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.
Mono
Posted by David (Memphis, TN) on 11/29/2006
★★★★★
I have been taking coconut oil for five or six years now. About five years ago, my daughter,who was in college at the time, came down with mononucleosis. I overnighted her a bottle of monolaurin, the main ingredient of lauric acid, which is only found in any quantity in coconut oil and human milk. My daughter was diagnosed on a Tuesday, she got the monolaurin on Wednesday and on Friday, nine days later she had no symptoms and quit taking it. The following Monday (that's 13 days post diagnosis) she had lab work done and was completely normal. Other dorm-mates of hers had mono for months. Coconut oil, lauric acid and monolaurin supposedly lise the lipid envelopes of lipid viruses and bacteria.
Most colds are caused by lipid enveloped viruses as are a number of major viral infections.
Just last Saturday, a friend of mine called to tell me he had a horrible cold and had made an appointment to see and ENT physician on Monday. I told him to take three tablespoons of coconut oil. When I saw him on Monday, he was obviously fine. He told me he had taken two tablespoons on Saturday and Sunday and was fine on Monday so he cancelled his doctor's appointment.
I take it all the time but every now and then I run out. Usually I will get sick when I do. Then I go get some more. It is particularly effective for sinus infections. I just snort some into my sinus cavities. Most people are amazed when I prescribe it and it works. But I have seen it happen so many times now, I just expect it to work.
Dry Skin
Posted by Lynn (Westmont, IL) on 11/17/2006
★★★★★
I used to have very dry skin, I'd have to put on lotion a couple times a day in the winter to feel "normal." I also used department store facial creams. I now use coconut oil for my body and face. I can't rave enough about the results. A person in Fruitful Yield gave the me the suggestion for my daughter and then told me that she uses it on her face as a cream. I thought it was worth a try.
How to Take Internally
Posted by June (South Australia) on 08/24/2006
★★★★★
Coconut Oil has cured my arthritic pain, balanced blood sugar, given me energy and reduced lines and wrinkles. After reading all the positive results I found a place in Australia that sells excellent C/oil. I take three tablespoons a day (one each meal) I also use it externally on my skin, with amazing results. I had no side effects, nor has it altered my cholesterol reading. Mixed with a hot lemon drink with turmeric is a good start to the day. Mixed with yogurt or cottage cheese, muesli and fruit is also delicious. I stopped taking Glucosamine when I started the C/oil and have not taken any since.
Dry Skin
Posted by Suzan (Fair Oaks, CA) on 08/02/2006
★★★★★
I did not try to 'cure' anything.. I just wanted the benefits of the coconut... I have never had any 'bad' reaction. We've been eating coconut oil for about 5 years. I buy it online from "Tropical Traditions" by the gallon. I LOVE coconut cream concentrate... (ground coconut meat with the oil) Eat it straight several times a day... Put the oil on my face every morning and on my husband's legs as they tend to become too dry in the hot summer. Also cook/fry with just the Virgin coconut oil... and olive oil. NONE of any coconut oil will 'clog your arteries'.. Read "Know Your Fats" by Mary G. Enig... She is very knowledgeable and will answer all your questions. Thanks for asking.....Suzan
Make Your Own Coconut Oil
Posted by Ivan (Panajachel, Guatemala) on 07/22/2006
★★★★★
Make your own! Buy a whole coconut (the older ones have more oil), break the nut, take the copra (white part) and grate it, pour a quart of boiling water on it and knead it, squeeze all the now milky white liquid out and let it sit over night and in the morning the oil will have risen to the top. Easy, cheap, needs no special equipment, natural as can be with all the nutrients still in it. Enjoy!
