coconut oil

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2

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  • blankenships6
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    The doctors are not going to tell us how to eat a perfectly healthy diet because if they did then people wouldn't hardly ever need them. Our bodies would be functioning as they should. I have nothing against doctors in general but I do my own research and try to use common sense. Like I said early, human chemically altered? or the way God created it to be? Glad to see that you researched and found the truth!
  • mreko2005
    mreko2005 Posts: 56
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    Just did a quick search on Amazon.com and they have quite a few different options for coconut oil. And I love the fact I can read the reviews before I purchase.

    We must not have the same amazon.com because the prices I saw were exorbitant.
  • TinkrBelz
    TinkrBelz Posts: 888 Member
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    Just did a quick search on Amazon.com and they have quite a few different options for coconut oil. And I love the fact I can read the reviews before I purchase.

    We must not have the same amazon.com because the prices I saw were exorbitant.

    This is the cheapest that I could find and so I bought it a few weeks ago.

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044MTGHI/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details
  • SilentRenegade
    SilentRenegade Posts: 245 Member
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    Just did a quick search on Amazon.com and they have quite a few different options for coconut oil. And I love the fact I can read the reviews before I purchase.

    We must not have the same amazon.com because the prices I saw were exorbitant.

    The VitaCost one was a good price. I just ordered the Jarrow Formulas one for $16.59 (Amazon Prime eligible). I don't know, doesn't seem too much to me...
  • danmoffett
    danmoffett Posts: 110
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    its is considered a saturated fat and therefore will raise your bad cholesterol LDL-- so if thats not an issue for you then by all means use it

    Completely false statement....my use of coconut and olive oil over the past year - changed my total cholesterol from 200 to 163 and upped my HDL from 35 to 55...

    Just because your cholesterol is better, doesn't mean it is because of the coconut oil. I would guess that you are making other positive changes.

    To the OP, the only thing I can say is to do some research and determine for yourself. I read this article, and decided that coconut oil probably wasn't for me, because there are cholesterol problems in my family and I really don't want to risk it.

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-and-health

    That being said, supposedly it has a wonderful aroma, almost no taste, and works extremely well when cooking. I think in small doses it should be okay for most people, but not an every day thing.

    Cholesterol is a non issue for MOST people. Read what Dr. Carlson says:

    "Cholesterol is considered a type of fat, a sterol to be precise. Its production starts with sugar molecules. Please read the preceding sentence a thousand times again and again. Yes, cholesterol production begins when the cells of the body see sugar molecules. These sugar molecules can be glucose (found in starches, processed and unprocessed foods and all vegetables), fructose (found in fruit and berries) and galactose (found in lactose which is comprised of glucose and galactose). These sugar molecules will be modified within the cells of the body with the end result being the production of cholesterol.

    One may ask, “Why would our bodies make such a deadly substance?” Our bodies make cholesterol because our cells, each and every one of them, need cholesterol to survive. Cholesterol is found in our cell’s membrane, is the starting point for the production of hormones like testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol and bile acid salts and the list goes on. Without cholesterol in our cell’s membrane and without the other things we make from cholesterol; we will die. The cell membrane is what makes a cell, a cell. Without a cell membrane we have no cells and there is no us. Without the other stuff we make from cholesterol we could not survive either.

    Getting back to how cholesterol is made I know what you are thinking; "How come I was never told that cholesterol is made from sugar?” How come you were never told that the very foods that DO NOT contain cholesterol or fat are the very foods that the body uses to make cholesterol and fat. It is because doctors, dieticians and nutritionists have forgotten themselves.

    For my physician readers, remember glycolysis? Come on, I bet you do. Remember the end product of glycolysis that thing called pyruvate. Does acetyl Co A ring a bell? It should. It comes from the modification of pyruvate during the aerobic metabolism of glucose. Now who out there remembers that when two molecules of acetyl Co A come together it forms acetoacetyl Co A? Huh? Any takers?

