Coconut Oil DIY's for Health & Beauty

Coconut Oil has been used for centuries as a vital source of food for health and general well being in tropical regions. Recent research verifies traditional beliefs that the coconut palm is “The Tree of Life” and that, just like any other pure, whole food, coconuts and virgin coconut oil have a significant role to play in a well balanced, nutritious diet.

It's very versatile and one of the healthiest oils in the world and can be used in cooking and topically for your face, body and hair.  These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties which are antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and soothing.  Coconut oil is one of my favorite natural beauty and health oils!  Check out these awesome DIY Coconut oil recipes I found on the Organic Authority.

• Sugar Scrub: One of the simplest DIY coconut oil products to start with is a sugar scrub. Simply combine coconut oil and sugar to use as an exfoliating scrub. I use it prior to shaving to make my skin smoother and easier to shave without toxic shave gels.

• Salt Scrub: Substitute coconut oil in this recipe to make a great scrub for exfoliating your skin.

• Lotion Bars: These bars made with coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter and almond oil are amazing for rough, dry skin. I love to use these on cracked heels.

• Eczema Cream: This eczema cream made with coconut oil, shea butter, Melrose and lavender essential oils works wonders on eczema.

• Lip Balm: Soothe your chapped lips with coconut oil and lavender.

• Toothpaste: Coconut oil is a great ingredient for toothpastes because of its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It has been proven to prevent tooth decay. Considering that triclosan and other synthetic toxic chemicals are used in store-bought toothpastes, making your own is a great choice.

• Deodorant: Try this deodorant with coconut oil and bentonite clay.

• Sunscreen: Make your own non-toxic sunscreen with coconut oil.

• Shaving Cream: Coconut oil, baking soda, honey and castile soap make up this homemade shaving soap bar.

• Oil Cleansing Method: There are some amazing benefits to cleaning your face with pure coconut oil. This method may work especially well for those with oily skin. Adding coconut oil to your skin rather than harsh soaps can signal to your skin that it’s over producing oil.  

• Hair Treatment: Use coconut oil on your hair and scalp. You can add a little and leave in overnight as a treatment or add some to wet hair right out of the shower.  All you need is a tiny dab.  Rub in hands until it melts as an oil and run through hair. You can also add a little more and leave in for an hour or overnight as a leave in treatment and shampoo out and rinse as usual.

• Facial and Body Moisturizer: Coconut oil soothes,  moisturises and hydrates all skin types, it's especially great for dry, flaky skin.  It delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. It helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections.  You can also use as a makeup remover!  Just apply a very small dab as you would a body lotion until absorbed.

• Weight loss: Coconut Oil is very effective in reducing weight.  It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight.  It increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thus burning out more energy and helping to reduce weight.  This is why people living in tropical coastal areas who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are so slim and healthy.  Aim for 1-3 tablespoons per day.  You can add to smoothies, on toast, replace as a healthy cooking oil or eat raw.  You can also put it in the fridge and scoop it out cold like I do.  

Make sure you buy Organic Virgin Coconut oil otherwise you'll loose all the important beneficial nutrients and your money is wasted.  You want to also ensure it is cold pressed and USDA organic certified, because that means it has the highest quality organic certification so you can rest assured it's 100% organic, natural and safe.


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Easy Ways to Detox Everyday

Detoxing your body is the best way to feel and look healthier, loose weight and have glowing skin and hair! A detox program can help the body's natural cleaning process by resting the organs through fasting, stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body, promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin, improving circulation of the blood and refueling the body with healthy nutrients.  Detoxing also helps your skin clear up, enhances skin tone and clarity, improves digestion, balances hormones and gives you more energy.

The first thing you want to do is cut back on toxins. That means minimizing and eventually eliminating alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins in the body and are obstacles to your healing process.  Also, it's a good idea to minimize chemical laden household cleaners and personal health care products like (cleansers, shampoos, deodorants and toothpaste), and substitute with safer, natural alternatives.

