Calling all Coconut oil lovers

124

Replies

  • heroyalslimness
    heroyalslimness Posts: 591 Member
    I saturate the ends of my hair with it. African American hair--(well some of us) air or normal wear- dries up the ends of our hair and tangles into knots--it's awful. Coconut oil turns those ends into soft wavy strands that melt apart.

    I also heard it was instrumental in weight loss--- but the heavy coconut-oily taste is a turn-off unless I am making a tropical tasting entree.
    .
    I will have to try to get get used to it--as I plan to take it daily in smoothies.
  • SuperstarDJ
    SuperstarDJ Posts: 443 Member
    Bump
  • evolutioner
    evolutioner Posts: 30
    Coconut Oil is awesome I've used it on savory dishes, deserts , fruit salads and its taste is oh so good
  • habapu
    habapu Posts: 25
    I need to look into this!
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,272 Member
    Just reading how, when ingested, it is one of the only directly absorbed into the cells form of energy, never stored as fat and converted into energy immediately
    Wow!
    Do you have any evidence for these wild assertions?
    Coconut oil is fine but it isn't magical.

    While we're at it, please provide any evidence that "oil pulling" has any efficacy whatsoever. Deepak Chopra doesn't count.
    All pseudoscience.
  • GottaLoveRenee
    GottaLoveRenee Posts: 30 Member
    I make a bath scrub by mixing it with sugar. My skin feels so amazing afterwards and its a fraction of the price of other skin scrubs.

    Great idea! Even to give as gifts!
  • Gettinyoung
    Gettinyoung Posts: 39
    Coconut oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids as apposed to long chain fatty acids found in other oils including olive oil. This is absorbed by the liver and used as energy immediately. Long chain fatty acids are more likely to be stored as fat. For weight loss, use coconut oil in place of other oils in cooking. Not sure taking as a supplement, especially 3-4 tbsp, is a good idea because each tbsp has about 120 cals.
  • Luvr2502
    Luvr2502 Posts: 26
    I am a huge coconut oil advocate. I use it in my diet and topically!

    Me too!! It's so much better for you than other oils and lotion.
  • JBuehrer1
    JBuehrer1 Posts: 23 Member
    My husband and I've been using coconut oil since January 2012. Great stuff for SO MANY things. The brand I use (and is also the cheapest ) is the LouAna brand - found at Super Walmart in the cooking oil section. You can hardly detect any taste of coconut as this is much more neutral tasting than most of the others. Just make sure when using it internally is that it is the NON-hydrogenated kind with NO transfats. Also, you want to start with only a teaspoon or so at a time to build up to it so you don't get an upset stomach or cramps.

    I use up to 3 Tablespoons a day. Good for hair, skin, and even found a great recipe for my own homemade deodorant! I was skeptical but it really does work and no, it does NOT leave an oily mess or stain on your shirts! It is Nature's miracle I say...Too many good things to list here but I swear I will never stop using it. We started using it originally for a possible cure for fighting the onslaught against Alzheimer's disease. We had nothing to lose and only hope to gain from using it. Alzheimer's Disease runs in my husbands family and so we thought it was worth a shot. My mother-in-law died this year from it and it was horrible watching her disease progress for over 10 years.
    I also have a LOT more energy since I started using it. We've completely stopped using margarine & use it in place of my EVOO as salad dressing with a bit of balsamic vinegar. I also found a recipe for making homemade chocolate bars using the oil with pure cocoa powder. I haven't tried it yet but will be very soon.

    Sorry this was so long but I can't say enough good things about coconut oil.

    please share the chocolate bars recipe!
  • SuperstarDJ
    SuperstarDJ Posts: 443 Member
    Just reading how, when ingested, it is one of the only directly absorbed into the cells form of energy, never stored as fat and converted into energy immediately
    Wow!
    Do you have any evidence for these wild assertions?
    Coconut oil is fine but it isn't magical.

    While we're at it, please provide any evidence that "oil pulling" has any efficacy whatsoever. Deepak Chopra doesn't count.
    All pseudoscience.

    I haven't read through them all so don't shoot the messenger, but....:
    Dietetic supplementation with coconut oil does not cause dyslipidemia and seems to promote a reduction in abdominal obesity. (http://www.springerlink.com/content/02ngg2413wm2w630/)
    MCT (MCFA) increase energy expenditure, may result in faster satiety and facilitate weight control when included in the diet (http://jn.nutrition.org/content/132/3/329.abstract)
    MCFA hold potential as weight loss agents. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320597011430)
    Consumption of a diet rich in Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) results in greater loss of adipose tissue compared with Long Chain Triglycerides (LCT), perhaps due to increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation observed with MCT intake. Thus, MCTs may be considered as agents that aid in the prevention of obesity and potentially stimulate weight loss. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12634436?dopt=Abstract)
    Consumption of MCT enhances Energy Expenditure and fat oxidation in obese women, when compared to LCT consumption. Substitution of MCT for LCT prevents long-term weight gain via increased EE. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12532160)
    Oxidization of dietary fat results in diminished fat storage, loss of Body Weight and reduction in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Furthermore, MCT consumption stimulates Energy Expenditure and fat oxidation. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12975635)
  • navydentalchic
    navydentalchic Posts: 234 Member
    BUMP
  • Chadomaniac
    Chadomaniac Posts: 1,785 Member
    def need to buy me some coconut oil!!
  • mightdomightnot
    mightdomightnot Posts: 181 Member
    Thanks for posting this.

