THIS WEEK I'M SIMPLIFYING

I went crazy for coconuts this week. Coconut oil in particular. Everyone's been talking online about oil pulling as this mystical cure for all that ails us. I first heard about it a couple of years ago from a good friend. Someone else I know who's very knowledgeable about holistic health brought it up a few weeks ago. Now everyone's sharing links to oil pulling like there's no tomorrow. The theory behind it is that the coconut oil (or sesame oil or whatever you use) will pull out toxins from your body through your mouth.

Well, I gave it a go. I swished that coconut oil in my mouth for twenty minutes. It didn't feel as long and arduous as I thought it would. It had a pleasant taste. It left my teeth feeling nice and smooth. I tried it again the next morning. My teeth looked whiter. My lips were nice and moisturized. I didn't have any proof that toxins were being pulled from my body but it felt nice.

I swished and swished every day for a week. And I didn't stop there. After further investigation, I discovered that coconut oil is effective for soothing and clearing the skin. I always knew it was an awesome moisturizer but I didn't realize it would clear up acne as well as it does (it has a really high level of lauric acid). Back around New Year's, while I was moving to my new home, my skin broke out like nobody's business. It hasn't been the same since. Until now. After applying some coconut oil twice a day, It's starting to clear up nicely.

I've also been lathering my tropical new friend all over my body. I've used it as deodorant and soon I'll probably start conditioning my hair with it. I used it in a stir-fry. It seems there are a bazillion uses for coconut oil. Other forms of coconut have complemented my week as well - coconut chips, coconut milk in my Thai soup; the list goes on. 

All this coconut talk is bringing me to my point. The moral of this story is that sometimes one ingredient, one piece of the puzzle, one small but powerful thing can be a simple solution to many issues. Rather than hunting around for a dozen products with complicated ingredients, I can use one. Sometimes one thing is enough. Sometimes one person is enough. One person can do a multitude of jobs and create a whole lot of magic.

Be the coconut. Do it all.