cook with oils that are NOT heat stable,  they break down and produce free radicals.  

2.  Moisturizer.  This is the only moisturizer I use on my son and me.  It absorbs well into the skin and doesn't leave a greasy film.  It also makes our skin so soft, not to mention it leaves us smelling like a tropical paradise!

3.  Sunscreen.  Coconut oil is a natural sunscreen.  It has an SPF of 6.  It is the only sunscreen I've ever used on my son.  I plan on trying a sunscreen recipe that combines other oils with different SPFs to increase the overall protection of the sunscreen.  I'll post on that once I do it!

4.  Toothpaste.  The antibacterial properties of coconut oil make it a great base for homemade toothpaste.

5.  Deodorant.  Same as above.

6.  Baby wipes.  It's part of my recipe for baby wipes.  Stay tuned, that's the next thing I'll post!

7.  Adhesive remover.  Need to get a sticker off of something?  Coconut oil is all you need!

8.  Diaper rash salve.  Coconut oil helps prevent and soothe diaper rash.  It's safe for cloth diapers!  It also creates a barrier that keeps the poop from sticking to your little one's tushie.  

9.  Teething pain.  Rub onto the gums to ease pain.

10.  Ear pain.  Warm a bit of oil enough to melt without being too hot, and gently poor into the ear with a spoon.  It feels good and relieves pain.  The antibacterial properties can also help fight an ear infection.

I'll keep y'all posted on new and exciting ways to use coconut oil as I test them out!