There are many varieties of oils available for cooking in grocery stores today. Many people already have a preference as to which they prefer to use, but is it the healthiest option? Research is showing more and more that coconut oil has what it takes to promote the greatest health benefits.
There are good cooking oils and then there are not so good cooking oils. Whether you choose to cook with butter, peanut, vegetable or coconut oil comes down to individual preference. However, some oils are simply better than others, with coconut oil in the lead. Diane Sanfilippo shares a chart that helps you reference common cooking oils.
Coconut oil is a short-medium chain saturated fat. Plant based fats are known as MUFAs (pronounced moo-fah) are monounsaturated fatty acids, and are found in some of my favorite foods – avocado, nuts, olives, oils like coconut oil and dark chocolate! . Naturally occurring saturated fats are not bad for you. Its the trans fats you want to steer clear of. Trans fat is found in vegetable shortenings and in some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods and other foods. Remember to read your labels.
Many people are not familiar with coconut oil and its uses. According to Dr. Oz, coconut oil may be used for weight loss, even though it contains saturated fat which you now know can be good for you.
A NUTRIENT POWERHOUSE
HealthierTalk.com said in this informational article that “Coconut oil is a nutrient powerhouse because it contains nearly all of the nutrients your body needs for optimal health.” It also promotes healthy skin, helps with weight loss, and energy levels. On top of that coconut oil is anti-inflammatory and may prevent you from getting sick.
COCONUT OIL vs OLIVE OIL
While many of us believe that olive oil is the healthiest cooking oil, coconut oil has numerous benefits too. Dr. Bruce Fife has an excellent understanding of coconut oil. In the short video below he explains how coconut oil has even more health benefits than olive oil, and even labels coconut oil as the “primary star of the fat world!” Dr. Fife talks about Coconut Oil’s “Anti Fat Reputation”.
Which includes these three points:
- it’s a low calorie fat
- it satisfies hunger better than other oils
- its ability to stimulate our metabolism
When it comes to cooking oil, most experts would probably agree that coconut oil is an excellent choice to obtain the maximum health benefits. Many people are accustomed to less healthy (and some even dangerous) oils that they have been using for years. Making the transition is not as hard as you may think.
FAVORITE WAYS TO USE COCONUT OIL
Obviously, we have been talking about cooking with coconut oil. But did you know you it has oh so many more uses?
Eat it straight from the jar! Yes. I know of several people who have scooped a tablespoon or more as a snack or appetite suppressant AND have lost weight doing it!
Sweet Treat. Ok, yes cooking or baking is obvious. One of my favorite treats is out Chocolate Coconut Nut Bark. Here is my recipe.
Use it as a moisturizer; make up remover and hair conditioner! Seriously. Keep a jar in your bathroom to use. Mix with a little water or vitamin E oil for your skin. Remove your eye makeup at night. Take the time to smear some coconut oil in your hair, massage, tuck under a shower cap or wrap your head in plastic (natural warming of the oil) for about 30 minutes. Shampoo out. Luxuriously soft hair.
Whipped cream? How about coconut cream? Yes oh so good. Keep a can of full fat coconut cream (non BPA can) in your refrigerator overnight. Scoop the firm cream out of the can and whip. That simple. Here is a recipe.
Use it for healing. Coconut oil is “anti” everything … thus its anti-microbial and will aid in healing a wound or your baby’s diaper rash.
These are just a few ways to use this amazing oil.
What is your favorite way to use coconut oil?
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