coconut oil.. Have you tried it?

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Replies

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 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.
    I hear ya. First we would need to see if a diet high in fat on it's own merit causes atherosclerosis and from what I've gathered, it doesn't, and dietary fat doesn't clog arteries, at all, that's not how it works. It's multifaceted but its basically caused by inflammation of the endothelial cells of vessel walls with some particles of LDL molecules that tend to find their way into those endothelial cells and oxidate. When this oxidation takes place macrophages try and contain that inflammation and create foam cells but eventually the immune system and those white blood cells are unable to handle all of it which creates more inflammation and the cycle continues. The LDL connection has caused most of the past and some current misinformation about fat and especially saturated fat in the diet and more than likely what that poster believes to be a truism based on that limited knowledge. Not all LDL lipoproteins are created equally and it's pretty common knowledge amoung those researchers that small dense LDL's are the ones associated with heart disease. Researching small dense LDL and it's associated lifestyle may be a good primer to get involved with in this process, I do urge people to do that.
  • pineapple_jojo
    pineapple_jojo Posts: 440 Member
    I use it on my hair and skin, keeps everything nice and soft :)
  • Arbeidslyst
    Arbeidslyst Posts: 129
    http://io9.com/how-many-of-your-health-supplements-are-actually-snake-1492960177

    So, there is conflicting evidence that coconut-oil has any effects at all. I would be skeptical to any claims they make to positive effects.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    Love coconut oil.
  • tempehforever
    tempehforever Posts: 183 Member
    I think its pretty funny that coconut oil is the latest health/weight loss trend. I used to live in Southeast Asia where it was a very common cooking product. Trust me, it doesn't have any magical weight loss properties; its a pretty ordinary food in much of the world--and plenty of people who cook with it regularly aren't healthy at all (judging by the people I knew, at least!).

    That said, it is yummy! I cook with a variety of oils (olive, canola, sesame, coconut), and it is one I enjoy.
  • Greytfish
    Greytfish Posts: 810
    It's not magic, for weight loss or other things, but it is healthier than the other oils in that list.
  • danimalkeys
    danimalkeys Posts: 982 Member
    I like it. I've had 2 kinds. One had no taste at all. The other tastes like coconut milk. I only use that one in certain dishes because the flavor is strong.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    I think its pretty funny that coconut oil is the latest health/weight loss trend. I used to live in Southeast Asia where it was a very common cooking product. Trust me, it doesn't have any magical weight loss properties; its a pretty ordinary food in much of the world--and plenty of people who cook with it regularly aren't healthy at all (judging by the people I knew, at least!).

    That said, it is yummy! I cook with a variety of oils (olive, canola, sesame, coconut), and it is one I enjoy.

    This! LOL :laugh:
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I love it for frying, but it's too expensive to eat all the time.
  • stonel94
    stonel94 Posts: 550 Member
    it's really nice for baking to replace butter, and it doesn't leave a coconut taste if you use it in regular cooking, but the thing is you should only use it to replace butter, because coconut oil, like butter, is a saturated fat (it's solid at room temperature), and so if you are usually using a lot of olive oil and canola oil and these oils that are healthy unsatured fats and suddenly replace it all with coconut oil you will be adding a lot of saturated fat to your diet which isn't good. I would definitely use it to replace butter especially with sweet things because it tastes good and has more nutrients it seems.

    Another complaint is that it comes in a jar, not in a stick like butter, so getting it out (especially measuring it for recipes like 1/4 cup or something) is very difficult. Also in baking it is a 1:1 ratio, if it calls for 1/4 cup butter, it's 1/4 cup coconut oil.
  • brad_lay
    brad_lay Posts: 6
    I think its pretty funny that coconut oil is the latest health/weight loss trend. I used to live in Southeast Asia where it was a very common cooking product. Trust me, it doesn't have any magical weight loss properties; its a pretty ordinary food in much of the world--and plenty of people who cook with it regularly aren't healthy at all (judging by the people I knew, at least!).

    That said, it is yummy! I cook with a variety of oils (olive, canola, sesame, coconut), and it is one I enjoy.

    Coconut oil is a good source of medium-chain triglycerides. However frying donuts in it isn't going to make the food suddenly healthy. You still have to consume it correctly within your diet.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 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.

    I always just bring the water to a rolling boil, stir in some honey, then add the tea bag. Then I just wait until it's cool enough to drink. To me, it's always yummy that way. My husband will often brew it or make sun tea just like you would for black tea, except he often adds in some peaches or blueberries for extra flavor. Then he uses stevia in his. We keep some of his in the fridge.






    ETA: And what's the deal with people putting oil/butter in coffee? That's just weird. :noway: :laugh:
  • Greytfish
    Greytfish Posts: 810
    That's the fault of the crap carbs though, not the coconut oil's fault.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 Member
    it's really nice for baking to replace butter, and it doesn't leave a coconut taste if you use it in regular cooking, but the thing is you should only use it to replace butter, because coconut oil, like butter, is a saturated fat (it's solid at room temperature), and so if you are usually using a lot of olive oil and canola oil and these oils that are healthy unsatured fats and suddenly replace it all with coconut oil you will be adding a lot of saturated fat to your diet which isn't good. I would definitely use it to replace butter especially with sweet things because it tastes good and has more nutrients it seems.