    I started taking one teaspoon of coconut oil a few days ago and have noticed a drop in my appetite.

    I'm really hoping the claims are true that it can have an effect on my metabolism and underactive thyroid.....because so far the standard medical approach of treat the symptoms rather than fix what's gone wrong in the first place hasn't worked for me.
  • forasmallerass
    forasmallerass Posts: 29
    Bump
  • Kitship
    Kitship Posts: 579 Member
    I adore coconut oil! I basically use it wherever I would normally use oil (I use it for stir frys, baking, etc). I also add a tablespoon to my coffee in the morning.
  • ihad
    ihad Posts: 7,463 Member
    Bump
  • domgirl85
    domgirl85 Posts: 295 Member
    I cook with coconut in some dishes (Asian ones).

    For the most part, I use it for my skin. I started using a tiny amount as a face moisturizer and then started using it all over. My skin is so soft, clear, and has a nice glow! :)
  • dionne_williams
    dionne_williams Posts: 15
    bump
  • Spartan_Maker
    Spartan_Maker Posts: 683 Member
    I fully endorse it, and MCT Oil, for nearly everything: tremendous pre-workout energy source for those on ketogenic diets, exceptional skin and hair care product, oil pulling for gum and dental health, and cooking.
  • anonymousKel
    anonymousKel Posts: 92 Member
    I use it on my skin too especially before and after a run x
  • kuntry_navy
    kuntry_navy Posts: 677 Member
    don't usually cook with it(except fish), but take it by the spoonfull prior to workouts
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    I have read many good things about coconut oil. I do cook with it, but if I have too much it gives me acid reflux. Does anyone else have this problem?
    Yes, it will give me reflux sometimes, but usually only when I exceed 2T per day or if I have it too late at night. And it's not the only oil that causes that problem for me.
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    I prefer to cook with block creamed coconut where possible for the fibre and minerals as well as the lauric acid. Also purchased coconut flour for baking, still 8% fat.
  • praxisproject
    praxisproject Posts: 154 Member
    For the Aussies looking for coconut oil, you can get it at Coles and Woolworths (look in the health food section or near the gluten free stuff) as well as most health food stores. Melrose is a common brand and we tend to get it in large and clear glass jars (it looks white).
  • droberts3311
    droberts3311 Posts: 87
    bump
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I saute my chicken in it. It's great for stir fry. It's great for any dish that requires high heat because it won't turn rancid at high heat like other cooking oils. It's fantastic on the skin as well. So many health benefits.
    I see people say all the time that coconut oil has such a high smoke point, but it isn't true. Refined coconut oil has a relatively high smoke point, but virgin coconut oil actually has a very low smoke point (under 350 degrees, lower than extra virgin olive oil.)

    Not a bad ingredient to use, but I certainly wouldn't try with it.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    Love coconut oil, reminds me i am out!!! :laugh:
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    http://www.naturalnews.com/036554_extra_virgin_coconut_oil_health.html

    Interesting little article about coconut oil. I love using it for stir frying and popcorn.

    Monica

    P.S. Here's a local article for me about someone who claimed it helped her husband who has Alzheimer's.

    http://www.tampabay.com/news/aging/article879333.ece
  • roxierachael
    roxierachael Posts: 81 Member
    I saute my chicken in it. It's great for stir fry. It's great for any dish that requires high heat because it won't turn rancid at high heat like other cooking oils. It's fantastic on the skin as well. So many health benefits.
    I see people say all the time that coconut oil has such a high smoke point, but it isn't true. Refined coconut oil has a relatively high smoke point, but virgin coconut oil actually has a very low smoke point (under 350 degrees, lower than extra virgin olive oil.)

    Not a bad ingredient to use, but I certainly wouldn't try with it.


    Very good info about the smoke point. I sautee with coconut oil as much as possible and I have to consciously remember to keep the temperature lower than I normally would. The great thing is though, even when burnt, the oil still tastes pretty good.

    Another note, coconut oil stays good indefinitely, unlike most oils which have an expiration date.
  • 58Rock
    58Rock Posts: 176 Member
    The evidence that coconut oil is super-healthful is not convincing and these claims appear to be more testimonials than clinical evidence.

    There is very limited evidence on disease outcomes, says Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, of Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health. "All that has been studied well is the impact of coconut oil on cholesterol levels and the findings are intriguing but we still don't know if it is harmful or beneficial," Mozaffarian says.

    Neither the American Heart Association (AHA) nor the U.S. government's 2010 Dietary Guidelines suggest that coconut oil is any better or preferable over other saturated fats. Coconut oil, like all saturated fats, should be limited to 7%-10% of calories because it can increase risk for heart disease, according to the AHA and 2010 Dietary Guidelines.

    "But even though coconut oil is cholesterol-free, it is still a saturated fat that needs to be limited in the diet and if you are looking for real health benefits, switch from saturated fats to unsaturated fats by using vegetable oils like soybean, canola, corn, or olive oil," says Kris-Etherton, a member of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines advisory committee and Institute of Medicine's panel on dietary reference intakes for macronutrients (which include fats).

    (See WEB MD @ http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-and-health)

Categories