THE 4 NON-KITCHEN WAYS TO USE COCONUT OIL THAT WILL MAKE YOU MORE BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY

I don’t use coconut oil in the kitchen. Its low burning point doesn’t make it ideal for cooking; I use avocado or grape seed oil instead. I actually keep my coconut oil in the bathroom where it helps me replace other products. I used to think that coconut oil was expensive, but after seeing all the products that I can replace with coconut oil, I realized it’s actually a money saver. I make sure to purchase coconut oil that’s organic, cold-pressed and non-GMO. I also try to purchase it in a glass jar so that I can reuse the jar and produce less waste, which is great for the environment. Here are 4 great non-kitchen ways to use coconut oil all over you house.

1. Toothpaste

Mix a bit of coconut oil and baking soda or bentonite clay to create a paste, add a drop of peppermint essential oil and Voila! A delicious, environmentally friendly toothpaste. It was believed that fluoride was good at preventing cavities and this is why it has been added to toothpaste and even to our water. Now we know that fluoride is actually toxic. This led me to look for non-fluoride toothpaste alternatives. I found a brand of toothpaste that I like but I also make it at home with coconut oil. This home-made toothpaste a great solution.

2. Hand or Body Lotion

Skin care products are filled with chemical preservatives, perfumes and many other substances our body can’t process. Chemical preservatives can irritate sensitive skin and many of them are associated with cancer. Even though there is a ‘top safe limit’ allowed in each product, there have been no studies to show how all of these products with chemical preservatives interact with each other and affect us. If you can, look for a skin care line with no chemical preservatives or if you want to simplify, use coconut oil (or any other ‘kitchen’ oil) as lotion or hand lotion. My night ritual is to remove my makeup, wash my face and apply coconut oil to soothe my hands. It smells amazing and you don’t have to worry about putting unnecessary chemicals on your skin.

3.Makeup Remover

I have to use waterproof mascara or my eyelashes are as flat and stiff as an inclined rooftop. Which means I need a very specific makeup remover. I tried many brands and I found my favorite one. But I know it’s filled with chemicals that are not good for my skin (or for my liver). Coconut oil is a great alternative to makeup remover. Just a little bit of coconut oil on a tiny piece of cotton removes makeup effectively, it smells delicious and it leaves skin feeling soft.

4.Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an oral detox procedure used in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s very easy to do: you take a spoonful of coconut oil and swish it in your mouth for 10-20 minutes and then you spit it out. Make sure you do it in the morning before brushing your teeth. The benefits of oil pulling are:

Kills bad bacteria

Reduces plaque

Naturally whitens teeth

Prevents cavities

Improves breath

If you want healthy habits that last a lifetime, optimizing your time is key, but who the heck has 20 minutes to swoosh coconut oil in their mouth? This is why I do my oil pulling when I shower. I know I take about 15 minutes in the shower, which is the same amount of time I need to do the oil pulling. Win-win.