Benefits of coconut oil

Good Tuesday evening!!  I usually don't post much but had to in this situation...I for one,(as well as my 87 year old mother) have reaped many benefits from virgin coconut oil...With all due respect, I think it gets a bad rap and I also think you should research the benefits of the oil....If you would like to check out my profile, I have blogged some info about it...(it was too much to post here)...good luck!! 

not only would I LOVE the recipe your daughter makes with coconut oil and almonds, but I also agree with Illstric about the benefits of coconut oil.   No offense nutritionsists, but I really haven't gained any knowledge other than cut/paste and/or not completely explained responses to my questions here, sorry just truthful! I've been reading a lot about nutrition and "super foods" because I want to become more healthier than just the weight loss.  Coconut oil is listed in a new book called super natural cooking.  Here is the paragraph re: coconut oil: "also know as coconut butter, coconut oil is a luxurious naturally saturated fat that's solid at room temperature.  the smell of pure, unrefined coconut oil is tropical, rich and enveloping.  Coconut oil got saddled with a bad rap decades ago when tests were conducted on animals using processed, hydrogenated coconut oil.  If you are still nervous about using it, look into the growing amount of research and literature focusing on the health benefits of natural coconut oil.  Seek out unrefined coconut oil that still has its trademark tropical smell.  Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which facilitates brain functions and boosts the immune system.  A fantastic butter substitute, coconut oil is one of the only unrefined vegetarian fats that isn't heavily compromised at higher temperatures.  When substituting coconut oil for butter, use 25% less coconut as it is more concentrated than butter, having lower water content." TrafficDonna, heres some great information about the benefits of coconut oil.  Even though I agree it is high in saturated fat, its good for you!  Dr. Mercola is an excellent resource for nutrition facts, www.mercola.com   theres a search bar on the page, you can find almost anything re: nutrition, diet, exercise, foods, ingredients, etc. heres his article on coconut oil (he has a 6 min video on coconut oil to watch if you click the link) http://products.mercola.com/coconut-oil/ Here’s the Smarter Oil Alternative I Recommend to Replace Those Other Oils in Your Kitchen  If you search Mercola.com, you'll see a number of articles detailing the near-miraculous benefits of coconut oil, supported by numerous research studies.

In fact, Mercola.com has long been at the forefront in recommending pure coconut oil as the smartest oil you can use in cooking.

I have profiled and even offered some very good brands of coconut oil in the past. Because I believe that it is so beneficial for you, I have been dedicated to staying on top of current coconut oil research. I want to make sure you have peace of mind, knowing I’m recommending and offering you the absolute best coconut oil that exists.

That's why I'm excited to make available to you a product that I personally feel is superior to all other leading brands: Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.A recent survey that we conducted showed customers raving about this product, and they prefer it hands down ,over any other oils. (You'll see why shortly.)

But first, to understand how a fat can help you with your overall health, and even your weight loss program, you first need to take a little trip with me.

So let's drift back in time, well over 50 years ago…

World War II is Long Over — You Can Have Your Coconut Oil Again!

During World War II, the Japanese military occupied the Philippines and other South Pacific islands, where bloody battles were being fought.

The once-plentiful supply of coconut oil was effectively cut off from the United States.

Although coconut oil had been popular both as a cooking oil and ingredient in numerous food products, the occupation continued to interrupt the supply for several long years as the war slowly dragged on.

Enter good old American ingenuity (in this case, not so good for your health).

Manufacturers began to develop alternative sources of cooking oils, and the polyunsaturated oils phase was born. By the time the war was over, there was a lot of money at stake in the promotion of these polyunsaturated vegetable oils.

By the end of the 1950’s, public opinion had turned totally against saturated fats like butter (and coconut oil). Saturated fats were blamed for raising cholesterol, and cholesterol was now viewed as the evil enemy, the culprit responsible for the steep rise in heart disease.

Butter, eggs and coconut oil were out.

The new vegetable oils were in... and erroneously touted as "heart-healthy."

Coconut oil continued to be demonized by the vegetable oil industry throughout the ensuing decades. Adding insult to injury, the soybean industry began to condemn the use of tropical oils, particularly coconut oil.

And I'm sure you realize the reason why — competition... and millions and millions of dollars.

Unfortunately, the tropical oil industry, centered in poorer nations like the Philippines and Indonesia, could not afford to counter the negative propaganda spread by rich American industrial conglomerates.

Science and good health took a back seat to profits, as they have on more than one occasion...

