coconut oil question

[RighteousYogini]

Hi Everyone
im going to try a raw vegan cheeesecake recipe, but it calls for "liquid coconunt oil." I've never heard of that and only see the stuff thats hard at room temperature. Do they mean melt it? And if so, how?

Thanks!!

I bought the solid stuff so any advice would be awesome.

[scyn]

It's the same stuff, just melted. Either:
Put some in a bowl in the dehydrator. Put some in a glass bowl, then put that bowl in another bowl of warm water.

[RighteousYogini]

one problem: no dehydrator...

That sounds so obsessive, for lack of a better word (I promose no offense intended, but it really sounds crazy! the splitting bowls, dehydrating some, putting some other in a bowl warm but not too warm). Can't I just heat it? I thought coconut oil was fine even heated.

Either way, thank you!!! Ill just warm the stuff up :)

[scyn]

I gave you two options. Either do option 1 using a dehydrator, or do option 2, using the bowl of warm water.

[RighteousYogini]

OHHH!!! Thank you Scyn!!!!! I thought I was supposed to do both!

Great. Ill take the water option. that's easy.

[scyn]

I thought I was supposed to do both!
:)

What flavour are you making? Hope there's a picture soon...

[RighteousYogini]

well, the easiest option is this lemon one....but I had (woops) 3 different kinds last night and now Im addicted. and they're EXPENSIVE> so I just went out and bought all of the stuff to make it myself. I swear, if I can make this damn cheesecake, I can do raw!
Not sure about a photo because it'll be a first shot. Youll laugh :)

[lovenlife]

Actually some of the coconut oils are not truly raw...so melt it how you want..unless u r sure its raw.

[RighteousYogini]

Im sure its raw. And if I found out it wasn't, Id still be okay.

[lovenlife]

ok so warm as directed..cool!

[RighteousYogini]

I have to ask...short of picking your own coconut...how can anyone "really be absolutely, 100% sure" the oil is raw?

Is there a way?

[lovenlife]

There is something in the processing that changes it..it will say it on the label if it is. "Not heated above" or maybe cold processed. I am not totally sure if any of it is. Maybe others chime in.

I am like you, I am ok with it either way. I eat sooo much raw I no fuss bout c.o.!

[scyn]

I have to ask...short of picking your own coconut...how can anyone "really be absolutely, 100% sure" the oil is raw?

Is there a way?
If it says 'Cold Pressed' on the container, then it has usually not gone above 70 - 90ºF.

[MARINE7]

I have heard that coconut oil is a great substitute for soap. I know common soap from the store contains chemicals that are not good for your skin and overall health. Is this true and does anyone here use coconut oil in place of soap? If so, has it helped your skin?

[walnutty]

I have heard that coconut oil is a great substitute for soap. I know common soap from the store contains chemicals that are not good for your skin and overall health. Is this true and does anyone here use coconut oil in place of soap? If so, has it helped your skin?

I am wondering the same thing.

I have seen several posts where others have used raw oils on their faces/bodies to moisturize. I have tried that with raw, organic olive oil and raw, organic coconut oil and it burns the skin on my face and makes it really itchy.

I would love to hear any success stories with using raw, organic oils on the face.

[klomasius]

I just use warm water and a washcloth instead of soap, works fine!

Coconut and other oils are a good cleanser, they remove oil based impurities and dirt from the skin and pores and so are both good cleansers and moisturisers.

Cleansing with oil for me all over the body is not a daily thing as it can be quite involved, it's not needed daily anyways.

And now some smiley faces from my son:

:cool::D:):eek:

[levamssg]

I occasionally use a mixture of coarse sea salt and olive/jajoba oils. Daily I use Dr. Bonners pure castsile soap -- and it contains coconut oil and organic olive oil among other things. It is nice.

[Stina]

I just use warm water and a washcloth instead of soap, works fine!

Coconut and other oils are a good cleanser, they remove oil based impurities and dirt from the skin and pores and so are both good cleansers and moisturisers.

