10 Uses for Coconut Oil

1.  Moisturise skin.

I use coconut oil on my face at night. I also dab some around my eyes and onto my lips. Tip: do not apply coconut oil any later than an hour before bed, this will ensure it has soaked into your skin and less will up on your pillow.

2. To cook with.

Use coconut oil instead of normal cooking oils. It’s great for stir-fries and cooking diced chicken to add to summer salads.

3.  Use instead of butter.

I spread coconut oil onto my toast most mornings. It tastes great with honey or just on its own.

4.  Remove make-up.

Warm a 5c piece size of coconut oil in your hands and dab onto your face. Wipe it away with a wet face washer. Why not clean your make-up brushes too while you’re at it.

5. Massage oil.

Warm coconut oil in your hands and massage away. This will double as an all over moisturiser.

6. Prevent stretch marks.

Rub onto pregnant belly to prevent stretch marks.

7. For your hair.

Run coconut oil through your hair, leave for an hour and rinse. It will moisturise and soften your hair with its fatty acids.

8. Clean your shower.

Use a cloth dipped in coconut oil to wipe away shower scum. Great for chemical free cleaning!

9. Sooth itchy skin.

Coconut oil can sooth itchy skin when applied to effected area. It can also help improve eczema.

10. Sooth a sore throat.

Have a teaspoon of coconut oil in a cup of tea or on its own to sooth your throat. Doing this regardless of a sore throat can help boost energy too.

Benefits of coconut oil:

• Antibacterial
• Aids with anti-inflammatory
• Improves digestion
• Its fatty acids help improve energy levels
• Boosts immunity.
• Keeps skin strong by preventing sagging and wrinkles when applied to the skin.

When buying coconut oil make sure it is certified organic (no nasty chemicals), cold pressed (in its most natural state), and raw (if possible). I recommend Loving Earth Raw Organic Coconut Oil (pictured below). You can find coconut oil at your local health food store.

8 Reasons to Drink Green Tea!

Green tea is my favourite herbal tea. I didn't like it at first but now I love it. I drink it in the morning (after a glass of water - to rehydrate after sleep) and usually an hour or so before bed. It is a part of my daily ritual and is something I look forward to. 

Drinking organic herbal tea is a great way to relax, warm up, and refresh for the rest of the day (as well as the reasons listed above). 

If I ever feel peckish at night I try to have a green tea instead of going for chocolate or chips, and why wouldn't you when it has so many great health benefits?!

The other good thing about organic tea is that you can buy it in the supermarket as well as health food stores, so it is very accessible and affordable. 

Why Should You Go Organic?

Wondering why you should switch to buying organic?

First of all, what does organic mean?

According to Kris Abbey’s book ‘Going Organic’ an organic product is grown or produced without the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones, or stimulants.Therefore, organically grown or produced product has been done so in the most natural way possible.

So, why should you buy organic?    

•  Organic products are free from chemicals, pesticides, hormones, and any other kind of nasties.
• Organic products are better for the environment; this means there are less chemicals going through our soil and waterways.
•  Organic farms are run, not by machinery, but by people. This is one of the reasons organic product is more expensive.
•   It tastes better and contains more nutrients.
•  And of course it is healthier!

Tip: To be sure the organic products you are buying are actually organic, look for certification on the packaging (like the image above, if you live in Australia).

It is also important to check the ingredients; unfortunately it is okay for brands to label their product as organic, even if only one component of the product is organic. For example, a tub of yoghurt is labelled organic but the ingredients indicate that only the berries in the yoghurt are organic.