Coconut Oil Benefits - The Best Oil For Your Superhealth!
Raw coconut oil benefits one's superhealth unlike any other oil known. Despite common belief, the oil from coconut DOES NOT raise cholesterol in the body. Even though it is a saturated fat, it contains virtually no cholesterol.
In fact, coconut oil actually helps to normalize cholesterol levels not increase them. In tropical cultures, where the oil is consumed daily, low cholesterol levels are the norm.
Coconut products in general support "healthy cholesterol" formation in the liver, providing HDL, high density lipoprotein that promotes healthy hormone production.
Coconut oil, being a "good fat", is now proven as one of the best oils to use when cooking. This is because the oil is very stable at high temperatures. It IS the most stable of all oils because it is slow to oxidize and therefore resistant to becoming rancid. It can last up to 3 years or more and still maintain its complete nutritional profile.
It is a wonderful addition to a raw food diet and raw vegan recipes because it gives you a great fuel burning energy source. When making healthy cooking recipes, it provides a great flavor and is unaffected by heat. We use it on occasion to grill tempeh or saute onion and garlic.
Coconut Oil Benefits:
Medium Chain Fatty Acids
Even though coconut oil is a saturated fat, it is composed of medium chain fatty acids as oppose to long chain saturated fats, like animal fats that increase LDL levels. It is the long chain fats that can cause health problems and increase the risk of plaque build up in the arteries.
Medium chains are from 8-12 carbon atoms in length, while saturated fatty acids in meats are from 14-24 carbon atoms long. In essence, the shorter the chain the less energy is required to digest it and the less enzymes it uses from our own reserves.
The MFCA's in coconut oil include:
Caprylic acid (C-8)
Capric acid (C-10)
Lauric acid (C-12)(the most of any plant source)
Myristic acid (C-14)
86.5% saturated fatty acids
5.8% monounsaturated fatty acids
1.8% polyunsaturated fatty acids
All of these components give it a unique profile for fighting off parasites and fungal issues in the body.
In addition, almost fifty percent of the fat in coconut oil is called lauric acid, which contain tons of health promoting attributes. Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
"I use medium chain triglycerides or organic coconut oil as sources of antimicrobial fatty acids." Udo Erasmus, author of Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill
I have been using coconut oil for over 10 years in replacement of other oils because of its superhealth enhancing properties. I was first introduce to me by Donna Gates in her book, The Body Ecology Diet. She states, "Contrary to the misinformation put out by the hydrogenated soy oil industries, coconut oil is actually a beneficial fat." It is recommended as a great oil for anyone with candida because is contains these antiviral, anti-fungal and anti yeast properties.
Because of its cholesterol normalizing effects, coconut oil can also be use to stimulate thyroid function and promote pregnenolone, a hormone precursor.
This quality of coconut oil is what also makes it an ideal restorative for the skin and hair.
Other coconut oil benefits of prenenolone:
insulates the nerves
relaxes the body
improves memory
helps reduce fatigue
Benefits of Coconut Oil With Weight Loss
Along with its thyroid hormone regulating effect, which helps to reduce excess weight, coconut oil is also a raw, saturated good fat that still has its lipase enzymes intact. This means it works to burn body fat as fuel. Lipase enzymes in raw plant fats, such as coconut oil, split fat molecules. This also helps to break up deposits of cooked, unhealthy fat accumulation in the cell walls and tissues.
Coconut oil benefits as a quick burning fuel source because it raises the overall body temp and thus does not become "fat" in the body, but helps to burn it off. This heightens energy levels and improves metabolic rate, burning off at three times faster than other fats according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2000.
It is the best oil to use for those with liver and gall bladder issues because it doesn't overburden the liver like other oils. This makes it great for those who have an overly stressed liver from excess weight and obesity.
Best Quality For Coconut Oil Health Benefits
Raw, centrifuge, virgin organic coconut oil is the very best oil to use. It comes from fresh coconuts that do not undergo a refining process, like many other coconut oil products. The centrifugal extraction method is used to derive the oil from the coconut. This requires no heat at all and produces an oil that is of the highest quality.
Coconut oil is a great addition to a raw vegan diet or cooked food meal. You will often find it as an ingredient in many of our recipes on Superfoods~for~Superhealth. You can't really beat coconut oil benefits compared to other oils. Our second favorite oil is olive oil and hemp seed oil, which we only eat raw.
The oil has a low melting point, but remains a solid white oil below 70-75 degrees. It creates a nice density to recipes, like our raw cheesecake, when refrigerated.
Don't forget to use it on your skin. We make a big jar of 3/4 coconut oil and 1/4 cacao butter melted together. This recipe solidifies into a nice, smooth spreadable skin salve. Besides aloe vera, it is the only thing we use on our skin!
