The Benefits of Coconut Oil
Have you ever tried putting coconut oil in your coffee? I high recommend it. Why? Not only because it tastes REALLY good, but because there are some major benefits of coconut oil.
Here’s a video I did about it:
Where Does Coconut Oil Come From?
Coconut oil is squeezed from the fruit of the coconut palm.
You’ll sometimes see the word “virgin” before it. It’s not like olive oil—there really is no industry standard for the word “virgin” when it comes to coconut oil. It basically just means that the oil is unprocessed—meaning it’s not bleached, deodorized, or refined. And, that’s a GOOD thing.
Some coconut oil products say their oil is “cold pressed.” This refers to how the oil is extracted. When it’s cold pressed, no outside heat source is used so the temp never goes above 120 F. The result is a high-quality oil.
“Expeller-pressed” and “refined” are the other ways the oil is extracted. Higher temps, typically around 210 F for expeller pressed and 400 F for refined, degrade the quality of the oil and result in the need for further processing (like bleaching and deodorizing). These methods also change the flavor of the oil—expeller-pressed and refined oils tend to have a toasted nutty flavor, while cold-pressed ones have a more neutral taste.
So, in a nutshell…you want virgin cold-pressed coconut oil.
What are the Benefits of Coconut Oil?
What are the benefits of coconut oil? The list is long and impressive.
According to WebMD.com, coconut oil is used in the fight against heart disease, diabetes, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, thyroid conditions, low energy, Alzheimer’s, and for an overall boost to the immune system.
Despite being high in calories and saturated fat (the good kind…remember that not all fats are created equal!), it’s used to help people lose weight and lower cholesterol.
How to Use Coconut Oil
Here are just a few ways to use coconut oil—there are many more!
- Coconut oil is especially good for cooking with high heat, particularly in stir frying.
- Add a teaspoon (or two) to your smoothies or Shakeology.
- Use it instead of butter when you’re baking in temps up to 350 F.
- And, of course, add it to your coffee!
Have you heard of “oil pulling?” It’s an ancient Ayurvedic practice that’s believed to promote dental health, help diabetes, prevent acne, and fight heart disease and cancer. It’s easy—you just put about a tablespoon into your mouth and swish it around for 20 minutes, then spit!