Cleansing with oil for me all over the body is not a daily thing as it can be quite involved, it's not needed daily anyways.

And now some smiley faces from my son:

:cool::D:):eek:

Yay! Tell your son the smiley faces made my day!!

[klomasius]

Thanks Stina, I showed him your post and he was chuffed that someone like it!

[kjduf]

I use coconut oil on my face as a moisturizer. My face/skin has never looked better. I actually get compliments on how I glow. I experimented a little by using over the counter moisturizer for 2 weeks and I could definitely see the difference. So I now only use coconut oil as a moisturizer. Oh and I only put it on at night and when I wake up my face is so soft and smooth.

[MARINE7]

I have been using this coconut oil for bathing and it is almost grease like on my skin. I feel like I am scrubbing with crysco grease. After cleansing it repels water off my skin and does not seem to me like it is cleaning my body. Also, after bathing it makes me smell a little bit odd. I am still a newbie to this this knowledge so is this the wrong stuff?
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=GU-7001

[klomasius]

Hi Marine7,

I can totally understand the feeling you have about if not cleaning you. We are accustomed to associating cleanliness with a skin that feels like it's 'squeaky clean'.

In reality, this is not an optimal situation for our skin. Soap (especially low quality soaps that have had the glycerine extracted) strips the skin's own natural moisturising factors (NMFs) and causes a imbalances that can lead to or exacerbate acne, rashes, and other skin conditions.

Oil based cleaners such as coconut oil remove dirt and impurities without removing natural moisturising factors, leaving the skin not traumatised daily.

I very rarely use oils as a cleanser on any place other than my face. I do use them for moisturiser, using only a tiny amount on wet skin just after a shower.

It might be that you are using too much, maybe cut down the amount, or try using a tiny amount along with a washcloth in the shower instead of the bath?

Good luck!

[MARINE7]

So Klomasius was my coconut oil the right kind? It said on the description that is was great for cooking, but never said anything about bathing. I can still smell the weird odor on my body now and it smells nothing like coconuts. :eek:

[klomasius]

So Klomasius was my coconut oil the right kind? It said on the description that is was great for cooking, but never said anything about bathing. I can still smell the weird odor on my body now and it smells nothing like coconuts. :eek:

None of the coconut oils will mention bathing in it! Coconut oil is mainly used for eating in the west, but it has so many other uses, and has been used for beauty and cleaning in many cultures for hundreds if not thousands of years.

Some brands of coconut oil are stronger smelling than others, but any coconut oil will do for cleansing. I use a nice high quality, low odour coconut oil for all my coconut oil needs (eating and non eating). But this stuff is Australian made and you'll be able to find an equal quality brand in your country:

http://lovingearth.net/products/37/raw-organic-coconut-butter-oil

[lovenlife]

I will say I use coocnut oil as a hand sanitizer/moisturizer. I carry it with me and because it is cold, it has formed a little bar. I run it in my hands and massagein. It is anti bacterial and it works well if you feel the need to sanitize.

I guess that is the extent of my use of coconut oil as soap but I use it as an all over body lotion, especially and always my face.

It isnt greasy, absorbs quickly and I love how it makes my cheeks turn pink right away. I attribute my good skin to raw eating as well as coconut oil on my face.

I also oil pull with it and brush my teeth with it.

[sidrah]

I use coconut oil on my feet/legs in place of lotion, then I just put my socks on. No issue with a weird smell.

I also use it on my hair and face at night and always get asked what I use tp make my hair so shiny. I tell them the truth and get weird looks. I just rub it in my hands and then through my hair at night and when I get up, it is shiny. I use it for my lips, too.

I keep one jar completely away from the kitchen and use that for non-eating stuff, like mentioned above. I am going to start using it in place of toothpaste, too. It is good for cuticles, as well, which you notice if you use it daily on feet. All the rubbing in your hands softens them up.

Price-wise, I would rather use that than lotion anyway. It moisturizes much better.

