Coconut Oil for Beginners

I LOVE COCONUT OIL! It is one of the most versatile products out there you can use it in any room in the house. Your Health, Beauty, and household could all benefit from adding some coconut oil into your life!

So what are the benefits of using coconut oil ….

• stress relief
• maintain cholesterol
• increase your immune system
• aides in digestion
• weight loss
• healthy skin, hair, and nails
• boost metabolism
• relief from kidney problems
• lowers high blood pressure
• lowers the risk of heart disease
• help control diabestes
• dental care
• bone strength
• antimicrobial
• antioxidant
• anti fungal
• antibacterial
• hormone control
• thyroid function
• speeds external and internal recovery
• and many many more……

Why is coconut oil so beneficial?

Well, lets start at the beginning. For years coconut oil was considered one of the healthiest oils around. Until it received a bad rap in the early 70′s. Propaganda from the corn and soy industry ( we all know how jealous they are of a little competition) began pushing that coconut oil was 100% saturated fat and it was bad for you worse than butter they said! In actuality coconut oil is 92% saturated fat But, through new research the public is now learning that there are good fats vs. bad fats. Coconut oil is a good fat, our bodies need fat to produce energy and function so why not make sure the fat you are ingesting is a good fat. For example good fats that our bodies love can be found in fish, bad fats that can cause health problems are found in donuts and greasy potato chips. To get technical, Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acids that behaves very different compared to a large chain fatty acid (like bacon fat). Medium chain fatty acids are broken down immediately in the liver to produce energy and is not stored as fat. This is just a sliver of the information that can be found through the inter-webs but, a great introduction to getting to know your coconut oil.

“I only buy Unrefined Organic Virgin Cold Pressed coconut oil! “

Should I be a coconut oil snob?

YES! Coconut oil cost from $6 to over $20 a jar!!! You better know what your buying and not get sucked into the coconut craze that you buy just any ol’ bottle that says ‘coconut oil’. You want to get you moneys worth so make sure you are buying the right stuff.

Why Organic?

You don’t want coconuts that were grown with chemicals and pesticides. Organic is that way to go its not really healthy if it wasn’t grown organically. You would just be willing to putting chemicals all over you skin and in your body….

Why Unrefined?

I prefer refined coconut oil, they are left in their ‘virgin state’ right after pressing.Unrefined oil comes from antioxidant-rich polyphenols which are largely destroyed during any kind of refining, so unrefined oil is pack with more nutrients. These oils tend to be richer and more true to their smell and taste. If you want something that didn’t have a coconut taste or smell try refined coconut oil but make sure that there were no chemicals or containment’s used in the process of making. Refined oils have a higher smoke point so if you want coconut oil just for cooking with no taste refined would be the way to go (spectrum has a great refined all natural oil)

Why cold pressed?

There are two ways to extract coconut oil, one is by boiling and one is by pressing. We know that when we raise any liquid to a boiling point its kills everything. So the obvious answer would be to buy cold pressed oil which has all the nutrients intact and did violate any of the healthy components.

Why virgin?

Because you want the first fresh use of the coconut before it gets passed around, no really thats the reason why… You want the virgin coconut so you can get all the nutrients and health benefits, you don’t want to be buying coconut oil that was made from left over coconuts that have already been pressed.

In the end it is your choice and your money so use it wisely and become a coconut oil snob

By the way I found Cold pressed unrefined organic virgin coconut oil at my local Trader Joes for only 5.99! score.

So how can you start incorporating it into your everyday life?

•  Frying foods (refined coconut oil has a high smoke point which is ideal for sautéing and frying, Turn it up!)
• use in baking cookies cakes and pies ( makes delicious moist super food muffins)
• Eat or add a spoonful for a energy boost (add to your coffee, cereal, smoothie, beans, rice, etc.)
• Soften and repair your hair by apply a spoonful to your hair when you get out of the shower
• use as a lip moisturizer and a hand cream
• Use in any homemade beauty product (deodorant, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste)
• Oil pulling
• keep your pets coat shinny and healthy (add it to their dog food)
• use for makeup remover
• Use it to help sooth chicken pox, shingles, other rashes, skin irritations
• helps heal cuts and burns
• helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve the look of your skin
• use as a natural sunscreen
• season your cast iron pan
• condition your wooden cutting boards
• use for pimples and acne
• use to clean your shower or bath (wipe with coconut oil then spray with vinigar)
• prevents and reduce the look of stretch marks
• mix with baking soda for an organic clean facial scrub
• polish the inside of your car
• remove chewing gum
• message on your fingernails to improve strength and prevent hang nails
• brush on eye lashes for strength and growth
• take a spoonful before you eat to curb your appetite
• treats lice, ringworm and athletes foot
• prevent age spots
• helps thyroid function
• equal parts of sugar and oil for your own sugar scrub
• stabilize insulin levels

And the list goes on and on…. Do your own research make your own decision I hope this helped the beginning of a beautiful relationship between you and some ‘Unrefined Organic Virgin Cold Pressed Coconut Oil’.

p.s. an awesome fact!

“Approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid. Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid, which has the additional beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or animal body. Monolaurin is the anti-viral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal to destroy lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza, various pathogenic bacteria!” according to research by Dr. Mary Enig.

About these ads