    Another complaint is that it comes in a jar, not in a stick like butter, so getting it out (especially measuring it for recipes like 1/4 cup or something) is very difficult. Also in baking it is a 1:1 ratio, if it calls for 1/4 cup butter, it's 1/4 cup coconut oil.
    If you believe what your saying then coconut oil has almost double the saturated fat content, just thought I'd let you know.
  • Greytfish
    Greytfish Posts: 810
    Re: tea. If you want the health benefits, bring to a temp of 85-90 and steep for two minutes. Boiling damages the teat and lessens the benefit.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    There is nothing magical about coconut oil and many of the touted "health benefits" are anecdotal at best. I use it on occasion because it tastes good...I love popping my pop corn in it and coconut rice pilaf is awesome. Coconut oil is still fat...and is a lot of saturated fat...granted some of it is medium chain saturated fat, but that's only about half...the other half is regular old long chain saturated fat.

    If you use it I would recommend actually cooking with it in a responsible manner...dumping Tbsps of the stuff into your tea and coffee and what not is just stupefying to me unless you just really need the fat and the calories that come along with it. There are numerous and better ways to get healthy fats into your body without dumping Tbsps of oil into your tea.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Re: tea. If you want the health benefits, bring to a temp of 85-90 and steep for two minutes. Boiling damages the teat and lessens the benefit.

    It increases the benefit to boil if the benefit is to moisturize sinus passages because the steam lasts longer. IDK what other benefit there is from hot tea other than relaxation.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    I use it on my skin every night. Love it.
  • Greytfish
    Greytfish Posts: 810
    Re: tea. If you want the health benefits, bring to a temp of 85-90 and steep for two minutes. Boiling damages the teat and lessens the benefit.

    It increases the benefit to boil if the benefit is to moisturize sinus passages because the steam lasts longer. IDK what other benefit there is from hot tea other than relaxation.

    You might want to read up on green tea then.

    If the goal is to moisturize sinuses, hot water works just fine and is less expensive. A heated mist humidifier is even better.
  • luv_lea
    luv_lea Posts: 1,094 Member
    I swear by coconut oil! I have used it for cooking for years (frying, subsitute for oils in cakes, etc.) You have to watch which foods you use it with because it leaves kind of a sweet taste when cooking with it. Recently I started making sugar scrubs with coconut oil and oh my! It's amazing stuff!! I use it for my hair, as a moisterizer on really dry skin. Search the internet and there's thousands of uses for coconut oil! I just love it! (obviously)
  • Haskin_Fuzernick
    Haskin_Fuzernick Posts: 22 Member
    I put it in my coffee, along with butter. It makes it yummier!

    Aack ... runs to the bathroom with hand over mouth trying to hold dinner down
  • Buff2022
    Buff2022 Posts: 373 Member
    It is what I use on my dry skin. My feet are finally going back to summer feet. I am not a fan of coconut so I will not be eating it. However if it can make my skin baby soft. I am all over that.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    I put it in my coffee, along with butter. It makes it yummier!

    Aack ... runs to the bathroom with hand over mouth trying to hold dinner down

    Have you actually tried it? I don't like ghee/butter in my coffee, but just coconut oil, blended through, is awesome.
  • midoriblue
    midoriblue Posts: 2
    My current favorite tea is a coconut/chocolate. Then I put coconut milk or vanilla soy creamer into it. Mmm. As for coconut oil, it is delicious with certain foods. I love coconut chicken. Heck, I love coconut. But there are a lot of oils out there that are great for you, so mix it up, and get the benefits of all of them! Remember to moderate. Coconut, nut, grapeseed and olive oils really rock, but they'll still kill your calorie intake if you aren't careful. Oh, that reminds me, my fave salad dressing is roasted hazelnut oil and vinegar. I can eat that all day. Does anyone have an interesting coconut oil salad dressing recipe?
  • midoriblue
    midoriblue Posts: 2
    Lol! I like coconut milk in my coffee. You get the oil and the, uh, white part, too. (Where did I put my dictionary of coconut parts?) And THEN, I put a teaspoon of maple syrup into it. If you have Southern Pecan coffee, seriously, it's as good as ice cream for about fifty to eighty calories.
  • bridgew24
    bridgew24 Posts: 143 Member
    I use it instead of butter / normal oil in muffins often. And I cooked chicken with a lil bit of it just before! Definitely a better way to get a bit of coconut flavour than a can of coconut milk.
    I also scrub myself with coconut oil + sugar (best ever! Makes your skin feel gorgeous. And I'm cellulite / obvious stretch mark -free so maybe it's helped there?? Can't prove this though! haha)
    Andddd I put in on my ends when my hair is super dry.

    I can't say it's a super food for weight loss. But it's definitely super handy!
    It is apparently easier to digest and a healthier fat. But I'm not a big 'cover everything in oil' person anyway so probably doesn't make a huge impact on my diet as a substitute.
  • livelifelift
    livelifelift Posts: 16 Member
    Bump!
  • LAW_714
    LAW_714 Posts: 258
    I've tried it and liked it.

    I don't think it has any particular magical properties, however.

    It is useful as a monosaturated fat just as is olive oil. It has a higher smoke temp than olive oil, however (and it is at its smoke point that fats are degraded and become hydrogenated. Hydrogenated oil is transfat and transfat is the bad fat . Other fats have their good points and fat is necessary component in the diet. Transfat, however, is bad. Avoid it as much as you can. ...So a oil reaching its smoke point is bad regardless of which particular oil it is. Which is why there are some applications (higher cooking temp) where coconut oil is preferable to virgin olive oil. That said, coconut oil doesn't have a particularly high smoke temp (despite being higher than extra virgin olive oil) so the higher the cooking temp, the better to use a different oil that has a higher smoke temp. Ultimately, the question of the value of using coconut oil is that it depends on the application. Sometimes it's better. Sometimes it is worse. Just avoid hydrogenated oils/trans fat as much as you can.

    (And plantains cooked in coconut oil are delicious.)
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    Haven't used it for a specific benefit. But I have added it to up my fat intake. I have heard it is beneficial.

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