Coconut Oil

2

Replies

  • TMski1000
    TMski1000 Posts: 48 Member
    Coconut Oil in Coffee is great- It obviously separates but it moisturizes the lips very nice...
  • vmlabute
    vmlabute Posts: 311 Member
    It's Omega-3 and actually proven to reduce cholesterol. Keep using it, it may be slow for weight loss (better than butter) but it's good for your skin and your heart!
  • grneyez81
    grneyez81 Posts: 4 Member
    too much of anything is never good...even if it's healthy :) That being said my family mainly uses it externally. My 11 month old has had eczema since she was about 1 month old and had used Aveeno baby wash on her and she broke out. We started using Aquaphor to bath her and slather the coconut oil on after bath and her skin cleared right up...oh and she doesn't itch near as bad. Better my mind to use something natural if it helps vs. using steroid creams on a less than 1 year old. Everyone in my house uses it as a moisturizer and I put 1 tsp in my smoothies in the morning.
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    I use it as what it is. . . a "full" fat (aka saturated) in baking and sauteing (my Thai and Indian experiments-- be forewarned, coconut oil does not have a high temperature resistance).

    I also use it as a stand in for Bodyglide -- for long rides and runs

    If by "high temperature resistance" you mean it melts at a low temperature, then you're right. The melting point of virgin coconut oil is 76F/24C. If you mean it breaks down in high heat, you're wrong. It has a 350F/177C smoke point, which is comparable to butter and higher than EVOO.
    Reading all these wacky things people do with it I'm baffled. Call me crazy but I cook with it. Not often because I'm not a big fry guy but if I get an itch for some breaded chicken or shrimp I fry it in coconut oil (we're not talking deep fry, just pan). Same goes for asian dishes. As for any miracle benefits, those are probably BS spread by the same lunatics who are in to juice cleanses and aligning their yin/yangs.

    Depends on what you consider "miracle benefits." The Lauric Acid and medium chain triglycerides are well-known among the scientific communities for a number of benefits, including helping improve waist circumference and serum cholesterol in a randomized double-blind study. Coconut oil has also been shown to have an appetite suppressing effect.

    And the moisturizing effect? Well...it's a fat. The body can use the fat (both used on the skin and taken internally) to moisturize the skin and other parts of the body.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19437058
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8696422
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9701177
  • katrinadulce
    katrinadulce Posts: 61 Member
    ... As for any miracle benefits, those are probably BS spread by the same lunatics who are in to juice cleanses and aligning their yin/yangs.
    Absolutely right.
    The only thing I DO believe is its ability to normalize cholesterol levels.
    My total cholesterol was fine, and my triglycerides were good, but my HDL/LDL ratio was off and always had been. 6 months after I started using coconut oil, my HDL went up, my LDL went down, and my overall even lowered (not a significant amount at all, but, still :) ). Some of the naysayers say that people should never eat the stuff because it is a saturated fat, but my triglycerides also dropped to 40 and have stayed around there ever since.
    Anecdotally, the stuff does what they say it does with respect to cholesterol.

    It's not magic. it's an OIL, not an elixir. I don't feel any different using it than I did using olive oil.
    It has a high smoke point, a good feel and flavor (especially in curries)... and it is an awesome conditioner for your hair.

    What else do you want from an OIL?
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    Bulletproof Coffee......I think is where the thought of it, in the coffee came from ;) It's apparently an energy booster.....and well, naturally, so would the high strength coffee be ;)

    That being said, I've tried it, I just wasn't pleased with the 150+ calories of "liquid" for breakfast ;)

    Ingredients
    At least 2tbs Kerrygold unsalted grass-fed butter (I like up to 6 tbps, or 80g or 88 ml).
    1-2tbs of MCT oil (15-30 ml)
    2 cups (~453g or 500ml) of hot coffee brewed with low-toxin beans

    But yea, the thought of Oil and Butter in my coffee just don't sound right.....lol. I did try the coconut oil once, but after adding the coconut oil, and a bit of honey, I was over 150 calories for a cup of coffee, vs. 70-80 calorie-ish with a tbsp. of half and half :)


    That being said, Coconut Oil ain't bad, I've sauteed with it.......I also attempt to do oil pulling daily (typically when I wake up, while showering) for 20 minutes.

