A friend was asking me about coconut oil as she was confused about the info and what brand to choose, she was also asking if coconut oil/milk was really that great for you as it had a very bad rap years ago concerning the saturated fat increasing cholesterol in the body. I know there is a ton of information out there and many of you are probably just as confused so here is my response…

I love coconut oil! The Lauric Acid found in coconut oil is an extremely powerful antioxidant that has countless benefits – including hair, skin, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength.

Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight as it contains short and medium-chain fatty acids (not long-chain) 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. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight and tend to live a longer life.

It’s one of the best oils to cook with as it has a very high smoking point and it doesn’t change the chemical background of the oil when heated. The Saturated Fatty Acids: Most of them are Medium Chain Triglycerides, which assimilate well in the body.

I personally do most of my cooking with coconut oil and I also use on my skin like body cream after the shower. It has a very subtle coconut smell and taste, which I personally LOVE!

I like the brand called Nutiva, it’s organic and you can find in Whole Foods or Loblaws health section.

It’s a must try 😉

Coach JVB