[klomasius]

Sidrah, I'm yet to use it for my hair as I'm a little worried that it will get a bit oily. I don't use shampoo/conditioner or any other thing that might wash it out except for some bicrab soda on occasion. My hair does get a little dry every now and then and I was thinking of getting a spray/mist bottle and putting a little rosehip or almond oil and mixing it with water then using it after a good shake to mist over my hair and give it a tiny amount of oil.

Do you use shampoo and conditioner, if not, do you use anything else? I'd be interested to hear if you don't as I have been wanting to try a little oil thru my hair. Also, what type of hair do you have? Mine is fine and straight.

I totally agree with coconut oil being the preferred lotion/moisturiser and cleanser. My ultra top quality coconut oil costs me about $15 a bottle (maybe a pounds worth in imperial measurements?) and if I only used it for beauty purposes, it would last me a whole year, or more!

[Stina]

I love what it is doing for my aging skin but it just makes my dry hair greasy and I don't use that much.

[Revvell]

Dont use dehydrator if possible.

Why not? ....

[kjduf]

Oh I forgot about my hair. When ever I think about it maybe once a month at night when I moisture my face with the coconut oil I always rub some into my hands and after that I just run my hand through my hair. When I get up and wash my hair its sooo soft. Right now I use OTC shampoo and conditioner.

[klomasius]

Oh I forgot about my hair. When ever I think about it maybe once a month at night when I moisture my face with the coconut oil I always rub some into my hands and after that I just run my hand through my hair. When I get up and wash my hair its sooo soft. Right now I use OTC shampoo and conditioner.


Does OTC stand for over the counter?

[Stina]

the skin on my shins is no longer scaly looking since I've been using coconut on it.

[January Noir]

I purchased a jar of Natures Way coconut oil and took my first teaspoon today. It was surprisingly delicious. It looks like I love this superfood. Great moisturizer and cleanser too!

[January Noir]

When putting coconut oil in smoothies, do you melt first or just scoop it into the blender? I tried it with the Spectrum brand and it made a foamy scum on the top of my smoothies and I didn't like it.

The Nature's Way brand looks and tastes the way coconut oil should.
Is there a better brand I should know about?

[kjduf]

OTC is "over the counter".

I use Bath and Body Works "Energy" scent is orange ginger aromatherapy shampoo and conditioner. I just LOVE the smell of that.

[sidrah]

Sidrah, I'm yet to use it for my hair as I'm a little worried that it will get a bit oily. I don't use shampoo/conditioner or any other thing that might wash it out except for some bicrab soda on occasion. My hair does get a little dry every now and then and I was thinking of getting a spray/mist bottle and putting a little rosehip or almond oil and mixing it with water then using it after a good shake to mist over my hair and give it a tiny amount of oil.

Do you use shampoo and conditioner, if not, do you use anything else? I'd be interested to hear if you don't as I have been wanting to try a little oil thru my hair. Also, what type of hair do you have? Mine is fine and straight.


Yes, I use regular shampoo and conditioner.- the cheap stuff most often. Usually I won't use conditioner if I use coconut oil. I never have a problem with it being greasy. I ony use a little and rub it in pretty well in my hands before I rub it through my hair. I go from underneath, not rub it right on top. My hair is long and straight. Not fine, though. I don't notice that it makes it greasy ever. If anything, I am always asked how come it is so shiny.

[klomasius]

Thanks Stina, I'm going to try a tiny amount of coconut oil on my hair today! :D

I'll let everyone know how it went.

[Stina]

Thanks Stina, I'm going to try a tiny amount of coconut oil on my hair today! :D

I'll let everyone know how it went.

Yep, typical of me I perfected the greasy on top, dry ends look!

[sidrah]

Rub it in at night and when you wake up your hair will be very soft and shiny. I think the extra time lets it mellow a little. I never put it in right before leaving only b/c in my mind it would look/feel greasy and I would feel off all day.