    OK, this is for extra credit. Does anyone remember that "all twenty seven carbon atoms found in cholesterol come from acetyl CoA? (1) Mevalonate ring a bell. How about squalene? OK, OK I will stop now. It was embarrassing for me too when I came to the realization that I had forgotten how cholesterol was made. Even more so for me because I was a nutritional biochemist trained at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. And I even had forgotten this simple, basic biochemical fact. But please do not go on thinking that the cholesterol made in the body comes from anything other than the modification of a sugar molecule. This is so utterly important to understand and so crucial it bears repeating. Cholesterol is made in the body from sugar. It is through the modification of a sugar molecule that we make the majority of cholesterol in our bodies. And this is the cholesterol that clogs up all our arteries, including our coronary arteries, leading to subsequent heart attacks.

    Now to get to cholesterol from sugar molecules requires a review of biochemical pathways, physiological feedback loops (say that three times fast) and a whole bunch of other biochemical mumbo jumbo which is enough to give anyone a headache. That is why I stopped a few paragraphs ago. But do not worry for we will be reviewing no biochemical pathways here.

    Suffice it to say that sugar is the starting point for cholesterol production. So every time you eat something which contains sugar you are setting in motion the processes that the body needs to make cholesterol.

    Now it must be mentioned that the cells of the body produce a greater amount of cholesterol than is consumed by us daily. (2) This means we are producing more cholesterol than we are eating. So let me ask a question; if we want to effectively lower our cholesterol and I mean effectively, would I modify my dietary intake of cholesterol or attempt to modify the body's production of cholesterol?

    Well, let us think this through. The body makes more cholesterol than I consume. So if I can somehow modify how much cholesterol my body makes I will effect a greater change on my cholesterol numbers. If I change how much cholesterol I am eating, I will change the number less. But is this not exactly what we are doing when we change our dietary consumption of cholesterol by following low fat, low cholesterol diets? By following the accepted diet for reducing cholesterol you are marginally influencing the cholesterol number.

    By lowering your carbohydrate intake (I like the moniker carbs for short so from now on when I am referring to carbohydrates I will just say carbs) you are lowering the amount of sugar molecules a cell sees and if the cell sees less sugar the cell makes less cholesterol. It is that simple. Really, it is.

    As a side note, carbs are broken down into sugars, so whenever one eats carbs the cell will see sugar.

    Now I mentioned above and the statement was taken directly from one of the most widely used Medical Physiology textbooks in colleges across America, that it is the body's own production of cholesterol that contributes most to the cholesterol present in our bodies. So let us combine some thoughts. By lowering your carb intake the cell sees less sugar. Less sugar means less cholesterol production by our cells and now you just altered the most important contributor to cholesterol production in the body. Yes, again it is that simple. So simple it is embarrassing. But wait, it gets even more embarrassing.

    Ok, so some people may be wondering what happens when we eat cholesterol. After all, doctors are taught that it is the cholesterol we eat which gets us in trouble. Are you sitting down? I hope so because here is the kicker. When we eat cholesterol our body actually diminishes its production of cholesterol. Huh? Do you mean to tell me that when I eat cholesterol my body actually slows down its production of cholesterol? Yes, that is correct.
    So let us put some more ideas together. The low cholesterol diet means more whole grains (carbs), fruits (carbs) and vegetables (carbs), and obviously less cholesterol. Guess what you just did. You just set in motion all the body needs TO MAKE MORE CHOLESTEROL! Can I hear a great big Oops!!!!

    It is the classic negative biofeedback loop that makes this happen. When one ingests cholesterol since it is a fat it can transfuse right through the cell and nuclear membranes. Eventually it binds with the actual DNA of the cell and turns off the production of the enzymes that make cholesterol. Specifically, the production of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase is significantly lowered. Since this is one of the most important enzymes for cholesterol formation, turning off the production of this enzyme will decrease the production of cholesterol in our bodies.
    So that is why low cholesterol diets do not work to significantly lower the level of cholesterol in the blood. Going through it one more time, when we eat carbs and since the majority of cholesterol in our blood is produced by the body; we provide the cells with what they need to make more cholesterol. And then by lowering cholesterol consumption this sends the message to our body to make more cholesterol. This is because our cells, when they see less cholesterol, will make more of that enzyme mentioned above (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase). Then more cholesterol will be made. I refer to this as the double whammy effect.