    Used to do BP coffee...
    Now I just add in the coconut / MCT oil to my coffee, that is it

    also of note, as to why I do that.
    I do Intermittent Fasting, so I am in the fasted state while drinking it.....
    so it provides some energy for me.
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    Bulletproof Coffee......I think is where the thought of it, in the coffee came from ;) It's apparently an energy booster.....and well, naturally, so would the high strength coffee be ;)

    That being said, I've tried it, I just wasn't pleased with the 150+ calories of "liquid" for breakfast ;)

    Ingredients
    At least 2tbs Kerrygold unsalted grass-fed butter (I like up to 6 tbps, or 80g or 88 ml).
    1-2tbs of MCT oil (15-30 ml)
    2 cups (~453g or 500ml) of hot coffee brewed with low-toxin beans

    But yea, the thought of Oil and Butter in my coffee just don't sound right.....lol. I did try the coconut oil once, but after adding the coconut oil, and a bit of honey, I was over 150 calories for a cup of coffee, vs. 70-80 calorie-ish with a tbsp. of half and half :)


    That being said, Coconut Oil ain't bad, I've sauteed with it.......I also attempt to do oil pulling daily (typically when I wake up, while showering) for 20 minutes.

    Coconut oil or butter in coffee really isn't much different than cream. In fact, butter is really just cream with the liquid taken out of it.
    I asked Cardiologists I Worked for about coconut oil and their response was."If you wind up in the ER And we find out you were using coconut oil we will NOT do your angiogram." There was my answer. Not doing it.

    The 1970s called, they want their cardiologists back. You might want to refer him to the Framingham Heart Study. It's been proven for the past...oh...I don't know...50 years or so, that saturated fat doesn't cause cardiovascular disease. In fact, the lauric acid and MCTs in coconut oil improve the measures used to determine cardiovascular risk, by raising HDL and improving the HDL to LDL ratio. (See the first link in my last post.)
    It's Omega-3 and actually proven to reduce cholesterol. Keep using it, it may be slow for weight loss (better than butter) but it's good for your skin and your heart!

    No, it's not Omega-3. Omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fat, most commonly found in fish. Coconut oil is nearly entirely saturated fat, consisting primarily of Lauric and Capric acids. In fact, the tiny bit of polyunsaturated fat in coconut oil is actually primarily Omega-6, not Omega-3.

    That said, it still has been proven that coconut oil improves serum cholesterol, by raising HDL and improving HDL to LDL ratio.

    Also, it's not better or worse than butter. Real butter has its own benefits, including consisting of 40-50% monounsaturated fats (that's right, coconut oil has a higher concentration of saturated fats than butter, and butter has a large portion of the same kinds of fats as olive oil), loaded with Vitamins A, E, and K2 (all of which are fat-soluble, and K2 being rather rare to find and the most bioavailable form of Vitamin K), and is rich in butyrate and conjugated linoleic acid (both of which have been shown to help weight loss and prompt various mechanisms to help prevent weight gain).

    So, use both in your cooking, because both are good and offer their own share of benefits.
  • I'm so jealous I wish that I could use coconut oil. Everyone always tells me how they cook with it etc and i'm finding it in more and more products all the time... which is annoying as I'm allergic which limits me to what I can buy and what my family can eat :/
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    It's good for you in moderation. Like olive oil. Also try putting a very small amount on your skin and hair if they are at all dry.
  • HornedFrogPride
    HornedFrogPride Posts: 283 Member
    I also started with coconut oil to try to control high cholesterol and high triglycerides. I add it to all my smoothies and cook with it. Haven't tried it in coffee but that sounds awesome. Just wrote a blogpost on the benefits of eating coconuts--it's called CUCKOO FOR COCONUTS! :laugh: Visit www.runninggrooveshark.com and it's the post at the top. The precise post hyperlink is: https://www.runninggrooveshark.com/2014/08/01/cuckoo-for-coconuts/.

