Maybe you've heard about coconut oil, and maybe you haven't.
Prior to my exposure to coconut oil, I really only knew about olive oil and vegetable oil. I assumed that oil could come from many things, but coconut oil was never something I used or knew anything about. It wasn't until I did the Whole30 and the Paleo Diet last year that I came to understand this crown jewel.
I almost cannot believe that something can be good at so many things..
Coconut oil is an edible oil, extracted from the meat of matured coconuts that have been harvested from the coconut palm. Just like with olive oil and other oils, quality is of utmost importance. My family uses only organic, extra-virgin coconut oil, namely - Nutiva.
This awesome oil is a solid below 76 degrees Fahrenheit, and turns to a clear liquid at 76 degrees and warmer.
Unfortunately, coconut oil has gotten a bad rap in some medical communities, because it contains the notorious "saturated fats" that people have been told to run screaming from. Not all saturated fats are created equal.
Recently I've heard it said like this,
"Nature doesn't make bad fats. Factories do."
If a saturated fat is a naturally-occurring substance, such as in high quality olive oil and coconut oil, it's actually VERY good for one's heart, specifically when it comes to lowering cholesterol and bodily inflammation. Typically, the fats that we should, undoubtedly, stay away from are the artificially-created UNsaturated fats that are manipulated and produced in factories.
The problem is with the hydrogenation, according to Mercola.com -
"Hydrogenation manipulates vegetable and seed oils by adding hydrogen atoms while heating the oil, producing a rancid, thickened oil that really only benefits processed food shelf life and corporate profits."
You know that gallon-sized jug of vegetable oil you have from Costco?
Toss it. It's slowly killing you. There's a reason why it only cost you ten bucks.
And still worried about coconut oil and cholesterol issues?
According to Dr. Oz, himself,
"Coconut oil has a saturated fat called lauric acid, a type of MCT. It has been shown that lauric acid increases the good HDL cholesterol in the blood to help improve cholesterol ratio levels. Coconut oil lowers cholesterol by promoting its conversion to pregnenolone, a molecule that is a precursor to many of the hormones our bodies need. Coconut can help restore normal thyroid function."
I've seen it with my own eyes where people ingested have large quantities of coconut oil and their cholesterol and inflammation levels were improved.
I'm one of those people.
In addition to high-quality coconut oil improving heart health, it's great for diabetics and those who suffer from thyroid issues. Coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid, thus helping with weight loss and metabolism. I guess back in the 1940's, farmers tried to fatten up their livestock with coconut oil, thinking it'd be a quick fix and fast money. But apparently the exact opposite happened! The coconut oil made the animals lean and active.
As such, coconut oil is amazing for athletes. Fat is a great source of energy, and coconut oil can be used in many ways.
When I first started eating coconut oil, I admittedly had a hard time adjusting to it. I was using butter and rancid olive oil [more in another post] on everything. I was used to what I was used to. Plain and simple.
But once I started seeing the difference and hearing about all its praiseworthy attributes, I gave coconut oil its proper place in my home. I now use coconut oil for 99% of my cooking and baking, which is great since both my husband and my son are dairy-free by necessity.
Coconut oil has a distinct flavor, assuming it's of good quality. Your extra-virgin coconut oil should smell just like the fruit, and have a creamy, coconut-y taste. It can be melted and used for liquid fats in baking, and is a great substitute for butter and ..... margarine.
My son has a gluten-free waffle each morning with coconut oil and he absolutely loves it. Most of my baked goods now contain coconut oil, and they're moister than with any other oils I've used. Coconut oil is also awesome in recipes that can benefit from its flavor, such as curry dishes or coconut baked goods.
Coconut oil is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-aging, an immunostimulant, a lubricant, a moisturizer, an appetite-suppressant, an astringent, anti-inflammatory, and promotes healing.
Who knew an awesome tropical fruit could do so much? The secret lies in the fats of the fruit - MCFA's, or Medium-Chain Fatty Acids. These MCFA's are highly anti-microbial, and make up about 50% of the fats in the fruit.
So besides weight loss and being heart-healthy, what else does coconut oil boast in?
Here goes:
Body lotion
Moisturizes chapped lips
Flavors foods
Hair mask
Removes makeup - Even waterproof mascara!
Homemade diaper ointment
Prevent stretch marks during pregnancy
Lighten age spots
Natural SPF 4 Sunscreen
Massage Oil
Sooth dermatitis - Psoriasis & Eczema
Improve insulin levels
Shave gel
Personal lubricant that is healthy and safe
Clears up cold sores
Resolves Candida and other yeast infections
Aids with Alzheimer's
Boosts energy
You can see a more comprehensive list here:
http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/
I use coconut oil every single day -
Starting in the morning with my eggs, and ending at night to remove my makeup and moisturize my face. Can you eat your makeup remover? :)
I can't imagine not using it as often as I do, and I've really enjoyed getting my family acquainted with this "Jack of All Trades".
But like all things of value, coconut oil can be somewhat expensive. The most economical way of purchasing it that we've found is buying large 54oz. jars of it on Amazon, and having it shipped 2-day free shipping with Amazon Prime. 54 ounces runs us about $30, whereas just 24 ounces at health food stores was running us $20.
Quite a savings!
Here's a link to a 54oz. jar with free shipping for under $30.
I do hope the link works for you:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GAT6NG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
So I'm wondering - Do you use coconut oil? If not, give it a whirl.
Anything that can do so much with so little effort is worth the consideration.
