Coconut Oil
Health Benefits

Coconut Oil Benefits, Side Effects and Reviews

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Cindy (Seattle, Wa.) on 07/01/2007
★★★★★

I've had chronic bladder infections for twenty years.I've been on every antibiotic and only got worse. I've been taking virgin coconut oil for almost four months. Within a week the infections were gone. I haven't had any pain in four months plus I've lost ten pounds, have more energy, and almost no acne flare ups.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Kay (Washington, DC) on 06/26/2007
★★★★★

I started using vco about 2 months ago. I heard about all the different health benefits of using it so i first began using it on my hair and my hair has never shined the way that it does now. I have also noticed that there is less breakage than before. After awhile i decided to start using it as a body moisturizer, it is awesome even my little sister who thinks of me as a nature junkie loves to use it. My skin has never been softer, even when i was using pure shea butter. I also suffer from body acne and that has cleared up. I know have soft flawless skin i can't wait to start taking it internally. VCO is the best thing to use if you suffer from any kind of skin condition. This stuff is great, i wouldn't trade it for the world


Broad Benefits
Posted by Amy (West New York, U.S.) on 06/22/2007
★★★★☆

Virgin coconut oil gives my husband diarrhea, it doesn't seem to do a whole lot for me in terms of weight loss, but it has helped my 2 y.o. daughter's immune system. I think VCO only helps with a balanced diet. My husband's diet is a typical Western diet, which is mostly starches, process/refined foods, preservatives and little fruit/greens. I eat plenty of fruits & veggies, but I did not give up the sweets/white flour, so VCO didn't help me lose any weight, even after months of taking it (1-2 Tbs. a day over toast or in oatmeal). My daughter, whom I now suspect is sensitive to gluten, has asthmatic tendencies and I was feeding her too much whole grains. I limited her whole grains, added VCO almond butter olive oil into her diet and she has not needed her nebulizer and her colds do not last 2-3 weeks. VCO HELPS, but it is not a miracle cure. Nothing is. Also, it is an oil, so I don't understand why anyone would put it in a cup of tea?!!?


Broad Benefits
Posted by Sandra (Ventura, CA) on 06/21/2007
★★★★★

I have been using coconut oil since last Sept. I use it for my skin, salad dressing and anything else I can think of. Oh, delicious on baked sweet potatoe. I give my four cats coconut oil on their paws everyday and their coats are beautiful. My one cat Sadie goes to the container on my dresser and helps herself to as much as she wants. Since my last blood work, my cholesterol has dropped from 252 to 240, HDL 86. My blood pressure dropped from 134/89 to 130/70. I love the way it smells and tastes. I use about one tablespoon a day. I am very happy with the results and will continue to use it, as well as my girls.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Jeanie (Austin, Texas) on 06/12/2007
★★★★★

Coconut Oil cured my adult acne and keeps me from getting sunburned and promotes a healthy tan. I have fair skin and if I start using coconut oil I brown easily and it actually protects my skin and promotes natural tanning. I do not use sun screen. It also protects my skin from the water. I have been using it for years. I also cook with it...makes delicious fried eggs. It's the only oil that can withstand high temperatures without causing free radicals. I started using it about 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I am still cancer-free and rarely ever become ill!

Broad Benefits
Posted by Rickilynn (Bowie, Md) on 08/15/2011

Please research the benenfits of a raw diet to cure cancer. Also look into getting the book "The China Study"


Broad Benefits
Posted by Jeffrey (Bournemouth, England) on 06/07/2007
★★★★★

COCONUT OIL CURED MY INSOMNIA ACID REFLUX AND GAVE ME LOTS OF ENERGY. I AM TYPE 2 DIABETIC THIS OIL HAS GIVEN ME MY LIFE BACK IFEEL SO WELL PLEASE PLEASE TRY IT I AM 63 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER FELT SO WELL IN YEARS

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Posted by Allison (New York, NY) on 06/04/2007

I just wanted to clear something up about Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. There is no such thing as "Extra Virgin" there is only "Virgin." This term has just been picked up from olive oil and used by marketers to market their product and try to convince people that their product is better than Virgin Coconut Oil. This is not true. So don't be fooled when a company says that it is "Extra Virgin Coconut Oil" it is still just Virgin Coconut oil.

