Coconut Oil--Health Uses

If I could store only one kind of oil in my food storage, coconut oil would definitely be it.  It's like a prepper's dream.  Add in the medicinal uses, and coconut oil becomes a prepper's fantasy come true.  Factor in some of the health uses, and that just seals the deal.  You really can't have too much coconut oil.  Those readers into cosmetics and beauty and such would do well to research the beauty uses of coconut oil.  There's zillions of articles on them on the 'net.


The first best health use of coconut oil is for toothpaste.  Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 tablespoon coconut oil, and add in two drops of peppermint essential oil.  Yes, it lacks fluoride.  But some people are a little skeptical about using fluoride.  Those who want fluoride in their toothpaste are going to have to buy it that way.  Coconut oil has antibacterial properties to it, so it's a win in my book.

Gingivitis can be reduced or eliminated with daily coconut oil pulling, which is basically swishing coconut oil around in the mouth for two to three minutes each day.  Most people do it in the shower and then spit it down the drain.

After the shower, use coconut oil as a body and facial moisturizer.  It's cheap and it helps rotate your oil supply well.  Healthy skin is far less susceptible to infection. 

Coconut oil is a weak sunscreen, with an SPF of about 4.

Use coconut oil for a great leave-in conditioner.  Apply about 1/2 teaspoon just after showering and work it into the hair. 

For a fantastic, natural, and inexpensive lip balm, combine 3 tablespoons coconut oil with 2 tablespoons beeswax in a double boiler.  When melted, stir to combine well and then pour into tin lip balm tins or empty lip balm sticks (you can get them on Amazon).  You can tint your lip balm with bits of old lipstick or a small amount of berry Kool-Aid.  (Yeah, the cosmetic uses aren't a big thing with me or my girls, really.  I wear light make-up when I go out, kinda of as a public service more than anything.  Becky, who's in college, wears light make-up once or twice a week; the 15- and 18-year olds--never.  It's just not our thing.  But for some women and girls, a little make-up will go a long ways in maintaining a little bit of normalcy and mental health boost for them.)

Links to related posts:
Basic Food Storage--Coconut Oil
Alternative Medicine--Coconut Oil
Emergency Baby Formulas 

For further reading:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22279374 (sunscreen)
http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2009;volume=20;issue=1;spage=47;epage=51;aulast=Asokan (oil pulling to reduce gingivitis)
https://www.health.com/sexual-health/coconut-oil-lube (lubricant)
https://fabulousfarmgirl.com/essential-oils/coconut-oil-uses/

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com 

9 march 2023

Layered Chili

As I compose this post, it is the end of September.  I am sitting on my bed, looking out the window at all this white stuff falling from the sky.  From November through April we call it snow.  But at the end of September, when I am still supposed to have at least five weeks of gardening, it is called something else.

I guess that's why we harvested the rest of the beans, squash, and corn this morning.  I picked all beefsteak-type tomatoes off the three pretty sorry-looking plants, about ten gallons in all.  I have tarps and sheets outside and ready to cover the tomatoes after the worst of the wind passes, but I'm not entirely sure they'll do any good.  Gotta love global warming.

Anyway, because I knew it was going to be cold today and that I would not be doing any outside work, I soaked several pounds of pinto beans last night to can today.  We're down to the last jar or so, and running out of canned pinto beans is a major crisis around here.

Major crisis aside, I think I soaked too many.  So it was time to pull out the layered chili recipe.  And happily, it's less labor-intensive than I remembered.  It's by no means the family's favorite chili--that would be White Chicken Chili--but we really favor this for making taco salad.  And it also works for those busy days when life does not go according to schedule.

Layered Chili
2 1/2 cups beans, soaked overnight and cooked for 30 minutes before canning
1/4 cup chopped onions
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon canning salt
1/4 teaspoon cumin
dash pepper

Layer the ingredients in quart canning jars.  Fill within one inch of the top with boiling water.  Process in a pressure canner for 90 minutes and 15 pounds pressure.

Links to related posts:
Home Canned Tomato Sauce
Pressure Canning Dry Beans

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com