The Hidden Truth About Coconut Oil

The truth about coconut oil is obvious to anyone who has studied the health of those who live in traditional tropical cultures, where coconut has been a nutritious diet staple for thousands of years.

So, now that you have heard the history behind coconut oil's unfortunate "fall from grace", you should also know today's good news: coconut oil is finally beginning to get the respect it deserves as a smart alternative to other oils.

The many benefits of coconut oil are finally reaching the mainstream.

Benefits like:

• Promoting your heart health
• Promoting weight loss when and if you need it
• Supporting your immune system health
• Supporting a healthy metabolism
• Providing you with an immediate energy source
• Helping to keep your skin healthy and youthful looking
• Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland

Plus, our recent Mercola.com survey discovered that users of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil:

• Gained peace of mind knowing they were making the smartest oil choice
• Loved the taste and the enhanced flavor added to their food
• Embraced the improvement made to their skin when used as a lotion

With all of these fantastic perks from pure coconut oil, it probably won’t surprise you to…

Peek Inside My Pantry to See the Only Oil I Cook With

I must confess...

"Coconut oil is transforming my health! Not only am I losing weight, but my skin, hair (damaged with spit ends), and nails (soft and brittle) are healthier. And it didn't take that long. I just put the coconut oil in fruit smoothies in the morning. Imagine what health improvements my body would have if I (and I will) increase my coconut oil intake to cooking with it! "Also, my biggest health success with coconut oil has been the support it gives to my immune system. I feel less fatigued, I'm sleeping less, and feeling great! Thank you, Dr. Mercola! Bravo!" -- J Newman from Monterey, CA

If you could peek inside my pantry, you would find two oils that I use in food preparation.

The first, extra-virgin olive oil, is a better monounsaturated fat. It works great as a salad dressing.

However, it is not the best oil to cook with. Due to its chemical structure, cooking makes it susceptible to oxidative damage.

And polyunsaturated fats, whi*****lude common vegetable oils such as corn, soy, safflower, sunflower and canola, are absolutely the worst oils to use in cooking. These omega-6 oils are highly susceptible to heat damage because of all the double bonds they have.

I strongly urge you to throw out those omega-6 vegetable oils in your cabinets. Why?

Reason #1: Most people believe that frying creates trans fats. That is not the major problem, in my opinion. Although some are created, they are relatively minor. There are FAR more toxic chemicals produced by frying omega-6 oils than trans fats.

 

Frying destroys the antioxidants in oils and as such oxidizes the oils. This causes cross-linking, cyclization, double-bond shifts, fragmentation and polymerization of oils that cause far more damage than trans fats.

Reason #2: They contribute to the overabundance of omega-6 fats in your diet, and the imbalance of the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. As you know from my extensive writing on this subject, I believe that excessive consumption of omega-6 fats contributes to many health concerns.

There is only one oil that is stable enough to resist heat-induced damage, while it also helps you promote heart health, maintain normal cholesterol levels and even supports weight loss — coconut oil.

So, whenever you need an oil to cook with, use coconut oil instead of butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, margarine, or any other type of oil called for in recipes. Even though I don’t fully recommend frying foods, if you must fry, by all means use coconut oil — it’s your smartest choice.

Curiously, coconut oil contains the most saturated fat of all edible oils. We continue to be inundated by media portrayals of saturated fats as dangerous, but now you know better. And now you should have more peace of mind, knowing that you’re making the right choice by using great-tasting Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

Coconut Oil Is Not Just For Cooking & Eating — Your Skin Likes It, Too!

The benefits of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil don't stop in your kitchen. For decades, professional massage therapists have used pure coconut oil to knead away tight stressed muscles.

Several months ago I took Dr. Mercola's advice and started using coconut oil on my skin. It has done wonders for me! A few weeks ago my husband and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary, and drove to my friend's place of business to have her re-bless our marriage (she married us 7 years ago). When we walked into her business, she immediately recognized my husband, but didn't recognize me! In fact, she told me later that she wondered who the younger woman was with my husband!!!! -- that's so funny, considering my friend and I have known each other since 1980! Just thought I would share. -- Annie Flanders, Snohomish WA

However, you don't have to be a professional massage therapist to gain the skin and tissue support benefits of coconut oil. Feel free to use this high-quality coconut oil as you would any lotion.

Coconut oil is ideal for skin care. It helps protect your skin from the aging effects of free radicals, and can help improve the appearance of skin with its anti-aging benefits.

