What’s The Deal Wednesday’s – COCONUT OIL

It got a bad rap in the 80’s because of its high saturated fat content. But now people are saying it’s good for you! It can be used in your cooking and baking and also as a fabulous moisturizer…. today, we’re talking Coconut Oil!

(This can be a WTDW and Naturally Flourishing post all in one!)

What is it?: Coconut oil is an oil that comes from the meat of mature coconuts. Because coconut oil has a high amount of saturated fatty acids it also has a relatively high melting point. Above 76°F coconut oil is a liquid, but below this temperature it’s actually a solid.

What’s the deal?: Coconut oil consists of more than ninety percent saturated fats, which is why people were so freaked out by it. In the 80’s many products boasted that they contained “No Tropical Oils!”. True, saturated fats are an “unhealthy” fat BUT the fatty acids found in coconut oil are primarily medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are more easily metabolized by the body. And evidence shows that virgin coconut oil either doesn’t raise cholesterol or primarily raises HDL cholesterol (the good one!). 

There are also many other benefits that coconut oil supposedly has such as weight loss, heart disease and high blood pressure prevention, help with kidney problems, increased metabolism…and the list goes on! All of this is due to the presence of certain medium chain fatty acids such as lauric acid, which comprises about 50% of coconut oil. Lauric acid is actually found in mothers milk and is now being studied for its anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial health-protecting properties.

The benefits of coconut oil are still being researched, but I think the evidence so far shows that adding virgin coconut oil (not the refined or hydrogenated versions!) to your diet, or your beauty regime, is probably a ok!

Where to use Coconut Oil?: I happen to love coconut oil! Thinking about it, I use it in quite a few places: In baking to replace butter, for cooking at high temps (tropical stir fries anyone!) and in smoothies. Obviously since it is a fat, you don’t want to go overboard throwing it into EVERYTHING you eat! I also love using coconut oil as a heavenly moisturizer.

That’s right, you can use coconut oil as a moisturizer! So many body creams out there use tons of bad ingredients. For example, I used to love Jergens Cherry Almond Moisturizer …and just found out the ingredients for it – methyparaben, DMDM hydantoin, fragrance, ceteareth-20, alcohol denatured, propylparaben, dimethicone, cetearyl alcohol, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer….

For real? The only ingredients in my moisturizer now are Virgin Coconut Oil. Nice isn’t it. One ingredient. And it is super moisturizing! I like to use it right out of the shower, let it absorb for a few minutes (it takes a bit longer than regular moisturizer) and then I smell like a tropical vacation! I hear you can also use it in your hair and also as a deodorant. Much better than putting yucky chemicals all over yourself!

Where do you use coconut oil?

Research From:
Nutiva
Coconut Connections
Organic Facts
Wikipedia