coconut oil.. Have you tried it?

Hi, I've been reading about the benefits of coconut oil and weight loss and wondered if anyone takes it regularly? If so, what changes have you noticed?

Also, I want to try green tea with coconut oil...I've never had green tea before, how long should I let it brew before taking the bag out of the cup? Thanks
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Replies

  • cactuswax
    cactuswax Posts: 77 Member
    i switched about a year and a half ago to cooking only with coconut oil; use it daily. While I've not noticed any 'magic' weight loss effect, i haven't gained at all. It tastes neutral, can tolerate high-heat cooking (like frying eggs/veggies/etc), and it's been great for keeping my skillet oiled. It's also great melted down and mixed with a little almond oil as a natural moisturizing body lotion.

    I love it... wouldn't cook with anything else. I also keep hearing how great it is from a coworker who's a healthy eating specialist and cookbook author.

    thumbs up :)
  • Codilee87
    Codilee87 Posts: 509 Member
    I love coconut oil, it is very versatile and has a delicate flavor that pairs really well with any dish. Obviously you should still use it in moderation but it is definitely worth trying. And steeping your green tea is a matter of personal preference, the longer you leave it the more bitter it becomes.
  • fruttibiscotti
    fruttibiscotti Posts: 986 Member
    About the green tea...what makes a bigger impact to quality of taste is the temperature of the water. I learned this on a trip to china once. I can't remember the exact temperature they recommended, but I do remember the huge impact it had on taste. I'm sure you can google to find out optimum temperature for green tea (and black tea). I really miss the wonderful teas I drank in china though.
  • Haskin_Fuzernick
    Haskin_Fuzernick Posts: 22 Member
    My wife uses it as a face cleanser and swears by it. Not the type of use you were probably looking for, but does speak to its versatility.

    We switched to using coconut oil with my dad's meals. He had Alzheimer's and there were a number of reports that there were some positive effects with coconut oil. I didn't notice a thing. The flavor was pretty good though.
  • SweeDecadence92
    SweeDecadence92 Posts: 218 Member
    Green Tea should be brewed for no longer than two minutes and the water shouldn't have quite reached the boil yet, I'm sure you could find the specific temperatures online. If you leave a green tea bag in the mug it's going to have a very pungent grass taste as opposed to the light refreshing green kinda taste it should have. I recommend it with honey or lemon if you much add something to it.

    I've used coconut oil and on bread instead of butter and in place of other cooking oils. I think you'd be better integrating into your diet in a similar manner than taking a spoonful in your tea. It's a very nice hair treatment, moisturizer and makeup remover applied topically.

    It's full of good fats, so is very good for you however there is nothing about it in itself that will aid weight loss.
  • RaggedyPond
    RaggedyPond Posts: 1,487 Member
    I think it is only good on foods that are supposed to be sweet. It makes any food you fry it with taste like coconuts. I don't like it and will be sticking to butter.
  • AllieBear88
    AllieBear88 Posts: 170 Member
    I've never used it for weight loss benefits, but it's an instant fix for oral thrush, it's a WONDERFUL oil treatment for curly hair and works as a hair styling gel alternative. It also makes a great sugar scrub for your skin!
  • Bluizflame
    Bluizflame Posts: 151 Member
    My fiance uses it when he showers...it clogs up the tub nicely! haha It also makes a great lubricant ;)


    We do use it for cooking a lot. I've never fried with it, but instead of adding vegetable oil i will use coconut in things like cakes.
  • it has 86% saturated fat by weight
    Dont know about your weight loss but it will definitley clog up your arteries!
  • mhasita
    mhasita Posts: 93 Member
    I use it as a body milk and hair mask. LOVE IT (my skin is like baby soft after a year of using it daily) and my hair is hydrated and shinny (and I have curly hair, so, imagine that)

    I haven't tried on my foods because my family has an olive plantation, and we make our own olive oil, so I use that for cooking.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    its great to smear all over your body and tan in it...
  • xWendyJonesx
    xWendyJonesx Posts: 266 Member
    I like to cook with it, it's great for a stir fry or roasting veggies.
    I also use it as skin care from time to time.