Make Your Own Coconut Oil
Posted by Barbara (Benton Harbor, MI, USA) on 12/10/2008
Reading up your instructions on making oil...can you say how much oil I can expect to get from 1 nut? We would prefer to make our own, but aren't sure if it's feasible. Thanks B
Make Your Own Coconut Oil
Posted by Kelly (Saginaw ) on 06/12/2014
Kroger sells a wonderful organic cold-pressed jar of coconut oil in the baking section. You can tell the difference between expeller pressed and cold pressed, cold having a much more prominent coconut taste. It almost tastes like a dessert to me. $8.99 for a 14 oz jar. I eat about a tablespoon three times a day just before meals. My skin feels wonderful and soft and I do have a lot of energy. Doesn't help me with cravings though.
Dry Skin
Posted by Rita (Burson, CA) on 07/05/2006
★★★★★
I have been taking coconut oil for a few weeks because of the health benefits I had heard about. One day I noticed that my skin felt very soft even though I had been too lazy to use body lotion. Later I reached up and touched my ears which had been rough for some time. They are as soft as baby ears. I didn't put it on my ears, I just took it internally a couple of tablespoons, sometimes more, a day. I also put it on my face at night and it seems to make a difference. At least my skin feels very soft.
How to Take Internally
Posted by Manasvini (Maharashtra, India) on 07/02/2006
★★★★★
i came across your site by chance. for those of u who are using coconut oil, it is great for external skin. it is used for a whole body massage every week here in india. but i wouldn't recommend it for internal consumption. i have heard that the oil is high in cholesterol. it is the normal cooking oil that i am talking about. that's why we indians use til oil or sunflower oil for cooking. i am not sure what extra virgin coconut oil is. actually normal coconut oil is used to induce vomiting in case of accidental swallowing of poison ,etc. take precautions be fore taking internally.
How to Take Internally
Posted by Tom (London, Uk) on 05/19/2012
How to Take Internally
Posted by Pinoy Ako (the Philippines) on 06/05/2006
★★★★★
please take only VIRGIN COCONUT OIL, and not just ordinary cooking coconut oil. The difference is in their processing. The former is good for your health--boost immunity, etc. The benefits are widely studied:
http://www.doh.gov.ph/sars/coconut_oil.htm
Diarrhea is a natural side effect. Coconut detoxifies your digestive system; after a while (two weeks for me), it normalizes and relieves your diarrhea problem.
How to Take Internally
Posted by Rhonald (Washington, DC) on 06/02/2006
★★★★★
This oil really helped my skin, which becomes dry in winter. It also helped my immune system and provides the best oil to cook with. I have known about coconut oil for some time now, recommended by Dr. Joseph Mercola, in IL., when I went to see him in 2002. Regretfully, I have run out for a while now, but will reorder. To all the people who experience(d) stomach upset and other flu like symptoms; this may be because the oil is noted for ridding the body of toxins. Anytime you ingest anything that attacks parasites, bacteria, viruses, etc., you are inducing a body cleansing. The body responds by making you feel sick, and the degree, which is an indication of the level of toxins in your body. If the body is not prepared for this, it reacts (cleansing reaction). I never personally experienced this and I would highly recommend that if you use this oil, your system needs to at least be very hydrated with pure water, vegetable juice, weak teas, and eliminate sugar and starchy foods or at least cut back for a week or so to see how you react. Help the body do its job.
Also, go to your local healthfood store and get pH papers. When I embarked on a 4 week deep cleanse a few years ago, the author was very firm with people to NOT cleanse until the pH was around the 6-7 mark, acidic/alkaline. If your body is too acidic, cleansing reactions will be worse. The body needs to be balanced before toxins are released into the system. The pH factor of body fluids (not stomach acid) is critical for overall good health, because disease thrives in an acidic environment. You might want to check out these pages at the end... it will explain all the benefits of coconut oil and all fats. It is the best oil for cooking, as its molecules remain stable under high heat. Beware, many commercial coconut oils are refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) and contain chemicals used in processing. This you don't want, so ask the source how it is made. I hope this is helpful to those who became ill (cleansing reactions?) Note: some people may be allergic to coconuts, so that could have been the culprit? In closing, I would say research this and don't give up on the oil.