    Now you physician readers may be feeling a little uneasy because I have not mentioned that lowering one's intake of cholesterol in the diet, will oftentimes lower the cholesterol number in the blood stream. Yes, this does happen, but we do not see a significant lowering of the cholesterol number. In fact, in a perfect body, and well who would that be; you only get a lowering of about fifteen percent. So if your cholesterol is, say, 300, which is not an uncommon number to see; by dramatically reducing the cholesterol in your diet, you can possibly (and usually not) lower the number from 300 to 255. For most people, this would not have lowered the cholesterol number enough, and guess what? Now your doctor is reaching for medication to help lower the cholesterol number more.
    I often times will say to my patients and colleagues, who never seem to understand my reasoning, because either they do not want to, or truly just don't understand, that if the dietary contribution to your cholesterol number is only fifteen percent, what contributes the other eighty five percent? Well, it is what your body makes of course. So would it not
    make sense to try to modify my body's production of cholesterol, since this contributes more to the cholesterol number?

    Of course! This makes perfect sense, but by starting yourself on a low cholesterol diet, and by eating more carbs, and you have to eat more carbs, because that's all that's left, again, you set in motion all the things the body needs to make more cholesterol. OK, I think I have said enough about cholesterol and we will talk more about it later.

    Remember, some people will question what I have written in this chapter possibly challenging what I say as untrue, but it is not. All one has to do is go to any biochemistry text and read the part on how we make cholesterol, to see that what I say is a fact."


    Enslavement by illusion is comfortable; it is the liberation by truth that people fear


    -David Hawkins
  • Spamee
    Spamee Posts: 148 Member
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    thanks for all the article links.
    I love it.
    Especially 'Shredded' into my Vanilla Greek yogurt
  • judypriv
    judypriv Posts: 206 Member
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    My brother is obsessed with it. he uses it to cook, flavor foods, as a supplement and he also bathes with it, uses it as a mosturizer and shampoo. he has eczema and dandruff for 40 years and 2 motnhs of coconut oil cured him. he swears by it.
  • floweringcurrant
    floweringcurrant Posts: 112 Member
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    Coconut oil is great! It has a nice flavor, is a good source of fat, and doesn't upset my body.
    In fact, my doctor recommended it to me.
    I use it to steam/sautee some kale, broccoli, onions, celery... etc.
    It is better uncooked (raw coconut oil), though, and like most things, you don't want to overdo it.
    I use only coconut oil now and do not tend to use vegetable oil or olive oil except on occasions.
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
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    its is considered a saturated fat and therefore will raise your bad cholesterol LDL-- so if thats not an issue for you then by all means use it

    Completely false statement....my use of coconut and olive oil over the past year - changed my total cholesterol from 200 to 163 and upped my HDL from 35 to 55...

    Just because your cholesterol is better, doesn't mean it is because of the coconut oil. I would guess that you are making other positive changes.

    To the OP, the only thing I can say is to do some research and determine for yourself. I read this article, and decided that coconut oil probably wasn't for me, because there are cholesterol problems in my family and I really don't want to risk it.

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-and-health

    That being said, supposedly it has a wonderful aroma, almost no taste, and works extremely well when cooking. I think in small doses it should be okay for most people, but not an every day thing.

