Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

I have read quite a bit about coconut oil recently.  This is a great choice to use in many instances in cooking and baking.  This picture shown above is a brand that is even available in Wal-mart where we live, so you don't have to go to a specialty health food store to obtain it.  I do think you'd have to go to a health food store to get the unrefined, virgin coconut oil though, as I have not seen that type available in our grocery stores here in east Tennessee.  Let me tell you about some of the benefits of coconut oil.

This type of oil is the best to use when frying or sauteeing on medium high heat as it is almost fully a saturated fat, which means it will resists chemical changes when heated to high temperatures.  This is in contrast to the polyunsaturated oils, such as corn, canola and soy, which oxidize cholesterol when heated in cooking, converting the good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.  Oxidized cholesterol in your arteries leads to a significant increase in risk for coronary artery disease.  Olive oil is a beneficial oil as well, but when heated above 200-250 degrees Fahrenheit, it also runs the risk of oxidation.

The fat in coconut oil is 50% lauric acid, which is an amazing ingredient.  This is converted by your body into monolaurin, having anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-protozoa properties.  Coconut oil contains the most lauric acid of any food choice.  What a great option for your diet that will help support your immune system, especially this time of year when people seem more prone to illness.

Coconut oil has also been touted as beneficial for diabetics, because it does not cause an insulin spike when consumed although it provides fast energy to your body through its medium-chain fatty acids.  It gives you quick energy like a simple carbohydrate would do without the drawback of an insulin spike in the bloodstream.

Coconut oil can also be used directly on the skin for a moisturizer or a massage oil without any potentially harmful ingredients!

Here are some links to more information about this healthy oil:

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2012/January/Coconut-Oil-Touted-as-Alzheimers-Remedy/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/22/coconut-oil-and-saturated-fats-can-make-you-healthy.aspx

Try it out!  I'm sure you'll love it.  I personally use it frequently for frying.  If you're going to fry foods, this is certainly the best choice!  This oil also has a very mild taste, making it a good substitute in baking for other vegetable oils.