    So my advice is don't give up on coconuts yet. For example, have you tried dark chocolate with coconut? :blushing:
    How about coconut cream Larabars? Larabar Coconut Macaroons? Kind Almond & Coconut bars?

    I also drink a lot of coconut milk, usually pre-blended almond/coconut milk to make smoothie construction and consumption easy.

    Healthy fats are good for you...in moderation.

    Long live COCONUTS! :wink:
  • Raynne413
    Raynne413 Posts: 1,527 Member
    I dont eat it, but I do use it as a moisturiser my skin loves it :flowerforyou:

    I use it as a moisturizer, too!! And it works great as makeup remover. Comes right off!
  • I cook with it as much as I can. I don't know if it helps lose weight, but it really gives your food a nice flavor! I do hear it helps with weight loss, and I have noticed I am losing but I'm sure it's due to the exercise! LOL....good luck with that. If anyone needs healthy and YUMMY recipes just let me know!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Hi my name is Anne and id. just like to ask anyones advice on Coconut Oil. I heard it was pretty good stuff so started to use it but i don't feel like it has done anything for me. Should i keep going on it or is it just a waste. If anyone has any views i would be very interested to hear from u and what u think, Thx heaps
    It's a great moisturizer and hair conditioner.
  • Cheeseatarian
    Cheeseatarian Posts: 3 Member
    I make "fat bombs" they are chocolate treats you put in the freezer. If you google keto fat bombs you will find loads of recipes
  • jasmang
    jasmang Posts: 48 Member
    I just use it as a butter or shortening substitute.
  • katrinadulce
    katrinadulce Posts: 61 Member
    I asked Cardiologists I Worked for about coconut oil and their response was."If you wind up in the ER And we find out you were using coconut oil we will NOT do your angiogram." There was my answer. Not doing it.

    The consumption of coconut oil is not on any list of contraindications for angiography. Not anywhere.
    And if a patient who came into the ER during a heart attack, they would be in need of angioPLASTY. There is no doctor anywhere who would just let cardiac tissue (or the entire person) die because the person eats coconut oil.
  • DavidMartinez2
    DavidMartinez2 Posts: 840 Member
    If by "high temperature resistance" you mean it melts at a low temperature, then you're right. The melting point of virgin coconut oil is 76F/24C. If you mean it breaks down in high heat, you're wrong. It has a 350F/177C smoke point, which is comparable to butter and higher than EVOO.

    Absolutely. When I want to fry things at a higher temperature than EVOO supports I use a dollop of coconut oil. Some things will take on a slight coconutty flavor but usually I can't really taste it. My wife uses it to for making popcorn and it does impart a nice flavor to the popcorn.
  • fifty6ford
    fifty6ford Posts: 59 Member
    I read an article about using it for oil pulling and since I have had some gum problems, thought maybe I would give it a try. Purchased it, but haven't used it, I'm usually in too much of a hurry in the mornings. I'm going ot have to check into some of the uses others have posted. If you don't know what oil pulling is, just do a search or here's a link http://coconut-oil-pulling.com/
    A friend shared that her son had been doing it with positive results.
  • i like coconut oil in my coffee
    i use it as a face moisturizer (w/ tea tree oil - i have bad acne)
    i use it as a deodorant (with arrow root, and baking soda and lavender oil- there's recipes on the web)
    i use it to fry sometimes, although olive oil is a habit
  • I cook with it... put it in baked goods when I occasionally make those... add a teaspoon to some popcorn kernels and it makes the fluffiest popcorn - only needs a very light sprinkle of salt. I use it to moisturize, as "chapstick", you name it. I also use it in oil pulling...swishing 2 teaspoons worth in my mouth for 20 min each day. It has made my teeth dramatically whiter, and my enamel stronger, according to my dentist :) ( I also had the beginnings of a cavity that has "healed" itself...go figure)
  • donnat238
    donnat238 Posts: 309 Member
    I have a tbsp in my coffee each morning and use it as a skin moisturizer.
  • hig17
    hig17 Posts: 159 Member
    I make "fat bombs" they are chocolate treats you put in the freezer. If you google keto fat bombs you will find loads of recipes


    OMG Fat Bombs look amazing, googled it and saw recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter "Fat Bombs." YUMMMM


    OP, I bought some Extra Virgin Coconut Oil just recently and have used it in place of butter or olive oil in cooking. Salmon was very good baked in the oven using the coconut oil (melted) mixed with herbs/spices as a marinade.

