Coconut oil - magic or myth?

I use it- I've had no wonder weight loss but I like to cook with it. Has a great smoke point so its great in tons of applications. I have Lou Anne's pure coconut oil- it'll either be a solid or a liquid depending on the temperature in your house.

It's ok to cook with. It should say so on the bottle, even. It tolerates high heat. But that's about it. It's not a miracle cure or anything like that

Olive oil is one you should avoid cooking with, from my research. It has a very low point of heat for going rancid (the whole trans fat thing). I will bake with it on low temps...but never fry with it anymore. I use lard, or butter to fry with.

Agree. Wouldn't cook with olive oil. I use sunflower oil to cook with.

Olive oil is one you should avoid cooking with, from my research. It has a very low point of heat for going rancid (the whole trans fat thing). I will bake with it on low temps...but never fry with it anymore. I use lard, or butter to fry with.

I have to disagree with you. Most trans fats in food are the result of an industrial hydrogenation process. Frying in oils such as sunflower or olive oil has an insignificant effect in producing trans fats.

The reason for not cooking with olive oil is that you lose the flavours if you heat it beyond about 375 degrees and it costs a fortune.

On the other hand, I think sunflower oil has more polyunsaturates than olive oil, so may be a better choice.

So, I was really just disagreeing about the trans-fats 'cos that doesn't happen.

Thanks everyone. Guess if it was a 'miracle' then doctors would be prescribing it to us! Think I will stick with olive oil for now - at least it's easier to buy from the supermarket!

Not saying coconut oil is a miracle.. But I hate the phrase "If such and such worked, doctors would prescribe it."

You'd be surprised what knowledge is out there, and what doctor's don't "prescribe" -- Say, high doses of vitamin C to get rid of cancer.. High doses of niacin to nix depression..

[Edited to correct a typo]

There's no such thing as a miracle food. Just foods that are healthier alternatives than others. I use coconut oil for cooking and make ghee which I mix with it to get the butter flavour I like without the milk solids in butter. If you read about coconut oil you'll find that it's saturated fat profile is actually healthy compared to other solid fats and liquid oils. It's solid at room temperature below 68F; it does not have to be stored in the refrigerator. Only buy extra virgin coconut oil from a reputable supplier.

It can also be used as a moisturizer.

Thanks everyone. Guess if it was a 'miracle' then doctors would be prescribing it to us! Think I will stick with olive oil for now - at least it's easier to buy from the supermarket!

Not saying coconut oil is a miracle.. But I hate the phrase "If such and such worked, doctors would prescribe it."

You'd be surprised what knowledge is out there, and what doctor's don't "prescribe" -- Say, high doses of vitamin C to get rid of cancer.. High doses of niacin to nix depression..

[Edited to correct a typo]

Research Chagga (sp) tea, in regards to cancer...and non-American apricot pits. There's some incredible evidence out there...which I've experienced with immediate friends...that suggests the American drug companies have specifically lobbied for some of these 'narural medicines' to be made illegal. The apricot pits for example. It is illegal to grow or sell apricot pits that haven't been genetically altered in the US.

Crazy stuff.

Anyway, back to topic!

I've just started using it, and I've noticed a HUGE difference in just 2 days. I have had all the signs of hypothyroidism: low resting heart rate (mine was 45), low body temperature (mine was usually around 96 - sometimes 97 if I was lucky), difficulty losing weight while on a calorie restricted diet, dry skin and hair, etc.). And my mom has hypothyroidism, and it's known to be hereditary and common in women who have spent a lot of time dieting. I got checked out years ago and it was negative, but that doesn't mean I don't have a low grade version now. I've lost a decent amount of weight but have hit plateau after plateau and have been doing A LOT of dietary experimentation trying to pinpoint why this was happening. I came across coconut oil for thyroid function (as well as the millions of other benefits they talk about) and decided to try it.

I started with 1 tablespoon that I cooked my dinner in the other night(salmon and swiss chard). Prior to dinner I was exhausted because I hadn't gotten any sleep the night before due to an allergic reaction to something. Within 30 minutes after I finished my dinner I got this sudden burst of energy and I proceeded to clean my entire kitchen, top to bottom, decided I liked this stuff so I found ingredients in my cupboard to bake my own granola for the morning so I could have a burst of whatever this was before my morning run. I had already planned to have a bowl of ice cream as dessert, but I never got hungry enough to have it - and I had been looking forward to that all day. I didn't crave it at all - and usually at that time I would've been starving for it.

It was a little tough for me to get to sleep, but when I finally did I slept like a baby and woke up bright and early for my workout. Had a couple bite-fulls of my granola and went running - fastest run ever, muscles didn't get tired, no pain - none. I worked up to 2 tablespoons today, and I'm hoping to get to the recommended dose of 3 tablespoons a day (1 with every meal).

Also, this morning I took my resting heart rate - it was up to 58!!! - much more appropriate for my fitness level (45 is only good if you're an olympic athlete). My temperature was 98.4!!! I felt a healthy buzz throughout the entire day - it's like I've been working soooo hard with only 80% of my potential - now I feel like 100% and I've moved more today than I have every day of last week.

Anyway, in the 2 days I've used this, I've lost 2 pounds so far (could be a fluke, but I don't think so, given my boost in heart rate). I have so much more energy and life and color is returning to my face. I'm so excited I found this stuff, and I look forward to reaping the benefits.

I HIGHLY recommend it.

wow. i just love this place! xoxo

Coconut oil as been as close to a "miracle food" for me as one can be. It's helped me lose almost 20 lbs without feeling physically deprived. I still have the psychological hunger sometimes but it's easier to manage than it used to be. I cook my scrambled eggs in a generous amount of it and most anything else cooked gets some added. I may still add olive oil and/or butter for a change of flavor (I don't get any coconut taste from the oil but sometimes want the olive or butter taste) but not until closer to the end of cooking if I'm using high heat. It's very stable and doesn't go rancid or burn easily. Great in salads or smoothies, whatever.

Along the way (in just a couple of months) I also went from prehypertension to normal blood pressure. I still weigh more than I did when my BP was originally diagnosed as being high so I doubt it's just the weight loss.

I also cut out wheat and grains except for "cheats" and would have a hard time getting enough calories without the good fats, I'm just not as hungry anymore. Giving up grains might have also been a factor in the lowered BP but it had started lowering before that.

anything one might use butter in, i use coconut oil in. i fry my eggs in spread it on toast, put it in my oatmeal, i use it in all kinds of baking and my husband makes killer fried rice with it. its actually pretty much the only oil we use, except for some high quality raw olive oil to dip french bread in

Very stable and doesn't oxidize that easily. it's also a great way to add calories to the diet without using carbs since the MFCs in it are converted to energy without paying a price with an insulin spike. It's also a Great source of lauric acid. It's not a miracle food, but it is useful like any other good source of nutrition.

I love and adore this stuff. I use it in cooking, all over my skin and in my hair. I won't say it is a miracle cure-all but it certainly gives me energy, soft skin and great hair!