Coconut oil

2

Replies

  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    Makeup remover my go to definitely. Also, cooking with it seems to provide fat MACROS which is good too ;)
  • rhtexasgal
    rhtexasgal Posts: 572 Member
    Coconut oil is great to pop popcorn ... great for baking ... and also helpful for heartburn. A take a spoonful if I feel that reflux kind of burn and it helps soothes it. Oh, in a small container, I mix coconut oil and lavender or tea tree oil together and dab it on blemishes. It works!
  • volfan22
    volfan22 Posts: 149 Member
    I put butter, coconut oil and heavy cream in my coffee - blended (makes ~2 cups) and I'm full until dinner. I do this about 3-times per week. I would say everyone has their opinions of the good/bad aspect, if you like it and it falls into your nutrition regimen then do what works for you.
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    Extra virgin should not have much flavor. I use it to sautee things at higher heat, since it's more heat stable and has a higher smoke point than olive oil. I'll also sometimes use it in baked goods. Otherwise, I use olive oil primarily, and butter occasionally.
  • hgycta
    hgycta Posts: 3,013 Member
    I use it all the time for making omelets in a skillet. I love it personally, I find the eggs never stick to the pan, as they did often with I can't believe it's not butter spread, and sometimes Pam cooking spray. It works better than butter even, in terms of not sticking! It does add a slight tropical flavor to the eggs, but I actually really enjoy this, and I just feel like the result is outstanding - I would never give up my coconut oil for the world haha x)
    As for health benefits, though, I haven't personally noticed a difference since I've switched. Maybe if you usually consume cups of oil you may notice, but for me, one tablespoon in the morning is hardly enough to really tell. It may suppress appetite, may give you more energy, who knows? While I would love to support these claims, unfortunately if I did so it'd be more psychological than anything.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,223 Member
    IMO this is a fad thing, just a trend.
    Tell that to the indigenous people of the tropics that have been consuming coconut oil for thousands of years.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,223 Member
    I switched to frying my eggs in coconut oil instead of olive oil because it tastes better, so there's that.
    Fail.....butter with eggs, everyone knows that. j/k

  • carriecarrio
    carriecarrio Posts: 70 Member
    I use it for baking and raw/no-bake vegan treats
  • CarrieCans
    CarrieCans Posts: 381 Member
    I love coconut oil for frying, i don't burn it as easily as i do other oils. I also use it to coat my hands and elbows before i go to sleep. I have poofy fly-away hair in the winter so i use it instead of styling products. My daughter uses it in place of chap stick.

    My cat loves it. If she hears me open the jar, she will get up from a dead sleep and beg for it.
  • bd208
    bd208 Posts: 41 Member
    There are a lot of MYTHS about coconut oil.

    Myth #1 - Coconut Oil contains a lot of fat so it must be fattening.

    Truth - Not all fat makes you fat. Certain fats do cause weight gain, but other good fats will actually burn unwanted fat off your body and accelerate your metabolism.

    Myth #2 - Coconut Oil contains almost all saturated fat so it must be bad for you.

    Truth - Saturated Fat is not the cause of heart disease, weight gain and high cholesterol. Saturated Fat has been falsely accused and it is SUGAR that is Enemy Numero Uno

    Myth #3 - Coconut Oil should be avoided by those who are at risk for heart disease .

    Truth - The fat in coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can consume (yes, even for those with heart disease). It is rich in lauric acid, which is known for its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties and contains no trans fat. The saturated fat in coconut oil is different than many other oils in that it is of the medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) variety. The body digests MCFAs more easily and sends these fats directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into energy. A fat that is used to make energy instead of storing it on our bodies.

    I use unrefined, organic coconut oil for all of my cooking needs. 1 - 2 tsps for most cooking is more than enough. You can even use it raw if you like, I don't think it has much of a taste but it doesnt taste bad. I usually have about 2-3 total Tbsp per day which is a perfect amount for a fat burning eating plan. While it's really good for you, there's no need to go overboard

    Not sure why people put it in coffee....maybe as a cream substitute. Not sure if i would do that but i would try anything once!
    Good sensible information!!! I love Coconut Oil and use it and Avacado Oil for alot of things....have been using it long before it was a "fad" as one person put it...the benefits are great!!!
  • SvennsDream
    SvennsDream Posts: 33 Member
    I use coconut oil in many of the ways already mentioned in this thread and truly love it. One thing not mentioned is (sorry if TMI) it helps me stay regular with bowel movements. I eat about a tablespoon every night before bed and it really helps.
  • blktngldhrt
    blktngldhrt Posts: 1,053 Member
    I use it to get my fat macros up sometimes either by eating off of the spoon or frothing into my tea or coffee and as a main ingredient in low carb chocolates. I like it in cookies and cupcakes better than vegetable oil. It's my preferred oil for cannabis infusion.

