Green Lemonade

Coconut oil has gotten a bad wrap over the years. Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, health beauties are now embracing coconut oil. Recent evidence now shows the fat in coconut oil is unique and different (from other saturated fats) and possesses many health giving (and slimming) properties.

All About Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil consists of ~92% saturated fat. However it is rich in the medium-chain “good fats” that doctors recommend. This is different from the saturated and unsaturated fat found in meat, milk, eggs and vegetable oils which are composed of long-chain triglycerides (“bad fats”). It is now believed that medium-chain triglycerides (“good fats”) are more easily metabolized by your body and have many health giving properties.

Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil is believed to offer the following benefits:

• support against heart disease
• help with reducing bad cholesterol
• help with abnormal blood clotting
• aid in your body’s slimming and fat burning work*
• appetite suppressant
• constipation relief
• moisturizing and rejuvenating benefits for hair, skin and nails

* Note: Good quality uncooked fats in moderation, like avocados and coconut oil, actually store in the body as energy and not fat which helps us lose weight in the long run.

How to Use Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil is used by health beauties in a variety of ways:

• tossed into smoothies (usually 1 tablespoon)
• all purpose cooking oil. Coconut oil is very heat stable so it makes an excellent cooking and frying oil. It has a smoke point of about 360°F (180°C).
• butter substitute on toast and in baking
• skin moisturizer
• deep conditioning hair mask for dry and damaged hair (learn how here)

How to Store Virgin Coconut Oil

No refrigeration is required for pure, virgin coconut oil. Because of its stability, virgin coconut oil is slow to oxidize and go bad. The best place to store coconut oil is in a cupboard or closet that does not become overly hot in the summer. At room temperature, your virgin coconut oil will easily last 2 years in your pantry. Virgin coconut oil is solid at room temperature and melts at 76 degrees.

Where to Buy Virgin Coconut Oil

Most mainstream grocery stores, health food stores and even GNC carry virgin coconut oil. My favorite place to buy good quality coconut oil (in bulk + with free shipping) is at iherb.com. I recommend the Nutiva brand. But if you can’t find the Nutiva brand, just make sure that the coconut oil you are buying is organic (free from pesticides) and virgin (not refined, deodorized or bleached) coconut oil.

Learn more about the benefits of virgin coconut oil

The Coconut Oil Miracle, Bruce Fife & Jon J. Kabara