In fact, physiologist and biochemist Ray Peat, Ph.D. considers coconut oil to be an antioxidant, due to its stability and resistance to oxidation and free radical formation. Plus, he feels it reduces our need for the antioxidant protection of vitamin E.

Like Dr. Peat, many experts believe coconut oil may help restore more youthful-looking skin. When coconut oil is absorbed into the skin and connective tissues, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep connective tissues strong and supple.

Coconut oil will not only bring temporary benefits to the skin, but it will aid in restoring your skin's youthful appearance. The coconut oil will aid in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making the skin smoother. It also penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin to strengthen the underlying tissues.

Responders to the Mercola.com survey provided remarkable feedback on how Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil supported healthy skin, including:

• Smoothing and moisturizing effects
• Promoted skin elasticity
• Convenient eye make-up remover
• Use in shaving applications

Surprise! Coconut Oil Is Also Good For Your Heart...

FACT: Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S. And heart disease is often a silent killer. The first sign of cardiovascular disease is commonly a heart attack, and sadly, over one third of heart attacks are fatal.

And despite the propaganda, the truth is this: it is UNSATURATED fats that are primarily involved in heart disease, not the saturated fats, as you have been led to believe. As you saw earlier, countries that subsist on a coconut-based diet appear to enjoy good heart health.

The U.S. Department of Health and the FDA estimate that artificially hydrogenated trans-fats — the type found in fast food, processed foods and your favorite pastries — are ultimately responsible for a huge number of fatal heart attacks every year. These dangerous unsaturated fats are the ones you should ban from your diet, not naturally pure coconut oil, which is a better alternative because it contains very few fats with highly perishable double bonds — and also has NO TRANS-FATS.

Plus, those commonly-used polyunsaturated fats encourage the formation of blood clots by increasing platelet stickiness. Coconut oil helps to promote normal platelet function.

A Fat Is A Fat... Or Is It?

All fats are not equal.

And just so we're clear, the terms "fats" and "oils" are often used interchangeably, but fat is more correctly considered solid at room temperature, while oils are liquid. But what's really important is the structure.

The unique health benefits of coconut oil are directly related to its chemical structure, or more precisely, the length of its fatty acid chains.

Coconut oil is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs.

Coconut oil is nature's richest source of these healthy MCFAs.

By contrast, most common vegetable or seed oils are comprised of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), also known as long-chain triglycerides or LCTs.

There are several reasons to explain why these long-chain fatty acids are not as healthy for you as the MCFAs in coconut oil:

• LCFAs are difficult for the body to break down — they must be packaged with lipoproteins or carrier proteins and require special enzymes for digestion.
• LCFAs put more strain on the pancreas, the liver and the entire digestive system.
• LCFAs are predominantly stored in the body as fat. (That's why most people buy into the myth that fats are automatically "fattening".)
• LCFAs can be deposited within arteries in lipid forms such as cholesterol.

On the other hand, however, the MCFAs in coconut oil are more health-promoting, because:

• MCFAs are smaller. They permeate cell membranes easily, and do not require lipoproteins or special enzymes to be utilized effectively by your body.
• MCFAs are easily digested, thus putting less strain on your digestive system. This is especially important for those of you with digestive or metabolic concerns.
• MCFAs are sent directly to your liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat.
• MCFAs in coconut oil can actually help stimulate your body's metabolism, leading to weight loss.

Coconut Oil Is the Dieter's Best Friend

If you live in the United States, you have a 55% chance of being overweight.

And, by now, I'm sure you're aware that obesity affects your quality of life and is linked to many health concerns.

One of the best benefits of coconut oil lies in its ability to help stimulate your metabolism.

Back in the 1940s, farmers found out about this effect by accident when they tried using inexpensive coconut oil to fatten their livestock.

It didn't work!

Instead, coconut oil made the animals lean, active and hungry.

Now, I'm certainly not comparing you to a farm animal...

However, many animal and human research studies have demonstrated that replacing LCFAs with MCFAs results in both decreased body weight and reduced fat deposition.