"The body has its own natural healing system," says Peter Bennett, N.D., medical director of Helios Clinic in Victoria, B.C., and co-author with Stephen Barrie, N.D. and Sara Faye, of 7-Day Detox Miracle (Prima Health). "Detoxification enhances this system," he explains. Basically, detoxification means cleaning the blood.  It does this mainly by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin. However, when this system is compromised, impurities aren't properly filtered and every cell in the body is adversely affected.

Here are some easy ways you can detoxify your body everyday.

Start the day with a glass of spring water and the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon
This helps flush out the toxins and alkalizes the body.  You can also add a couple of teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of spring water.  Hippocrates treated his patients with apple cider vinegar. He found it was a powerful cleansing and healing elixir, a naturally occurring antibiotic and antiseptic that fights germs and bacteria, for a healthier, stronger, and longer life.  Don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to continue flushing out the toxins.  Aim for 2 liters per day.

Drink a fresh green juice daily
Include greens such as kale, spinach and cilantro.  These are nature's superfoods that pull the heavy metals and toxins out of your system so your body can begin to heal and reset itself.  When this happens, all the healing of the body begins and weight loss is effortless.  An easy juice drink is one cup of water, two cups romaine lettuce or kale, a pinch of cilantro, half a lemon, and three cups of fruit of your choice which can include an apple, , pear, banana or strawberries.  Just add any fruit you like.  Try the Glowing Green Smoothie by Kimberly Synder.

Eliminate toxic oils from your diet
Toxic oils can include vegetable oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, cotton seed oil and canola oil. Substitute with good oils with healthy fats and omega 3s for brain function and health, such as extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, hemp oil and flaxseed oil.

Drink green tea and herbal teas such as dandelion, nettles etc.
These teas help the body detoxify and clear out toxins.

Eat more raw fruits, herbs and vegetables
Fruit, vegetables and herbs contain enzymes that aid digestion and improve nutrient absorption.

Minimize or eliminate white sugar intake
Also avoid substitutes that contain toxic artificial sweeteners, and opt for natural versions such as sweet leaf raw stevia, organic raw honey, raw organic coconut sugar, organic molasses, or organic maple syrup.

Minimize or eliminate white flour and white breads
White flour is like adding glue in the body, and it overworks the digestive system. It can cause digestive disorders, and it can make it difficult to have normal bowel movements.  Keep in mind bread is a refined carbohydrate and converts to all sugar in the body.  So even healthier breads should be eaten at a minimum.  You can substitute white flour for other flours such as organic spelt flour, kamut flour, quinoa flour, brown rice flour, buckwheat flour or cornmeal.  Switch from white bread to organic whole grain bread.

Take probiotics
Probiotics are more helpful then you may realize. They clear all the bad bacteria out of the cells and the body.  Their little miracle workers because they leave the good bacteria and get rid of the bad. These bad bacteria can lead to a lifetime of health problems including weight gain, intestinal issues and the list goes on.  Look for the purest form of probiotics which would be in a liquid or powder form.

Breath, walk, smile, laugh, be happy and remove toxic people out of your life
This is my favorite advice.  Find the positive in every day and move your body. This will all help to reduce stress and the stress chemicals in your body. Walk or exercise as much as possible, hopefully everyday.  Sometimes it's hard to get started but you'll feel better once you do.  Grab a friend to walk or exercise with you or take the kids.  Either way, get out there and do it.  You'll be glad you did.

For more on detoxification, check out best selling author Kimberly Snyder's "The Beauty Detox Solution".


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Skinny & Co. Raw Coconut Oil Review

I'm a huge fan of coconut oil and I've written a few articles discussing the beauty and health benefits here on the blog.  I personally love it and added it to my daily beauty and health routine years ago once I found out how amazing it is.  So when Skinny & Co. Coconut oil  asked me to review their raw coconut oil I couldn't wait to try it.

You may have not heard of Skinny & Co. yet, but their growing, and fast!  Skinny Coconut oil is an all-natural, pesticide-free, and 100% pure, made in small batches to ensure the highest quality standards.  They also promote fair trade with their suppliers and use ethical business practices within their community.