    For other applications.. I use it in the lotions I make. I used it in place of lanolin while I was nursing because I didn't want my kid consuming sheep secretion. I used it for diaper rash..partly because I cloth diapered and partly because it, and breast milk, worked better than desitin. It was awesome as hand lotion when my kid was small and constantly put her fingers in her mouth. I throw a tbsp into my kids bath during the winter because her skin gets dry and put it on her lips and skin as needed. I also use it with salt and honey for a face scrub/mask once every couple weeks. I tried it in my hair and wasn't impressed with those results.

    Virgin coconut oil..I love it. It's very useful.
  • mykaylis
    mykaylis Posts: 320 Member
    tried it for everything since it was sooooo good. they said.

    coffee: nothing like giving your cup of joe a coconut scented oil slick in the morning. fail.
    on toast: no. just no.
    frying: only good for things that naturally taste good with coconut. ie shrimp, white fish, certain vegetables.

    for baby's bum: great texture, prevents diaper rash, and smells better than vaseline.
    for windburned/winter cheeks, wonderful and non-irritating.
  • wesley58
    wesley58 Posts: 129 Member
    I use it for everything, cooking, and even put it in my coffee for a sweetner along with butter
  • Rlavigne93
    Rlavigne93 Posts: 119 Member
    I like to use it in desserts, but that's about it for cooking. It's essentially just another oil nutritionally, though. It's GREAT for your skin topically, however. I use it every day after I shower.
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    As a person who works in advertising, I admire coconut oil a lot... for the great marketing.

    As a person who likes to eat healthy, though, I'd just like to point out that most of the claims about it are hooey.

    scepticalnutritionist.com.au/?p=844

    (Go ahead and use it for skin care if you like, though. No harm there.)
  • savvyfantastic
    savvyfantastic Posts: 112 Member
    The nutritional benefits of coconut oil are well overhyped (including the claim that it can be used to treat HIV, which is just offensive). However it's a good alternative to other oils for flavor (I like roast pumpkin and beetroot in coconut oil). Great on skin but due to high fat content should not be used in excess. Most of the literature and benefits are seen when it's used in populations who have a lower fat content in their diet day to day (eg vegans, some Asian cultures).



    Myth #1 - Coconut Oil contains a lot of fat so it must be fattening.

    Truth - Not all fat makes you fat. Certain fats do cause weight gain, but other good fats will actually burn unwanted fat off your body and accelerate your metabolism.


    All fats, saturated, unsaturated (not trans obviously), have a role to play in the body. However, excess calories, coming from fats or elsewhere, do contribute to fat accumulation. Even 'good' fats can be had in excess, so it's important to just have a moderate balance across the spectrums.


    Myth #2 - Coconut Oil contains almost all saturated fat so it must be bad for you.

    Truth - Saturated Fat is not the cause of heart disease, weight gain and high cholesterol. Saturated Fat has been falsely accused and it is SUGAR that is Enemy Numero Uno


    Respectfully, I disagree. It is true that fats have had a bad name in popular culture but in a lot of ways sugar is now getting this same broadly unfounded reputation. I won't go too much into it but in western culture what we have is a shitload of excess calories coming from a psychologically addictive substance. A little sugar is fine. A lot is bad. A little fat is fine. A lot is bad. The current state of health and chronic illness in society can not be put down to the increased intake in one food substance alone- the majority of people are eating nutrient poor diets with an excess of sugars, fats and sodium with sedentary activity. These create a 'perfect storm' environment for health issues.


    Myth #3 - Coconut Oil should be avoided by those who are at risk for heart disease .

    Truth - The fat in coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can consume (yes, even for those with heart disease). It is rich in lauric acid, which is known for its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties and contains no trans fat. The saturated fat in coconut oil is different than many other oils in that it is of the medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) variety. The body digests MCFAs more easily and sends these fats directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into energy. A fat that is used to make energy instead of storing it on our bodies.


    I am curious as to the source of this information. Populations where coconut oil are the predominant fat source are not good examples for heart health. Multiple studies have found that Lauric acid is one of the fats associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
    (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14576758). Additionally, the body's preference is to store fat, and use it after it's used up other energy sources (glucose, amino acids). To suggest that any fats will just magically bypass the body's natural processes and be used as a preferential energy source is just not correct.

    Basically - If you like coconut oil, have it as part of a varied diet. Remember- the overall diet is always going to be more important than the individual components.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,223 Member
    segacs wrote: »
    As a person who works in advertising, I admire coconut oil a lot... for the great marketing.