To health, happiness, and good stewardship!
Prior to my exposure to coconut oil, I really only knew about olive oil and vegetable oil. I assumed that oil could come from many things, but coconut oil was never something I used or knew anything about. It wasn't until I did the Whole30 and the Paleo Diet last year that I came to understand this crown jewel.
I almost cannot believe that something can be good at so many things..
Coconut oil is an edible oil, extracted from the meat of matured coconuts that have been harvested from the coconut palm. Just like with olive oil and other oils, quality is of utmost importance. My family uses only organic, extra-virgin coconut oil, namely - Nutiva.
This awesome oil is a solid below 76 degrees Fahrenheit, and turns to a clear liquid at 76 degrees and warmer.
Unfortunately, coconut oil has gotten a bad rap in some medical communities, because it contains the notorious "saturated fats" that people have been told to run screaming from. Not all saturated fats are created equal.
Recently I've heard it said like this,
"Nature doesn't make bad fats. Factories do."
If a saturated fat is a naturally-occurring substance, such as in high quality olive oil and coconut oil, it's actually VERY good for one's heart, specifically when it comes to lowering cholesterol and bodily inflammation. Typically, the fats that we should, undoubtedly, stay away from are the artificially-created UNsaturated fats that are manipulated and produced in factories.
The problem is with the hydrogenation, according to Mercola.com -
"Hydrogenation manipulates vegetable and seed oils by adding hydrogen atoms while heating the oil, producing a rancid, thickened oil that really only benefits processed food shelf life and corporate profits."
You know that gallon-sized jug of vegetable oil you have from Costco?
Toss it. It's slowly killing you. There's a reason why it only cost you ten bucks.
And still worried about coconut oil and cholesterol issues?
According to Dr. Oz, himself,
"Coconut oil has a saturated fat called lauric acid, a type of MCT. It has been shown that lauric acid increases the good HDL cholesterol in the blood to help improve cholesterol ratio levels. Coconut oil lowers cholesterol by promoting its conversion to pregnenolone, a molecule that is a precursor to many of the hormones our bodies need. Coconut can help restore normal thyroid function."
I've seen it with my own eyes where people ingested have large quantities of coconut oil and their cholesterol and inflammation levels were improved.
I'm one of those people.
In addition to high-quality coconut oil improving heart health, it's great for diabetics and those who suffer from thyroid issues. Coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid, thus helping with weight loss and metabolism. I guess back in the 1940's, farmers tried to fatten up their livestock with coconut oil, thinking it'd be a quick fix and fast money. But apparently the exact opposite happened! The coconut oil made the animals lean and active.
As such, coconut oil is amazing for athletes. Fat is a great source of energy, and coconut oil can be used in many ways.
When I first started eating coconut oil, I admittedly had a hard time adjusting to it. I was using butter and rancid olive oil [more in another post] on everything. I was used to what I was used to. Plain and simple.
But once I started seeing the difference and hearing about all its praiseworthy attributes, I gave coconut oil its proper place in my home. I now use coconut oil for 99% of my cooking and baking, which is great since both my husband and my son are dairy-free by necessity.
Coconut oil has a distinct flavor, assuming it's of good quality. Your extra-virgin coconut oil should smell just like the fruit, and have a creamy, coconut-y taste. It can be melted and used for liquid fats in baking, and is a great substitute for butter and ..... margarine.
My son has a gluten-free waffle each morning with coconut oil and he absolutely loves it. Most of my baked goods now contain coconut oil, and they're moister than with any other oils I've used. Coconut oil is also awesome in recipes that can benefit from its flavor, such as curry dishes or coconut baked goods.
Coconut oil is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-aging, an immunostimulant, a lubricant, a moisturizer, an appetite-suppressant, an astringent, anti-inflammatory, and promotes healing.
Who knew an awesome tropical fruit could do so much? The secret lies in the fats of the fruit - MCFA's, or Medium-Chain Fatty Acids. These MCFA's are highly anti-microbial, and make up about 50% of the fats in the fruit.
So besides weight loss and being heart-healthy, what else does coconut oil boast in?
Here goes:
Body lotion
Moisturizes chapped lips
Flavors foods
Hair mask
Removes makeup - Even waterproof mascara!
Homemade diaper ointment
Prevent stretch marks during pregnancy
Lighten age spots
Natural SPF 4 Sunscreen
Massage Oil
Sooth dermatitis - Psoriasis & Eczema
Improve insulin levels
Shave gel
Personal lubricant that is healthy and safe
Clears up cold sores
Resolves Candida and other yeast infections
Aids with Alzheimer's
Boosts energy
You can see a more comprehensive list here:
http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/
I use coconut oil every single day -
Starting in the morning with my eggs, and ending at night to remove my makeup and moisturize my face. Can you eat your makeup remover? :)
I can't imagine not using it as often as I do, and I've really enjoyed getting my family acquainted with this "Jack of All Trades".
But like all things of value, coconut oil can be somewhat expensive. The most economical way of purchasing it that we've found is buying large 54oz. jars of it on Amazon, and having it shipped 2-day free shipping with Amazon Prime. 54 ounces runs us about $30, whereas just 24 ounces at health food stores was running us $20.
Quite a savings!
Here's a link to a 54oz. jar with free shipping for under $30.
I do hope the link works for you:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GAT6NG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
So I'm wondering - Do you use coconut oil? If not, give it a whirl.
Anything that can do so much with so little effort is worth the consideration.
To health, happiness, and good stewardship!