Coconut oil, it’s an oil, It’s a fat, it’s…magical!

Coconut oil, it’s an oil, It’s a fat, it’s…magical!

Another lovely submission for our local and fabulous holistic nutritionist The Vital Vegan, Janine!

A lot of people are concerned with the fact that coconut oil is a fat. As a society we have been so conditioned to fear anything with the word fat in the contents. But there is a difference between good fats and bad fats. You see, your brain is made up of 60% fat, so you need some of it. Fats help carry, absorb, and store the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) in your bloodstream.

Coconut oil is a saturated fat and typically we want to avoid saturated fat along with trans fat, but the saturated fat in coconut oil is unlike the fat found in meat or other vegetable fats. It is identical to a special group of fats found in human breast milk which have been shown to improve digestion, strengthen the immune system, and protect against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. It contains medium-chain triglycerides, our body metabolizes these fats in the liver, immediately converting this into energy (fuel for the brain and muscle function) rather than it being stored as fat, so it is essentially an exception. Essential fatty acids cannot be manufactured in your body so they must come from the foods you eat.

SO what are some of the health benefits of coconut oil?

• Coconut oil helps boost metabolism and raise body temperatures to promote thyroid health.
• The lauric acid in Coconut Oil can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi, helping to ward off infections
• The fatty acids in Coconut Oil are turned into ketones, which can reduce seizures
• Coconut Oil can improve blood cholesterol levels and may lower your risk of heart disease
• The fatty acids in Coconut Oil can boost brain function in Alzheimer’s  patients
• Coconut Oil can help you lose fat, especially the dangerous fat in your abdomen
• Coconut has been shown to prevent and even cure candida. It provides relief from the inflammation caused by candida, both externally and internally.
• And many many more!

Not only is it good for you internally it can protect hair against damage, moisturize skin and function as sunscreen (spf  4) and can help to treat many skin diseases such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections etc.

Certain oils start to break down when cooking with them forming free radicals, along with other harmful compounds. Coconut oil is one of the most stable oils making it one of the best choices for cooking. The best choice is always organic extra virgin cold pressed coconut oil.

You can add raw coconut oil to recipes, and smoothies.

 Here is a delicious Coconut Bite recipe using coconut oil.

Recipe:

1 teaspoon of Organic Coconut Oil

1 cup of almonds or walnuts

1 cup of organic dates

3-4 tablespoons of raw cocoa powder

Shredded coconut

Place all ingredients in a food processor. Roll into small bite size balls and roll into shredded coconut. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set.

Enjoy!

Love, Light & Essential Fatty Acid’s

JaNine <3