So, by changing the fats in your diet from the unsaturated long-chain fatty acids found in vegetable or seed oils to the MCFAs in coconut oil, along with following an exercise plan, you may find yourself gradually losing those unnecessary pounds. The reasons are simple:

1. The long-chain fats nearly always go to fat storage, while the MCFAs are burned for energy
2. Since coconut oil helps to stimulate your metabolism, you may burn more calories each day, helping to accelerate weight loss (and probably your activity and energy level, too)

Mercola.com survey respondents provided many examples of how coconut oil got them started optimizing their weight. Here are a few excerpts:

• “I lost about 24 pounds in 6-8 weeks”
• “I wasn't really overweight to begin with but I have lost some of my excess belly fat”
• “In conjunction with exercise and eliminating most starches from my diet, I have lost 45 pounds over the past 5 months”
• “I have been losing weight and body fat”
• “Besides the good taste, my weight seems to have stabilized”

Coconut oil has often been compared to carbohydrates in its ability to be "burned" for energy. However, since insulin is not involved in the process of digesting the MCFAs in coconut oil, you won't get those carb-related spikes in your blood sugar level. This is especially good news for those of you concerned about maintaining normal blood sugar levels.

In fact, the ability of MCFAs to be easily digested, to help stimulate the metabolism and be turned into energy has entered the sports arena. Several studies have now shown that MCFAs enhance physical or athletic performance.

Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid. And you've probably heard that a sluggish thyroid is one reason why some people are unable to lose weight, no matter what they do.

Besides weight loss, there are other advantages to boosting your metabolic rate. Your healing process accelerates. Cell regeneration increases to replace old cells, and your immune system functions better overall.

Coconut Oil's Natural "Miracle" Ingredient: Lauric Acid

Yes, it's true.

Nature still has a few miracles up her sleeve.

You've probably heard that breast milk is jam-packed with nutrients and disease-fighting ingredients that help keep babies healthy.

Well, incredibly, coconut oil contains one of the same compounds — lauric acid — found in mother's milk! And lauric acid is the predominant type of MCFA found in coconut oil.

Fortunately for our health, lauric acid in both breast milk and coconut oil transforms when consumed into a substance called monolaurin, the actual compound responsible for helping to strengthen the immune system.

Skeptical? So were a lot of scientists, who've proceeded to test the heck out of this substance.

In fact, a great volume of research has been done establishing the ability of lauric acid to enhance immunity.

What researchers found was that this medium-chain fatty acid derivative actually disrupts the lipid (or fatty) membranes of the offending organisms.

The lauric acid in coconut oil is one effortless way to help strengthen your immune system.

And, unlike the usual lauric acid content of 42-49% in many coconut oil brands, Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil contains a whopping 57% of lauric acid.

If all this wasn't enough, coconut oil has even more tricks up its sleeve.

Why You Must Be Choosy About Your Brand of Coconut Oil

As you may know, there is a very wide variety in coconut oil due to factors such as the manufacturing process used to make the oil, the age and type of coconuts, and other issues that impact the quality, effectiveness and healthiness of your coconut oil.

Meeting such high standards is no small feat, but you should not settle for anything less if you want to experience all the health benefits of coconut oil. (If you are currently using or considering another brand, please make sure it meets the requirements below.)

The only reason Mercola.com is now offering Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is that we made sure that it meets all these requirements of a better coconut oil, including:

Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Certified organic by USDA standards No refining No chemicals added (including hexane) No bleaching No deodorization No hydrogenation Made from traditional coconut palms only, no hybrid or genetically modified (GMO) varieties Made from fresh coconuts, not the dried "copra" used in cheap oils Made without heat processing

Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is made from fresh coconuts — opened less than 48 hours after they are picked from the trees. These coconuts are grown and processed organically, without potentially harmful fertilizers, additives or chemical solvents.

In contrast, most commercial coconut oils are made from copra, the dried up meat from coconuts. Using the cheaper copra-grade coconut means that the oil extracted may not be sanitary, and, in my opinion, it is not suitable for human consumption.

It must not be refined or purified. In fact, this type of inferior coconut oil is called RBD — refined, bleached and deodorized.

Mass-producing coconut oil in this manner typically uses nutrient-removing heat, chemical solvents, bleaching agents and sometimes even hydrogenating processes, which can create trans fats.

Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is made without heat processing. The fresh coconuts are first cold pressed to make a coconut emulsion. After being chilled to help pull out the oils, the milk goes through a centrifuge, where the pure oil spins away from the water layer. This results in a pure and natural, organic, unrefined and highly stable coconut oil.

Additionally, blindfolded taste tests confirm this coconut oil to have a fresh and mild, light coconut flavor — and to consistently beat out other brands in taste. And of course, laboratory analysis continues to confirm the high quality of this extra virgin coconut oil.

Even More Reasons to Replace Those Other Oils With Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

The use of coconut oil is one of the smartest dietary measures I recommend.

The medium-chain fats in coconut oil are considered so nutritious that they have been used in baby formulas, and in hospitals to feed the critically ill, those on tube feeding, and those with digestive problems.