    I've not notice any difference in my weight loss since using it though.
  • ladymiseryali
    ladymiseryali Posts: 2,555 Member
    I put it in my coffee, along with butter. It makes it yummier!
  • bheathfit
    bheathfit Posts: 451 Member
    Chain Lube
    Season leather riding jacket and chaps
    Mosquito repellent
    Hair gel
    Topical antihistamine
    Cologne / Perfume
    Laxative
    Great for washing cars

    JK. :wink: I've only used it for cooking fish and I like the smell when my Beautiful Wife tans with it... That's all I got...:smokin:
  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    My wife uses it as a face cleanser and swears by it. Not the type of use you were probably looking for, but does speak to its versatility.

    We switched to using coconut oil with my dad's meals. He had Alzheimer's and there were a number of reports that there were some positive effects with coconut oil. I didn't notice a thing. The flavor was pretty good though.

    Must admit we have manly used for skin problems here although we do cook with it sometimes. Its brilliant for chickenpox spots and really helps with the itching.
  • Greytfish
    Greytfish Posts: 810
    it has 86% saturated fat by weight
    Dont know about your weight loss but it will definitley clog up your arteries!

    That's a faulty conclusion. Coconut oil and milk are MCT fats and quite healthy. Certainly healthier than other cooking oils.
  • maieranne77
    maieranne77 Posts: 191 Member
    I also switched to using it as our main cooking oil. It's fantastic for sauteing and browning. My other oils always smoked. We don't use it for topical applications except once for lice...eww.
  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
    it has 86% saturated fat by weight
    Dont know about your weight loss but it will definitley clog up your arteries!

    Saturated fats don't clog arteries. This has been thoroughly dispelled by science.

    I use coconut oil in my coffee. I try to eat at least 2 TBSP per day. The MCTs in coconut oil get metabolized by your liver into ketones and they have been shown to have great benefits to brain health. You get all the advantages of a keto diet without sacrificing the carbs.
  • ronrstaats
    ronrstaats Posts: 294 Member
    I put it in my coffee, along with butter. It makes it yummier!

    Along with some protein powder... super yummy!
  • dayone987
    dayone987 Posts: 645 Member
    Interssting article on it.

    http://www.cspinet.org/nah/articles/coconut-oil.html

    tl:dr cut and paste

    The Bottom Line
    There is no good evidence that coconut oil can help you lose weight or cure Alzheimer's disease.
    MCT oil may lead to modest weight loss when substituted for other oils.
    There is no good evidence that "virgin" coconut oil does less damage to your heart than conventional coconut oil.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,207 Member
    it has 86% saturated fat by weight
    Dont know about your weight loss but it will definitley clog up your arteries!
    Said with conviction......those darn medical journals with those complicated descriptions really make it difficult to understand sometimes, right? btw it's 92% and it really makes you wonder why all those hundreds of millions of indigenous peoples of the tropics are still procreating after that much saturated fat for that many millennial.........it's mind blowing right?
  • Greytfish
    Greytfish Posts: 810
    it has 86% saturated fat by weight
    Dont know about your weight loss but it will definitley clog up your arteries!
    Said with conviction......those darn medical journals with those complicated descriptions really make it difficult to understand sometimes, right? btw it's 92% and it really makes you wonder why all those hundreds of millions of indigenous peoples of the tropics are still procreating after that much saturated fat for that many millennial.........it's mind blowing right?

    :laugh:
  • dayone987
    dayone987 Posts: 645 Member
    it has 86% saturated fat by weight
    Dont know about your weight loss but it will definitley clog up your arteries!
    Said with conviction......those darn medical journals with those complicated descriptions really make it difficult to understand sometimes, right? btw it's 92% and it really makes you wonder why all those hundreds of millions of indigenous peoples of the tropics are still procreating after that much saturated fat for that many millennial.........it's mind blowing right?

    Cardiovascular disease has more impact on longevity and incidence of stroke and heart attack rather than the ability to procreate. In order to look at the effect of a diet high in saturated fat , studies would need to be done to to compare that kind of data.
  • Greytfish
    Greytfish Posts: 810
    it has 86% saturated fat by weight
    Dont know about your weight loss but it will definitley clog up your arteries!
    Said with conviction......those darn medical journals with those complicated descriptions really make it difficult to understand sometimes, right? btw it's 92% and it really makes you wonder why all those hundreds of millions of indigenous peoples of the tropics are still procreating after that much saturated fat for that many millennial.........it's mind blowing right?