    As a person who likes to eat healthy, though, I'd just like to point out that most of the claims about it are hooey.

    scepticalnutritionist.com.au/?p=844

    (Go ahead and use it for skin care if you like, though. No harm there.)
    What I find fascinating is the link they provided against lauric acid was this. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12716665 Basically meaningless, but for some reason held this in high enough regard to use it as evidence.....I agree though, it's just fat and consume it how ever it may fit into someones macros......no magical properties, just tasty for the right applications.

  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    IMO this is a fad thing, just a trend.
    Tell that to the indigenous people of the tropics that have been consuming coconut oil for thousands of years.
    Being an indigenous person of the tropics, it seems like a trend in the Western world.

  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    I switched to frying my eggs in coconut oil instead of olive oil because it tastes better, so there's that.
    Fail.....butter with eggs, everyone knows that. j/k

    Nope, bacon grease. Far superior.

  • mykaylis
    mykaylis Posts: 320 Member
    mmmmmmmmmmmm... bacon. i can make a mean bannock with bacon grease. serve it with homemade raspberry or strawberry jam.
  • JayRuby84
    JayRuby84 Posts: 557 Member
    salembambi wrote: »
    no it tastes horrible but it works well to gently remove eye make up

    I bought some from Trader Joe's. was thinking of just using it to lotion up. I don't know how to cook with it.
  • Lourdesong
    Lourdesong Posts: 1,492 Member
    segacs wrote: »
    As a person who works in advertising, I admire coconut oil a lot... for the great marketing.

    As a person who likes to eat healthy, though, I'd just like to point out that most of the claims about it are hooey.

    scepticalnutritionist.com.au/?p=844

    (Go ahead and use it for skin care if you like, though. No harm there.)

    Argan Oil, too. I follow a lot of beauty blogs and whatnot, and one has to be really careful not to fall prey to the hype and a seemingly highly contagious magical thinking... if one doesn't want to go broke on magic beans and snake oil, that is. "Natural" and "ancient" and "secret wrinkle-fighting remedy of the Timbuktu's native people" as selling points are pretty good red flags.

    I've noticed this seems to hold well in the food world, as well.

    I find it super bizarre that anyone would willfully put coconut oil in their coffee. I think I would have to believe that "coconut oil is magical" before I'd ever do that.
  • zipa78
    zipa78 Posts: 354 Member
    tmpecus78 wrote: »
    i consume about 100g of coconut oil a day.

    Why, if I may ask?
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    edited December 2014
    Louredesong coconut oil is not magical but it can that way to some of us. After dealing with serious IBS and the doctors offering no real help other than labeling it for 40 years now it being gone within four weeks after getting on coconut oil makes it seem like magic to say nothing about the on going weight loss that it has helped me to finally embrace.

  • zipa78
    zipa78 Posts: 354 Member
    I'm using coconut grease (during winter, it is not a liquid oil over here) as a lubricant for massage. Works great for that, doesn't smell, doesn't go rancid, doesn't irritate people.
  • kwjager
    kwjager Posts: 29 Member
    I use it as a butter substitute when I bake, as I have a dairy allergy and can't use butter. It's also good as a salve and an eye make up remover, as others have also observed above. Don't think it works that well as a skin moisturizer and it did horrifying things to my (fine) hair.
  • blktngldhrt
    blktngldhrt Posts: 1,053 Member
    Lourdesong wrote: »
    segacs wrote: »
    As a person who works in advertising, I admire coconut oil a lot... for the great marketing.

    As a person who likes to eat healthy, though, I'd just like to point out that most of the claims about it are hooey.

    scepticalnutritionist.com.au/?p=844

    (Go ahead and use it for skin care if you like, though. No harm there.)

    Argan Oil, too. I follow a lot of beauty blogs and whatnot, and one has to be really careful not to fall prey to the hype and a seemingly highly contagious magical thinking... if one doesn't want to go broke on magic beans and snake oil, that is. "Natural" and "ancient" and "secret wrinkle-fighting remedy of the Timbuktu's native people" as selling points are pretty good red flags.

    I've noticed this seems to hold well in the food world, as well.

    I find it super bizarre that anyone would willfully put coconut oil in their coffee. I think I would have to believe that "coconut oil is magical" before I'd ever do that.

    I thought it was weird, too. Then, I started keto and found it useful for getting my fat macro where it needs to be. I froth it up with some half and half and barely notice it's there.

    There's nothing magical about coconut oil. It's just nice to have something moderately inexpensive that has a plethora of uses.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    I use it in my hair... I cook with it occasionally usually when frying coconut shrimp.
  • blktngldhrt
    blktngldhrt Posts: 1,053 Member
    zipa78 wrote: »
    I'm using coconut grease (during winter, it is not a liquid oil over here) as a lubricant for massage. Works great for that, doesn't smell, doesn't go rancid, doesn't irritate people.

    It works great as a lubricant for other things, too. I forgot about that use! :)
This discussion has been closed.