Warts
Posted by Ashley (Baltimore, MD) on 05/10/2007
★★★★★

Virgin coconut oil cured my plantar warts. I had some plantar warts on my foot for about a year, then I started rubbing coconut oil on my feet to help soften the skin and make walking more comfortable. After about 2 months of this, I was just starting to think of going to the doctor to have them removed (with much dread) when I noticed that the warts had shrunk. Then about 1-2 weeks later, the dead skin just peeled off like a callous, revealing soft healthy skin underneath. It wasn't an overnight cure, but the time was a small price to pay for not having them dug out! I know they were warts because they had the little black spots in them, they hurt or bled if scraped, and a couple of small ones had appeared elsewhere on my foot. I also use coconut oil in food preparation on a regular basis, as well as topically on all areas of the skin.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Deborah (Swansea, SC) on 04/28/2007
★★★★★

I previously wrote some negative feedback about coconut oil...but I now stand corrected. despite the bad side effects, the flu or food poison symptoms, and yep, I even gained weight at first. After suffering with IBS all my life, I have finally found a cure. I continued to take the VCO even after being sick with it and even gaining weight... I went to my Dr. this past Tuesday and told her I was on it. My blood pressure was a little high, but she told me the VCO was not causing it and she has never heard anything negative about it. she told me that my thyroid was enlarged, but I am sure it was like that before I took the VCO..I started on 2 capsules today, after being on 1 for the last 3 weeks. my weight is starting to slim down some...my appetite has been cut in half...I have energy, the bumps on the back of my arms, are all but gone...my severely dry skin is now soft..my hair is better too. but the main thing is my IBS is cured...I have tried everything under the sun, and this is the only thing that has had this kind of results. and my large bulldog had severe hip problems, I give him 2 glucosomene and one coconut capsul every day. he is so much better..I took him walking today for the first time in a long time. we have always had him on glucosome but we have never had this kind of result, my dog also had bad side effects at first, and I stopped for a while, but he only got worse...he is just so much better now...its amazing. I don't know if coconut oil is for everyone, but I am a firm believer in it now, yes the side effects are bad at first, but be patient it gets better.

Hemmorhoids
Posted by Carol (Baton Rouge, Lousiana) on 04/27/2007
★★★★★

When I was bleeding going to the bathroom it was bright red. I spoke with my Dr. and he told me bright red means there are hemorrhoids inside the rectum and the feces arehard and scratching. If it were cancer the blood would be dark or brownish red. I read that coconut oil was great for hemorrhoids so I used it and guess what I have had no problems in over a year. Remember no double dipping.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Jesslynn (Bellingham, USA) on 04/23/2007
★★★★★

re: Subject: Coconut Oil for Rashes and Healing of Scars. I am 40 yrs old and have very dry sun-damaged skin. I have been experimenting with vit E, aloe, green tea, olive oil, and just recently extra virgin coconut oil. About two weeks ago I had to have 3 biopsies on my legs. To make a long story short...I tried the coconut oil last night and woke up and found that my legs are much better. The redness from the scars and also a rash I have had for 3 months dramatically improved. I think this stuff actually works great.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Carlos (Spain, Barcelona) on 12/22/2010
★★★★★

To Stella from CA. IM a 28 year old man, Im a cosmetic and diet freak. I started using everything available. Then I went the natural way trying everything you can imagine from aloe to shea butter, ACV, molasses, soy... I basically have used everything you can think of, even those awful nivea for men. So I started putting EVCO and I also got initial break outs. It felt oily, I wasnt really feelin it. But my mother tried it and said it was wonderful, I came back to read the testimonials and I gave it another try. After few days, all teh dead cells and dry skin in my T zone are gone, I have a light rosacea also and its gone, I have uniform tone. I have read somewhere that coconut oil is detox. It reaches the under layers in skin and cleanses pores, getting rid of dead cells and dirt. Wash his face with warm water, exfoliate. Pat dry. Apply EVCO, massage it throuly for 5 min. Rince with hot water. Remove excess oil and dead cells with a towel. Now skin will be glowing. Apply a thin layer of EVCO again and you are done. Give it a week. New skin will come out after few days, light young smooth skin.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Deborah (Palm Bay, Florida) on 04/03/2007
★★★★★

After reading other's comments I recognized that it was not just my imagination that my sugar cravings stopped after I started eating coconut oil. Also, my teeth and gums do feel cleaner all the time. (Grapefruit seed extract also helped my teeth to stay cleaner.) My scalp is starting to feel less dry and I am hoping this will alleviate my dry skin and hair completely.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Renee (Los Angeles, CA) on 03/29/2007
★★★★★

