Health from Coconut Oil

Fat has gotten a bad rap over the years, even inciting fear that eating just a bite will “pack on the pounds.”  (Remember the days of “fat free” everything?!)  This is so far from the truth! Fats are essential to life.  They make up a part of  every single cell in our body, and the right kinds of fats can actually help prevent heart disease…and even help regulate your weight!  Nutrient-packed, whole foods provide you with the building blocks essential for radiant health!  Incorporating them into your lifestyle will provide you with maximum benefits.  Let’s start with coconut oil.

Coconut oil typically brings to mind all those “bad fat” thoughts, which again, are so far from truth!  The fat’s special structure is a “medium chain triglyceride.  This means it has a smaller size, making it more easily digested by the body, converted into energy and less likely to be stored.  It is primarily known for its use as a processed, hydrogenated oil in highly processed goodies, making it a truly harmful product.  However, “in the raw,” coconut oil has been called “the healthiest oil on earth,” being used for generations around the world because of its wide range of health benefits and healing properties.  In fact, non-Western cultures following years of tradition with high fat and calorie intakes (34-63% fat) had no elevated risk of heart disease  and have some of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world, as well as lower body-fat stores and higher survival rates.  Not until these cultures switched away from their natural coconut oils to Westernized vegetable oils did they show increased rates of heart disease.  Additional research now confirms the benefits and effectiveness of these traditional uses, which may help your body to:

• Strengthen the immune system
• Kill bacteria and viruses
• Support thyroid function
• Increase metabolism
• Reduce body weight
• Lower “bad cholesterol” and raise “good cholesterol”
• Normalize blood sugars
• Improve insulin sensitivity

Cooking?  If you choose to fry, coconut oil is the most healthy, stable oil to use.

Be sure to look for Organic, Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Coconut Oil, which is usually found in the “supplement section” of your natural grocery store.

To experience more of these incredible benefits, try adding coconut oil to smoothies, sauces, grain dishes…or use it in cooking… or get it in your dessert from our dairy free cheesecake.