Coconut oil is exceptionally helpful for pregnant women, nursing moms, the elderly, those concerned about digestive health, athletes (even weekend warriors), and those of you who just want to enhance your overall health.

No guilt. No cholesterol. No trans-fats. No downside. Only your peace of mind.

The light, non-greasy taste of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is so delicious, you'll want to use it nearly every time you cook. Just to get you started, here are a few things you can do with your coconut oil:

• Whenever you fry, stir-fry or sauté veggies, eggs, poultry, fish or whatever, use coconut oil for a health-conscious light flavor
• Toss some coconut oil into your smoothies or juiced drinks for a burst of lauric acid
• Make your own mayonnaise with coconut oil
• Use it on your salads for a tropical flair
• Try it on popcorn instead of butter

NOW Is the Best Time to Order Your Own Extra Virgin Coconut Oil!

"I have been using the virgin coconut oil for 3 years now in all of my cooking and it is just wonderful!! I love how it cooks and the nice flavor it adds to all food. Since using the coconut oil and the health/life suggestions, I have felt better than ever. "I credit all the healthful tips and my healthy lifestyle to having a great pregnancy and birth experience during the past year. I have shared the benefits of the coconut oil to my whole family, friends, and coworkers. They are now all users of the coconut oil!!" -- Sharon Hughes from Seattle, WA

I cannot stress enough how powerfully beneficial this oil is. After reading this far, now you too can see why coconut oil is causing such a sensation among health-conscious individuals everywhere. And why our survey respondents raved about how it gave them peace of mind knowing they were making the smartest oil choice.

Today you have the opportunity to try it for yourself. Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is now available on Mercola.com in several convenient sizes:

• Pint size (16 ounce)
• Quart Size (32 ounce)
• Gallon Size (128 ounce)

At one tablespoon per serving, the pint size will yield 32 servings, the quart size 64 servings, and the economical gallon size will yield a whopping 256 servings!

To obtain the full range of coconut oil's health and weight loss benefits, 3 to 3 ½ tablespoons per day of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is the amount recommended for adults.

Due to its exceptional stability, this coconut oil has a long shelf life of two or more years (the longest of any oil), and does not have to be refrigerated. Coconut oil should be stored out of direct sunlight, however.

Need another incentive? How about a super low price... Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil goes for just $17.45 for the 16 ounce size, $24.45 for the 32 ounce size, and $65.45 for the one gallon size — even less than we have been selling coconut oil for in the past.

I honestly believe you're going to love your Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, just like I do! So please, before you cook with oil again, don't pass up this ridiculously affordable way to help enhance your health by making one simple change to your diet. This is the right choice. Order yours today.

Mercola.com survey respondents provided many examples of how coconut oil got them started optimizing their weight. Here are a few excerpts:

• “I lost about 24 pounds in 6-8 weeks”
• “I wasn't really overweight to begin with but I have lost some of my excess belly fat”
• “In conjunction with exercise and eliminating most starches from my diet, I have lost 45 pounds over the past 5 months”
• “I have been losing weight and body fat”
• “Besides the good taste, my weight seems to have stabilized”

C'mon, people.  Read these claims--how often have we read/heard of/seen claims like this made, only to try whatever the product was, and still not lose weight!  Any website or MD who claims to have found some "miracle", is instantly suspect in  my book.  If it were a miracle, why hasn't the scientific community come out in support?  Where are the university studies, where is the SCIENCE? Like my mamma said "if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is."

I didn't buy into the weight loss claims and never do (although the devil inside keeps whispering "what if it's true?").   I do, however, believe that natural products are better than man-made syntehtic ones.  I prefer cotton to polyester, butter to margerine, and now coconut oil to synthetic vegetable blends.  I use it only in very small quantities for sauteeing vegetables, frying an egg for my husband, french toast, etc.  Since fried foods still don't sit well, I am not using this in any great quantities.  I did make the candy with it and found it satisfied my craving for something as a "treat".   Besides, the bonus is that I can rub it into my skin as a moisterizer (smells better than vasoline) or try and get my husband to give me a massage with it (as if that will ever happen). Thanks for the warning though.  I do appreciate the support.

I wasn't looking at the article for a weight loss perspective, I had gastric bypass as my tool for weight loss, have lost over 130 lbs and have remained under 128lbs for over 4 months now.   My point to posting the article was more on the nutrition of coconut oil and how it can be used in cooking, not how it can help you lose weight.  Furthermore, the original post had nothing to do with weight loss, it was a question posted about the nutrition in coconut oil.