Coconut oil is a traditional food in many parts of the world, although for some years it had an unfair reputation, in the West, due to its high saturated fat content. Recent research has determined that saturated fat is no longer the major culprit in heart disease, and that coconut oil may have significant health properties. It is now used widely in toiletries, particularly shampoos and moisturisers, due both to its pleasant scent and its excellent absorbency. Coconut oil alone can be used as a face cream or lip salve if you prefer to avoid additives.
While this oil will keep almost indefinitely at a cool room temperature, it is best refrigerated during the warmer months. It is unusual in that it is a solid, somewhat resembling lard, when it is kept below about 25C (77F) but becomes liquid at warmer temperatures.
Anti-viral properties of coconut oil
Coconut oil is an excellent natural anti-viral product, which also has some anti-fungal and antibiotic properties. As such, it is ideal to take at the start of a cold or any kind of infection. Just a teaspoon of coconut oil taken at bedtime can ease the symptoms of a sore throat. While medical attention should be sought for serious illnesses, coconut oil can be taken internally alongside antibiotics or other medication, and can be used externally for thrush, cystitis, or fungal infections such as athlete's foot.
Coconut oil is excellent for soothing and sometimes helping to cure mouth ulcers. Try soothing just a tiny amount on a new canker sore, and you should experience immediate relief. Coconut oil may also help in the fight against tooth decay. Whether used as an alternative to toothpaste, or to swill the mouth out, it appears to fight toxins in the mouth and may even help to repair minor cavities.
Note that, while coconut oil can help to lower blood pressure, it contains high amounts of dietary cholesterol. So you may wish to avoid it if you have dangerously high cholesterol, or if you are taking drugs to lower your blood pressure.
Coconut oil and Alzheimer's Disease
There has been some encouraging research, some of it still ongoing, which suggests that even a tablespoonful of coconut oil daily may help brain function both in normal aging and in the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. While most of the evidence so far is anecdotal, it may be well worth taking as a supplement for a few months (with the provisos above) to see if it helps.
Further Reading:
Coconut oil may combat tooth decay (BBC report)
Coconut oil is the anti-viral of nature (Natural News)
What is coconut oil? (LiveScience)