    Cardiovascular disease has more impact on longevity and incidence of stroke and heart attack rather than the ability to procreate. In order to look at the effect of a diet high in saturated fat , studies would need to be done to to compare that kind of data.

    People in areas of hihgh coconut oil and milk consumption are quite long lived. And, they have less cancer and heart disease than the general American population.
  • tedrickp
    tedrickp Posts: 1,229 Member

    People in areas of hihgh coconut oil and milk consumption are quite long lived. And, they have less cancer and heart disease than the general American population.

    Which proves nothing...

    That said Coconut Oil is delicious - and I can't imagine making Jamaican Rice and Peas without it :happy:
  • Miss_james1990
    Miss_james1990 Posts: 214 Member
    Have not used it for cooking! But if you melt it up add a egg and whisk , it makes a protein rich hair mask???? x
  • dayone987
    dayone987 Posts: 645 Member
    it has 86% saturated fat by weight
    Dont know about your weight loss but it will definitley clog up your arteries!
    Said with conviction......those darn medical journals with those complicated descriptions really make it difficult to understand sometimes, right? btw it's 92% and it really makes you wonder why all those hundreds of millions of indigenous peoples of the tropics are still procreating after that much saturated fat for that many millennial.........it's mind blowing right?

    Cardiovascular disease has more impact on longevity and incidence of stroke and heart attack rather than the ability to procreate. In order to look at the effect of a diet high in saturated fat , studies would need to be done to to compare that kind of data.

    People in areas of hihgh coconut oil and milk consumption are quite long lived. And, they have less cancer and heart disease than the general American population.

    Do you have link to data, studies etc?
    Mostly, I was just pointing out that the ability to procreate doesn't have much to do with cardiovascular health.

    Because there are a lot of variables with longevity and cardiovascular disease, it might also be more meaningful to compare the effects of a diet high in saturated fat in populations with similar characteristics.
    For example, American rate of heart disease is more likely correlated to obesity which is due to over consumption in general.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    I cook with it and blend it in to coffee...

    If you don't like the taste, buy refined oil. It won't have the supposed health benefits, but it'll be tasteless and odourless..
  • tedrickp
    tedrickp Posts: 1,229 Member

    Do you have link to data, studies etc?
    Mostly, I was just pointing out that the ability to procreate doesn't have much to do with cardiovascular health.

    Because there are a lot a variables with longevity and cardiovascular disease, it might also be more meaningful to compare the effects of a diet high in saturated fat in populations with similar characteristics.

    http://examine.com/faq/is-saturated-fat-bad-for-me.html#ref2

    Looking at reviews and meta-analysis' of controlled trials, there does not seem to be much evidence that saturated fat increases risk for Cardiovascular Diseases. However, replacing some saturated fat with polyunsaturated may reduce risk. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20351774

    Disclosure - I havent read through each study though on that examine.com page yet
  • Greytfish
    Greytfish Posts: 810
    it has 86% saturated fat by weight
    Dont know about your weight loss but it will definitley clog up your arteries!
    Said with conviction......those darn medical journals with those complicated descriptions really make it difficult to understand sometimes, right? btw it's 92% and it really makes you wonder why all those hundreds of millions of indigenous peoples of the tropics are still procreating after that much saturated fat for that many millennial.........it's mind blowing right?

    Cardiovascular disease has more impact on longevity and incidence of stroke and heart attack rather than the ability to procreate. In order to look at the effect of a diet high in saturated fat , studies would need to be done to to compare that kind of data.

    People in areas of hihgh coconut oil and milk consumption are quite long lived. And, they have less cancer and heart disease than the general American population.

    Do you have link to data, studies etc?
    Mostly, I was just pointing out that the ability to procreate doesn't have much to do with cardiovascular health.

    Because there are a lot a variables with longevity and cardiovascular disease, it might also be more meaningful to compare the effects of a diet high in saturated fat in populations with similar characteristics.

    Procreation wasn't mentioned by that poster as a side effect of health. You took a tangent and ran with it and missed the point in the process.

    The idea that saturated fats and blood cholesterol levels are significant factors in cardiovascular disease and death is itself based on a flawed assumption from flawed science. It wasn't even correct when they glossed over the fact that of many countries who consumed much more saturated fats and cholsetrold than the U.S. heart disease was still a bigger killer here.