The Benefits Of Coconut Oil

Posted on May 29, 2014 | 0 comments

Not too long ago I had a visit with my brother. I asked him what he thought of Coconut Oil. “Isn’t that the oil that is really bad for you?” was his reply. NO!!!!! Ok, how could my brother not know about the benefits of coconut oil?

The Tree Of Life

So many people have been talking about coconut oil like it is this new health superfood. Well, yes and no. It is a ‘superfood’, it is amazing and does amazing things, but it is certainly not new! Coconut Oil has been in use for almost every human ailment for thousands of years –the tree from which it grows is often, lovingly, referred to as “The Tree of Life”.

Prior to World War II, coconut oil had been used here in the US regularly to treat coughs, constipation, malnutrition, skin infections, toothaches, earaches, and flus just to name a few.

In fact, the countries with the highest life-expectancy rate all have diets very high in coconut. They consume the meat, the milk and the oil of the coconut daily and are known to rub the oil all over themselves each morning to both soften the skin and protect it from the sun (coconut oil has a natural SPF of 4).

I’m not going to make promises that coconut oil will change your life.

Only you can change your life.

But I will share what I have learned to be true about oil and you decide for yourself what you think is best.

Facts On Some Oils
Many moons ago (decades in fact), it became common place to process and modify our foods under the guise that it was better for us. Some of our fellow/sister humans thought to play Mother Nature. We now know just how bad this was as there really is not any US family that is not affected in some way by diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure or obesity. A sad but true fact – far more harm has been done than good.

Here are some of the worst offenders in the oil family and why:

Canola Oil – I never knew this but here is the truth about this oil:

• It is actually a modified version of rapeseed oil.
• The rape plant (in the mustard family) has cyanide-containing compounds.
• Wild animals and even insects avoid it in nature.
• It is a “GMO Oil”, the process of deodorizing and bleaching to become canola oil removes any value the rapeseed may have had in the first place. It has been linked to muscular disorders, degeneration of the heart, kidneys, adrenals and thyroid gland problems.
• Please check labels before buying closely to avoid – because it is so cheap to produce it is used in practically EVERYTHING!!
• Also go check your cupboards now! I grew up using this stuff and had no idea it had such a bad effect. There are so many other healthy, real oil options to use that it is senseless to keep using canola oil. Go check and bin anything with this particular nasty oil away!

Cottonseed Oil – I don’t really use this oil, but I have started checking labels for it! Here’s why:

• The majority of cotton plants in the USA are genetically modified.
• All cotton plants can be sprayed with anything to ward of insects and to induce growth. These chemicals work their way deep into the plant making them toxic organisms.
• Thousands of commercially made food products contains this oil so please READ the labels and avoid this one!

Soybean – I don’t use this oil, but again I do label check for it now because:

• 93% of USA soy beans are GMO (that says enough for me but if you need more, read on!)
• They sell it in its unfermented state, which is not good for our bodies. The countries that do consume soy have it non-gmo’d and fermented.
• It is heavily processed and extremely hydrogenated and cheap.
• Again, it is used in thousands of commercially made products so please check your labels.

Now that these are fresh on your mind, go check your fridge and pantry. Read the labels on everything from your ketchup, to your dressing, to the can of beans. See what you have. Then come back and read the rest for my healthy alternative!

What oil can you use? I am sure you are wondering….

Coconut Oil!

Just a few of it’s Powers:

• Studies show that it protects you from viruses, bacteria, infection, cancer, thyroid, brain and heart problems… plus beautifies your skin – and even burns fat!
• The coconut is a “functional food” rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber – the essential nutritional building blocks for perfect health.
• It actually, really tastes fresh and amazing.
• It has a natural SPF of 4, so it protects your skin from the sun!
• Studies are coming out that Coconut Oil has the ability to prevent and even repair Alzheimer’s.
• It feels a bit greasy at first on your skin, but absorbs so quickly and leaves an incredibly smooth surface behind.
• Perfect for cooking, it has a lower smoke point as it is almost completely a saturated fat.
• Coconut oil is a natural source of MCFA’s (Medium Chain Fatty Acids). The benefits of MCFA’s:

1. Easiest for our bodies to digest and gain energy from.
2. Increases metabolism
3. Enhances Digestion
4. Heals and Repairs the Skin
5. Kick-Starts the Thyroid
6. Acts as an antimicrobial

What kind should you buy?
Look for organic, unrefined/unprocessed.
Stay away from any kind that has been hydrogenated, bleached, refined or deodorized.

How should you store it?
It does not need to be refrigerated. I keep it in the pantry and in the bathroom as lotion.
Depending on the temperature of your home, it may stay solid or it may melt a bit. Either is ok, this will not harm the oil.

As with all things, use in moderation. Going overboard on anything is never good.

Mother Nature totally takes care of us. But somehow, in the early – mid 1900’s here in the US, we got away from that. We became convinced we could make it better, faster, and easier than Mother Nature. And people did, well they made it faster and easier anyway…

And what did we get? Heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers, just to name a few.

I’m not suggesting you go for an extreme lifestyle change here. But I am saying that making simple, uncomplicated changes to your lifestyle – like switching out your bad, modified oils for healthy, beneficial oils – is a great way to start. And even by doing something seeming this small, you will add months onto your life.

So don’t be afraid, go ahead, ditch those nasty oils and start experimenting with the benefits of Coconut Oil!

Here are ways that I have been using it in our house –

• The BEST oil ever for making popcorn! We make popcorn in our house a lot. I used to use canola or corn oil and I would always have tons of unpopped kernels left over. I tried coconut oil one time – wow what a difference. It even tasted better, there was not one kernel that did not pop and it was so light!
• I always put a few spoonfuls into our smoothies as I add the fruit.
• I will mix it into my tea in the morning – love this one, gives me such a boost for the day.
• A fantastic eye make-up remover. I bought a pretty jar and filled it with some coconut oil. I keep it next to my sink for when I am ready to wash my face at the end of the day – it takes my eye make-up right off.
• I use it when sauteing veggies – it makes them so light and delicious. I also use it in recipes, I will use the same amount, of whatever bad oil called for, of the coconut oil.
• We will occasionally rub some on our skin and sit outside for a bit then take a steam and use an exfoliating scrub to wash it off. It softens our skin so nicely.
• I use it to do oil pulling once a week.

There are hundreds of ways to use and benefits of Coconut Oil. What are your ways? Please share with us in the comments section!

Cheers!!
Malibu Mama Loves Xx

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