Due to the high quality coconut oil, Skinny & Co. provides the ultimate health and beauty benefits because it's in the rawest form and the highest quality on the market.  Unlike most coconut oils available on the market, Skinny Coconut oil is never heated above room temperature and goes through a slow manufacturing process to ensure their quality remains the best on the market. This process Skinny Coconut oil takes about three times longer as other processes used and requires about double the coconuts needed to fill their 16.9 oz jars.  

Skinny Coconut oil comes from mature pesticide-free coconuts from the jungles of Vietnam.  They are one of the only coconut oil companies who harvest their coconuts from a wild untouched environment instead of a plantation.  In an area known as Ben Tre, the palm trees and coconuts grown here have been awarded the “Tree of Life” award by the Asia-Pacific Coconut Community recognizing the pristine environment and superior quality of Ben Tre coconuts.  Their coconuts are processed in the same jungle within 5 hours of being picked, which makes our coconut oil extra virgin.  Now what other coconut oil company can say that?

  

Unlike most coconut oils that have a rough texture, cracks within the jar, bleached white color, and an overpowering smell, Skinny Coconut oil has a light fragrance, a smooth texture, and a creamy white color just like the meat within the mature coconuts they use.  Their coconut oil has a very neutral taste so I could eat it right out of the spoon.  What I do to get my daily coconut oil is put it in the refrigerator and then spoon it out.  I'm not a huge fan of the coconut oil taste so I prefer it cold.  Click here to get more ideas on how to incorporate coconut oil in your daily routine.

Coconut oil is Here are some of the beauty and health Benefits of using Skinny Coconut oil:

Metabolism
Due to its high concentration of MCFAs, Skinny speeds up metabolism. Because they are so easily digested, MCFAs are immediately converted to energy, helping maintain a healthy weight. When looking at cultures that eat a coconut-rich diet, we find they are lean and obesity is rare. Even using coconut oil instead of unsaturated oils, such as corn, soy, bean, and canola can help aid in weight loss.

Brain Clarity
Coconut oil provides an alternative fuel to glucose for the brain. This fuel, known as ketones, encourages the healthy execution of important cerebral tasks. Ketones are highly neuro-protective, which leads to improved memory, cognition and attention. Ketones may also help curb cognitive decline in old age.

Heart Health 
Containing greater than 50% lauric acid, Skinny promotes a healthy cardiovascular system. The healthy saturated fat content has shown to protect heart cells, improve the function of the thyroid and help normalize cholesterol levels.

Immune System
Skinny is the earth’s richest source of a special fat called lauric acid. Also found in a mother’s milk, lauric acid helps form the immune system and protects the health of newborns. Replacing processed vegetable oils with MCFA-rich coconut oil promotes lifelong healthy immune function. This nutritious MCFA is found in infant formulas, tube feedings, and is commonly used by physicians to help patients obtain optimal health.

Blood Sugar
MCFAs in Skinny help maintain healthy insulin and blood sugar levels. Processed quickly by the liver, Skinny provides natural, long lasting energy and is much more effective than sugars, grains, and carbohydrates.

Moisturizer
Coconut oil is a fantastic face and body moisturizer.  Just apply as you would a lotion or facial moisturizer.  To moisturize your face, apply just a smudge the size of a grain of rice or smaller.  To moisturize the body, apply liberally anywhere you need moisture.  Coconut is high in essential fatty acids which you can only get from an outside source and give your skin an amazing glow :)

Hair Serum
Coconut oil makes the BEST hair serum.  For hair, you only need the smallest amount.  It will seal the cuticle and add amazing shine instantly.  Coconut oil is potent so you only need the smallest amount.  It will seal the cuticle and add amazing elasticity and shine instantly.  You can also use as a pre-conditioning treatment and shampoo out.

So get your Skinny Coconut oil today and reap the benefits of glowing skin, hair, weight loss and amazing health!  You can learn more and order via their website at: www.skinnyandcompany.com, and Amazon.com.  You can also connect with them on Twitter and Facebook.


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