I've been taking the evco for about 1 month now. I took it because I heard I might lose weight. When I first started the oil, I had diary for about 2 days. But, that stopped. As of now, the following conditions have cleared. The most important first:
1) No more bleeding hemmoroids. I was bleeding 2 or 3 times a week. I was going to go to the dr. but I started the oil and 1 week later, no more blood.
2) No more athletes foot. No more body odor or foot odor, or bad breath.
3) No more yeast infections.
4) Not one pimple on my face. I would get at least 1 pimples per week. I have now soft shiny skin and hair, my wrinkles have gone.
5) No more PMS symptoms: puffiness, mood swings, headaches.
6) And yes. I got into my size 6's which I haven't been able to in 5 years! My stomach is gone! No more cellulite. And I still kept all my muscle. Only the fat is gone. I started at 160 lbs and now, about 150. What more can I say?

Broad Benefits
Posted by Ibiza (New York) on 07/14/2010
★★★★★

I've been oil pulling with organic virgin unrefined coconut oil for one week. I couldn't wait to report! How wonderful this discovery is! I have more energy, deeper dreams, whiter teeth, and more regular elimination. The most dramatic change is less mucus in my sinuses. I overhauled my diet and started using a neti pot with salt daily two months ago. This is because seven years ago, I became afflicted with allergies and sinus issues. I went to a specialist who recommended over-the-counter relief. Every season, I had to choose a new medicine because the previous one stopped working. Finally, two months ago, I had a horrible sinus infection which caused me to be put on three medications. That's when I said, enough is enough, no more medicine (which I suspect was having an adverse effect on other areas of my body, namely my liver). That's when I implemented a diet change and started using a neti pot. However, using the neti pot was time consuming because often I was unable to get any of the water to pour out of one or both nostrils due to mucus. Still, I persevered and used it every day. I have not had a migraine headache or had to use any allergy medicine since that time. Since oil pulling with the VCO, my neti pot time has been cut in half or more! The water pours out of each nostril easily. No more mucus plugs! It's unbelievable. I am even more confident that using the neti pot, oil pulling and eating a clean, basic, meatless diet will allow me to fully overcome my allergies and sinus issues. I also started using the coconut oil on my face with outstanding results. My face was becoming dry and dull, I guess due to age and hormonal changes (I'm in my 40's). Now, it's as smooth as a baby's bottom! I use a tiny bit in the morning on a clean face and massage it in completely. It does take a while to absorb so do it when you first get up unless you want an oil shine. I can't wait to use it on the rest of my body (need to buy it a gallon at a time from an online source). Lastly, I was immensely skeptical of using the coconut oil as a deodorant. However, yesterday, I did it for the first time since I didn't need to leave the house and live alone, hahaha. I have to say that it worked perfectly. And, I actually did end up going out in the summer heat. It worked then and all through the night into this morning! I just used a small portion and massaged it under my underarms. I'm not a fan of the smell of coconut oil (others love it) and it took about an hour for the smell to subside when used on the face and under the arms. So, I just have to get up earlier so that it's gone by the time I leave the house. I have no idea of how strong the VCO is as a deodorant since I didn't do too much; I'll rotate it along with the other natural deodorants I use.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Renee (Los Angeles, CA) on 03/29/2007
★★★★★

I just wanted to add one more item. I, too have been battling high blood pressure 150/90 along with my weight. I noticed my blood pressure has gone down to about 117/65. But, I noticed if I drink a cup of coffee in the morning, my BP will go way up. I am learning that with the increase in energy from the oil, I cannot drink the coffee because its as if it doubles the energy effect. So, my craving for coffee, alcohol and sweets are totally gone. My appetite is also gone.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Mauris (Port Orchard, Washington, USA) on 03/27/2007
★★★★★

For about the last 12 months I have only used olive oil and unrefined virgin coconut oil in my household. I only cook with coconut oil, and I eat about 2 or 3 tablespoons of this oil a day. Anymore, I rarely eat out, because of the refined polyunsaturated and easily oxydized oils used in most commercially prepared foods. Coconut oil is stable, does not go rancid, and is easily and quickly digested and turned into energy. After I bathe or shower I always rub coconut oil on my body. All total, it's a big plus. I'm age 66, am 5' 11" tall, and weigh about 165. I have more energy than I used to have, I no longer have itchy athlete's foot, my skin is soft, seems like my digestion is better (less stomach gas), and my blood pressure and cholesterol are both good. It's very unfortunate that we typically think of any and ALL saturated fat as something that's bad for the health!



NEXT