Coconut oil & 101 reasons to love it

March 1, 2013 | by kate | 2 Comments

I could talk all day on the phenomenal benefits of using this hero of nutritional foods! Particularly as its had its time in the 'wings', where its been banished for its high saturated fat content for far too long. I reckon it needs to be out here in the limelight - front and centre, leading the chorus line of healthy, nutrient dense, mega nourishing foods! Listed below is an overview of the many different uses for coconut oil, there are bound to be more.

We regularly use coconut in all it's various forms:

as a young coconut, for the water and meat (as in the photo)
the oil, for cooking, baking & pulling... (a new health routine I've embraced & love. Oil Pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic tradition that I'll shed more light on in a future post). Coconut oil is definitely a pantry staple
flakes for making coconut milk and desiccated coconut
the syrup & sugar, as a great sweetener with a low glycemic load

In this post though I'm zooming in on the oil. In terms of coconut, this is the form we use the most and I believe the most 'valuable'. It's easy to use for all kinds of cooking requirements and it's medicinal properties are phenomenal.

Some of the many healing benefits & reasons to love it:

aids digestion
it has anti-microbial properties that help our bodies fight off bacterial, fungal and viral infections
eases acid reflux and gallbladder disease
stabilises blood sugar and insulin production
improves magnesium and calcium absorption, promoting stronger bones
great for dental health
regulates thyroid function
prevents oxidation of fatty acids
provides antioxidants to fight free radicals slowing aging and degenerative disease
stabilises female hormones
strengthens the liver and protects against degeneration
assists wound healing
and it does not upset cholesterol levels

Due to the molecular structure of coconut oil, generally it is more easily absorbed by our bodies. Hence some of the many nutritional benefits including:

provides a quick source of energy and stimulates our metabolism
produces an immediate, usable source of energy
increases our metabolic rate, stabilises body weight and helps control food cravings
enriches the milk supply of breast feeding women
won't form harmful by products during cooking at a high heat
soothes nappy rash and cradle cap on babies

Why coconut oil is great for cooking: when it's heated, it's health properties are retained - unlike many vegetable oils ie it doesn't turn rancid or oxidize when heated. It can be used at a moderate to high temperature and has a long shelf life, (refined coconut oil can be heated up to 230 degrees Celsius and the unrefined oil up to about 175 degrees celsius).

Some of the many other uses for coconut oil:

a skin moisturiser. After the shower I smother my skin with it. I've been doing this for a good couple of years now and my skin has never felt better, softer and smoother. The dry skin I used to have especially through Winter, which is 'in the family', is a thing of the past.
treatment of lice. This is interesting... our kids haven't had lice since they've been going to school (for the four and a bit years). Maybe it's around the corner? Or their hair is just not clean enough! Or maybe it's due to the large amount of coconut oil in their diets?
Makeup remover: it's a perfect solution to using the toxic makeup removers promoted on the market. Coconut oil works a treat.
a sunscreen. I havent' tested this yet, even though some people swear by it. I've been too concerned to test it incase it doesn't work ... one day.

How to use it regularly:

Sauteeing, baking or roasting
in smoothies - 1 to 2 tbsp
porridge - add 1-2 tbsp into your porridge at the end of cooking
as a moisturiser
makeup remover
just off the spoon after a meal, for extra sustenance

What type should we buy?

Extra virgin cold pressed is preferable. It is less refined, i.e. processed and more in it's natural & whole form.
I buy coconut oil in a glass jar. With the fats in coconut oil this is important as toxins leach from plastic and are readily absorbed into the oil.
Coconut flesh and water is protected by a hard outer shell. I don't believe organic coconut is necessary. but check the processing of the product you're buying (as suggested above).

Where to find Coconut oil?

Most supermarkets sell coconut oil. Our local IGA supplies the Eco brand.
For value-for-money & for cooking I use Precious Organics. They do their own brand that's in a 850g glass jar and it is good quality. Precious Organics is in Myaree.
General use: Precious Organics, Bananana (I buy this from Peaches in South Fremantle)
As a beauty product I use INDAH, found at www.indah.com.au