Any of my clients, family, or friends know that I am a HUGE believer in coconut oil. Why??
First of all, please notice in the picture above that it is solid at room temperature if you go looking for it – which I KNOW you will after reading this – it will NOT be with the other oils, instead look in your natural foods section of your grocery store. Being a solid means it is…. composed mostly of saturated fats {Don’t panic!} . By the time you finish reading this you will know why this is all ok, even saturated fats can be good for you in moderation, and in the right form!
Here are just a few of my favorite reasons why coconut oil is awesome:
- Because of certain components in the oil itself {Lauric Acid, Capric Acid, & Caprylic Acid} coconut oil starts being amazing by showing off it’s antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial & antioxidant properties. This makes it excellent for boosting your immune system. It has even been shown to destroy H. Pylori, yeast, fungi, protozoa, a number of species of ringworm, as well as helping to fight off some sexually transmitted diseases including chlamydia, herpes and HIV.
- Weight loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems – which means it boosts that metabolism… that’s all I had to say, right?
- Digestion: Coconut oil helps boost the digestive system, which prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. Because of the anti microbial properties, it can help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Yay!
- Heart Disease: Ok, there is a big misconception out there that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. Let’s set this right… coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis. So coconut oil is good!
- Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps your body’s use of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.
- Your Brain: Here is something to remember – your brain is composed of about 60% fat. Whatever fat you eat = the fat in your brain. Let’s make sure it is good fat for that brain to function properly! Some studies have been showing that it can help fight Alzheimer’s Disease. I figure, it’s worth a shot with all of the other health benefits it has!
- Your Hair: Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for your hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing a shiny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs {eek!}, even if your scalp is dry. Melt it first by putting container in the sun or warm water.
- Your skin! Last, but not least let’s talk about your skin. With my 14-Day Skin Makeover program coming up this is one I will be talking more about. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including the dryest of dry, without all the harsh chemicals most other lotions have in them. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age {yep, I want to do whatever I can to fight these off!}, and also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Just spread it on, or try using for:
- Eye-makeup remover
- Deoderant
- Lip gloss
- Massage oil
- Personal lubricant {yep I just said that}
Have I proved to you how amazing this oil is yet!?
How do you use it?
- It’s the only oil I recommend for frying since it withstands high heats without turning rancid. Remember though that a little goes a long way!
- Replace butter or vegetable oils with coconut oil in your recipes {great for dairy-free people}.
Try using it in the delicious popcorn recipe below:
Popcorn
Once you begin to make your own popcorn, you won’t ever want to go back to eating microwave popcorn! Once cooked, the popcorn can be seasoned in a variety of ways. You can use plain sea salt, Herbamare, nutritional yeast, dried herbs, or even a combination of a little organic butter and maple syrup.
Serves 4 to 6
3 to 4 Tbsp virgin coconut oil
½ tsp sea salt
1 to 2 cups organic popcorn kernels
- Heat a large 6 or 8-quart stainless steel pot over medium-high to high heat. Add coconut oil and sea salt.
- Once the oil has melted, quickly add the popcorn kernels. Cover the pot with a lid, clear glass is preferable here. Shake the pot continuously to prevent burning.
- The popcorn is done once you hear very little popping sounds. Immediately remove pot from the heat source and pour popcorn into a large glass bowl. Season with your favorite seasonings.
Enjoy and have fun with your coconut oil!