    Cholesterol is a non issue for MOST people. Read what Dr. Carlson says:

    "Cholesterol is considered a type of fat, a sterol to be precise. Its production starts with sugar molecules. Please read the preceding sentence a thousand times again and again. Yes, cholesterol production begins when the cells of the body see sugar molecules. These sugar molecules can be glucose (found in starches, processed and unprocessed foods and all vegetables), fructose (found in fruit and berries) and galactose (found in lactose which is comprised of glucose and galactose). These sugar molecules will be modified within the cells of the body with the end result being the production of cholesterol.

    One may ask, “Why would our bodies make such a deadly substance?” Our bodies make cholesterol because our cells, each and every one of them, need cholesterol to survive. Cholesterol is found in our cell’s membrane, is the starting point for the production of hormones like testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol and bile acid salts and the list goes on. Without cholesterol in our cell’s membrane and without the other things we make from cholesterol; we will die. The cell membrane is what makes a cell, a cell. Without a cell membrane we have no cells and there is no us. Without the other stuff we make from cholesterol we could not survive either.

    Getting back to how cholesterol is made I know what you are thinking; "How come I was never told that cholesterol is made from sugar?” How come you were never told that the very foods that DO NOT contain cholesterol or fat are the very foods that the body uses to make cholesterol and fat. It is because doctors, dieticians and nutritionists have forgotten themselves.

    For my physician readers, remember glycolysis? Come on, I bet you do. Remember the end product of glycolysis that thing called pyruvate. Does acetyl Co A ring a bell? It should. It comes from the modification of pyruvate during the aerobic metabolism of glucose. Now who out there remembers that when two molecules of acetyl Co A come together it forms acetoacetyl Co A? Huh? Any takers?

    OK, this is for extra credit. Does anyone remember that "all twenty seven carbon atoms found in cholesterol come from acetyl CoA? (1) Mevalonate ring a bell. How about squalene? OK, OK I will stop now. It was embarrassing for me too when I came to the realization that I had forgotten how cholesterol was made. Even more so for me because I was a nutritional biochemist trained at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. And I even had forgotten this simple, basic biochemical fact. But please do not go on thinking that the cholesterol made in the body comes from anything other than the modification of a sugar molecule. This is so utterly important to understand and so crucial it bears repeating. Cholesterol is made in the body from sugar. It is through the modification of a sugar molecule that we make the majority of cholesterol in our bodies. And this is the cholesterol that clogs up all our arteries, including our coronary arteries, leading to subsequent heart attacks.

    Now to get to cholesterol from sugar molecules requires a review of biochemical pathways, physiological feedback loops (say that three times fast) and a whole bunch of other biochemical mumbo jumbo which is enough to give anyone a headache. That is why I stopped a few paragraphs ago. But do not worry for we will be reviewing no biochemical pathways here.

    Suffice it to say that sugar is the starting point for cholesterol production. So every time you eat something which contains sugar you are setting in motion the processes that the body needs to make cholesterol.

    Now it must be mentioned that the cells of the body produce a greater amount of cholesterol than is consumed by us daily. (2) This means we are producing more cholesterol than we are eating. So let me ask a question; if we want to effectively lower our cholesterol and I mean effectively, would I modify my dietary intake of cholesterol or attempt to modify the body's production of cholesterol?

    Well, let us think this through. The body makes more cholesterol than I consume. So if I can somehow modify how much cholesterol my body makes I will effect a greater change on my cholesterol numbers. If I change how much cholesterol I am eating, I will change the number less. But is this not exactly what we are doing when we change our dietary consumption of cholesterol by following low fat, low cholesterol diets? By following the accepted diet for reducing cholesterol you are marginally influencing the cholesterol number.

    By lowering your carbohydrate intake (I like the moniker carbs for short so from now on when I am referring to carbohydrates I will just say carbs) you are lowering the amount of sugar molecules a cell sees and if the cell sees less sugar the cell makes less cholesterol. It is that simple. Really, it is.

    As a side note, carbs are broken down into sugars, so whenever one eats carbs the cell will see sugar.