    I have also read about 'Oil Pulling' being very beneficial as well, but have not tried it.
  • juliedozier
    juliedozier Posts: 184 Member
    I started taking as a supplement about a month ago ... I notice a difference in my skin and nails.
  • lunalee84
    lunalee84 Posts: 372 Member
    I use coconut oil for cooking and for beauty treatment. I agree that it is an amazing make-up remover,
  • grneyez81
    grneyez81 Posts: 4 Member
    So while perusing the internet this is what I found....http://authoritynutrition.com/coconut-oil-and-weight-loss/
    "A calorie is not a calorie.

    Different foods and macronutrients go through different metabolic pathways.

    The different types of foods we eat can have a huge effect on our hormones and metabolic health.

    Some metabolic pathways are more efficient than others and some foods require more energy to digest and metabolize.

    One important property of coconut oil is that it is “thermogenic” – eating it tends to increase energy expenditure (fat burning) compared to the same amount of calories from other fats (4).

    In one study, 15-30 grams (1 to 2 tablespoons) of medium chain fats per day increased energy expenditure by 5%, totaling about 120 calories per day (5).

    Several other studies confirm these findings. When humans replace the fats they are eating with MCT fats, they burn more calories (6).

    Therefore, a calorie from coconut oil is NOT the same as a calorie from olive oil or butter (although these fats are perfectly healthy too).

    Bottom Line: Many studies show that medium chain triglycerides can boost metabolism, in one study increasing energy expenditure by 120 calories per day."

    There is some really good reading out there on this subject...
  • tr3kkie9rl
    tr3kkie9rl Posts: 144 Member
    I use it instead of shaving cream. It's awesome!

    I can't figure this out - how do you keep it from gunking up the razor?? Every time I try to use it for shaving, I feel like the razor is totally clogged after 2 swipes and it's a pain to get the oil out of it.
  • tr3kkie9rl
    tr3kkie9rl Posts: 144 Member
    i like coconut oil in my coffee
    i use it as a face moisturizer (w/ tea tree oil - i have bad acne)
    i use it as a deodorant (with arrow root, and baking soda and lavender oil- there's recipes on the web)
    i use it to fry sometimes, although olive oil is a habit

    If you are acne prone, you may want to reconsider using coconut oil. Take a look at the link below. It is actually pretty high on comedogenic list. I used it for a bit, but it only made mine worse so I switched to olive and sunflower oil for the most part. I struggled with cystic acne for over 10 years, then I discovered that I am intolerant of something in dairy. Not sure yet if it is lactose or some other factor, but within 2 weeks of quitting all dairy, my skin started to improve. Not saying that is your exact problem, but could be something to look into at the very least.

    I do also love is as deodorant, with almost your exact recipe (plus a little cornstarch, I find that all baking soda makes it feel a bit too gritty for me, and irritates my skin), and I soak my entire head of hair in it once or twice a week, leave it overnight, then wash it out the next morning. I have mid-back length hair and no split ends :)

    https://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html
  • nonacgp
    nonacgp Posts: 132
    I asked Cardiologists I Worked for about coconut oil and their response was."If you wind up in the ER And we find out you were using coconut oil we will NOT do your angiogram." There was my answer. Not doing it.

    Did they say why they wouldn't do it??? Just curious. I don't use it.
  • TheSatinPumpkin
    TheSatinPumpkin Posts: 948 Member
    I fry my protein in it. Use to use it for my coffee but could not get past the oily texture so i stopped adding it. That was before i got a blender though.
  • julesg100
    julesg100 Posts: 109 Member
    I just made a protein shake using vanilla protein powder, banana, almond milk and coconut oil. It adds a nice flavor and I would think it would taste good with chocolate. I will have to try cooking with it.