Below are some useful pages. http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/28/coconut_oil.htm
http://www.mercola.com/2001/mar/24/coconut_oil.htm
http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/28/coconut_health.htm
http://www.mercola.com/2002/aug/17/saturated_fat1.htm
I researched this and many other topics surrounding fats in general. I am now on cod liver oil, flax meal, and low mercury fish, which has to be ordered out of state.
Energy Booster
Posted by Roger Bird (Colorado Springs, Colorado) on 03/04/2012
Coconut oil is such an energy booster that I have to be careful to take it only in the morning if I want to sleep at night.
How to Take Internally
Posted by Dave (Cambridge, MN) on 05/19/2006
★★★★★
Reply to Connie's inquiry on how others take coconut oil. I just started taking it, so i'm only taking 1 tsp a couple times a day. Trying to start slow to avoid problems others have had. I mix it in peanut butter and eat it on celery sticks and carrots. Has worked for me.
Skin Issues
Posted by JL (PA) on 05/06/2006
★☆☆☆☆
Coconut oil gave me nothing but red skin and a billion tiny little whiteheads.
Dry Skin
Posted by Kathy (Kansas City) on 05/02/2006
★★★★★
I used organic, virgin coconut oil on my skin and a daily dose of 1 tsp. I have been using it for about a month. It has really changed my dry skin. Before I used it my skin just seemed to always be dry and flaky, no matter how much I moisturized. I am a redhead with very fair skin. I love what it has done for my skin! It seems to calm the skin down, reducing redness, and it makes my skin feel so soft. I have occasionally had some red "spots" that show up then disappear, so it seems to be doing something more than just moisturizing. It appears to be reversing sun damage. I have only been using it for a month, so I think it is too soon to tell.
Skin Issues
Posted by Brook (MO) on 04/25/2006
★★★★★
I have heard from my uncle, who recently started using coconut oil, all the benefits. He mentioned it can be used on the face and body as a moisturizer and acne treatment, sun screen, helps prevent wrinkles, removes sun spots and warts, and helps with weight loss when ingested. I had flat warts on my face, and have been using coconut oil on my face and ingesting it two to three times a day for about a month. The warts are gone, but my face, chest, and back have horribly broken out. I can't think of it being from anything but the coconut oil. I also have been eating three tablespoons a day for a month for weight loss, and have currently not lost any weight. I wanted some advice as to if I am doing something wrong, or if my body just doesn't react well to this remedy.
Thrush
Posted by Rodney (Delaware) on 04/18/2006
★★★★★
I suffered with thrush for 9 mos. Tried Nystatin and several other RX meds. Tried all of the popular probiotics and even tried the expensive Three-Lac. Three-Lac did offer some relief but could not completely get rid of the problem. One week of extra Virgin coconut oil from GNC, Emerald labs did the trick. I had several days of pure hell from upset stomach, loose bowels stomach pain and so on. This eventually subsided and the benefits have been nothing short of miraculous. I wish I had known of this product earlier, it would have saved me a ton of misery and saved me a boat load of cash.
Skin Issues
Posted by Mia (USA) on 03/22/2006
★★★★★
Organic Unrefined coconut oil cleared my face of blemishes and marks. I started breaking out on my face a couple months ago and I didn't know what to do. I tried everything. Then my dad told me about coconut oil and the health benefits it has. I did alot of research for it and it seemed like a good skin remedy. I decided to try it. I noticed a HUGE difference the next day. It has cleared my skin incredibly. It has made my skin soft and glowing just like it had been before. Coconut oil has also made me more energetic and even healthier. IT IS AN AMAZING MIRACLE CURE!!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Pamela (Atlanta, Ga) on 09/21/2010
Hello Jeanine, I am 38 and I care about my health. Just last week I found out the health benefits of this coconut oil. I just started using it for cooking this week. You mentioned in your email that people get sick when they first start using it. Is it diarrhea sick? I ask because I had a bout of diarrhea today, twice in the morning. I ate my lunch and this time it stayed with me. How long do I have to wait for this to pass? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!