    Now I mentioned above and the statement was taken directly from one of the most widely used Medical Physiology textbooks in colleges across America, that it is the body's own production of cholesterol that contributes most to the cholesterol present in our bodies. So let us combine some thoughts. By lowering your carb intake the cell sees less sugar. Less sugar means less cholesterol production by our cells and now you just altered the most important contributor to cholesterol production in the body. Yes, again it is that simple. So simple it is embarrassing. But wait, it gets even more embarrassing.

    Ok, so some people may be wondering what happens when we eat cholesterol. After all, doctors are taught that it is the cholesterol we eat which gets us in trouble. Are you sitting down? I hope so because here is the kicker. When we eat cholesterol our body actually diminishes its production of cholesterol. Huh? Do you mean to tell me that when I eat cholesterol my body actually slows down its production of cholesterol? Yes, that is correct.
    So let us put some more ideas together. The low cholesterol diet means more whole grains (carbs), fruits (carbs) and vegetables (carbs), and obviously less cholesterol. Guess what you just did. You just set in motion all the body needs TO MAKE MORE CHOLESTEROL! Can I hear a great big Oops!!!!

    It is the classic negative biofeedback loop that makes this happen. When one ingests cholesterol since it is a fat it can transfuse right through the cell and nuclear membranes. Eventually it binds with the actual DNA of the cell and turns off the production of the enzymes that make cholesterol. Specifically, the production of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase is significantly lowered. Since this is one of the most important enzymes for cholesterol formation, turning off the production of this enzyme will decrease the production of cholesterol in our bodies.
    So that is why low cholesterol diets do not work to significantly lower the level of cholesterol in the blood. Going through it one more time, when we eat carbs and since the majority of cholesterol in our blood is produced by the body; we provide the cells with what they need to make more cholesterol. And then by lowering cholesterol consumption this sends the message to our body to make more cholesterol. This is because our cells, when they see less cholesterol, will make more of that enzyme mentioned above (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase). Then more cholesterol will be made. I refer to this as the double whammy effect.

    Now you physician readers may be feeling a little uneasy because I have not mentioned that lowering one's intake of cholesterol in the diet, will oftentimes lower the cholesterol number in the blood stream. Yes, this does happen, but we do not see a significant lowering of the cholesterol number. In fact, in a perfect body, and well who would that be; you only get a lowering of about fifteen percent. So if your cholesterol is, say, 300, which is not an uncommon number to see; by dramatically reducing the cholesterol in your diet, you can possibly (and usually not) lower the number from 300 to 255. For most people, this would not have lowered the cholesterol number enough, and guess what? Now your doctor is reaching for medication to help lower the cholesterol number more.
    I often times will say to my patients and colleagues, who never seem to understand my reasoning, because either they do not want to, or truly just don't understand, that if the dietary contribution to your cholesterol number is only fifteen percent, what contributes the other eighty five percent? Well, it is what your body makes of course. So would it not
    make sense to try to modify my body's production of cholesterol, since this contributes more to the cholesterol number?

    Of course! This makes perfect sense, but by starting yourself on a low cholesterol diet, and by eating more carbs, and you have to eat more carbs, because that's all that's left, again, you set in motion all the things the body needs to make more cholesterol. OK, I think I have said enough about cholesterol and we will talk more about it later.

    Remember, some people will question what I have written in this chapter possibly challenging what I say as untrue, but it is not. All one has to do is go to any biochemistry text and read the part on how we make cholesterol, to see that what I say is a fact."


    Enslavement by illusion is comfortable; it is the liberation by truth that people fear


    -David Hawkins

    That is ... wow.... I can't tell you how glad I am that you shared this. Thank you. Amazing.
  • jenbk2
    jenbk2 Posts: 623 Member
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    I LOVE it.

    I found it at Walmart for 8.00- the PURE Coconut oil for 31 ounces.
    my mom found it in FL for 4.99 for the same container.
  • lmd172
    lmd172 Posts: 172
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    i started using it about 10 days ago and like another poster said, i have really noticed a difference in feeling fuller for a better part of the day...i eat 1/2 tbls in my morning oatmeal and the other 1/2 on my wheat toast...yummy...and at night i'll mix 1 tbls with some green tea. i've cooked with it and i can't really "taste" the diff (it's not coconutty or anything) and i've used it in my hair - twice.

    i found mine at wal-mart for about $6...and it is the refined, pressed, organic coconut oil in about a "jelly" jar size - give or take - i'm at work and don't know exactly what size it is.

    i really think it has helped with my weight loss - which was a big ole -0- before the oil - but that's just me! (-:

    good luck...
  • Laceybaby1967
    Laceybaby1967 Posts: 82 Member
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    its is considered a saturated fat and therefore will raise your bad cholesterol LDL-- so if thats not an issue for you then by all means use it

    Completely false statement....my use of coconut and olive oil over the past year - changed my total cholesterol from 200 to 163 and upped my HDL from 35 to 55...

    Watch the movie "Fat Head." When he ate mainly saturated fats for a month (meats, coconut oil, etc.) his cholesterol went down and he lost 12.5 pounds. It's a pretty funny documentary but has a lot of great information in it as well. It's on Netflix's instant queue right now. :)


    Love that movie!!! The logic simply made sense!!!!!! Since then, I actually decided to switch to nonprocessed foods; even got my 74yo mother doing it as well!
  • firesoforion
    firesoforion Posts: 1,017 Member
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    It may be the best of all possible oils to use, however, the price is ridiculous. I've researched EVERY store in my area and, the lowest prices was $18..59 for 8 ounces.

    :noway: I got it for six here!!!
  • AliPreissinger
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    Coconut Oil is also being used to help as Alzheimer's Remedy and my possibly ward it off... I have been using it when I can. It is really good to cook popcorn in on the stove...

    http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/LJO190v1_WS
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
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    Harvard Studies show increasing saturated fats increases good fats in the blood and lowers bad fats.

    See here for a basic version of it - http://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/saturated-fat-0

    And see here for a more complete view - http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-full-story/
  • crystal9999
    crystal9999 Posts: 73 Member
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    I use coconut oil for a moisturizer for my face, it doesn't stay oily, it penetrates into my skin and makes it feel very soft. I also make my own baby wipes using just paper towels, hot water and coconut oil. My son has sensitive skin and used to suffer from diaper rashes so bad that his bottom would bleed. I felt so bad for him. I've been using these wipes for about 3 months now, and since I've been using them he has had no diaper rashes. It smells wonderful to me as well. I've also been adding it to hot tea or oatmeal. I got mine from a local health food store. It was about $9 for like 12 oz.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
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    I use the virgin oil on toast instead of butter! It has a shortening like consistency when at room temperature which makes it totally spreadable. I bought Dr. Bronners brand on sale at Whole Foods for $7.99 (regularly $9.99).
    http://www.amazon.com/Bronners-Fresh-pressed-Virgin-Coconut-Unrefined/dp/B0052AIF00/ref=pd_sim_hpc_1

    Whole Foods also has one under their 365 house brand that was $6.99/jar. I think the jars are 16 oz. or maybe 14 oz.

    It is fantastic for use in curries and stir fries. You can also use it as a butter replacement in things like banana bread or anywhere you'd welcome a coconut flavor.
  • jared767
    jared767 Posts: 76
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    I've been taking 2 tbsp of virgin coconut oil per day for the last two years. What I can tell so far is - I never get any cold, flu, fever, cough, or infected with anything. When everyone around me is sneezing or coughing, I remain "unharmed". It's like I have a shield that protects me from any harmful attack.
  • giag09
    giag09 Posts: 203 Member
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    love this topic!
  • TheUnwritten
    TheUnwritten Posts: 158 Member
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    I started using coconut oil last week and I noticed I have more energy then I did before and I'm fuller for hours after meals. Its a great feeling! I'm using the brand Nutiva extra virgin coconut oil that I ordered from Amazon.