Coconut Oil

A few days ago P2 and I were waiting in line to check out at Whole Foods in Chelsea and we saw a jar of Coconut Oil. It looked like a jar of shortening. We picked it up because my brother Barry had told it it is really healthy, but it didn't seem like it at all. It's LOADED with saturated fat. Loaded with all kinds of fat. We were very confused as to why this would be a viable alternative to butter or other oils.
My brother who told us this was healthy is a strict follower of The Paleo Diet. This diet basically adheres to the way a caveman would eat. All natural of course with lots of meat and veg. Very low carb, no beans, or legumes, and no wheat. That's just a basic outline. The diet seems to be a bit on the fatty side, and I never understood it.  Most fat is bad right? And we all know saturated fat is the devil, right?
One of the most common ingredient in this diet is Coconut Oil. It replaces things like butter an other oils to cook with. He showed it to me once but I dismissed it. Nothing could replace my Olive oil!!!

So P2 and I were reading the side of this jar of Coconut Oil and were stunned at how bad it seemed for us. We quickly put it down and headed out.
This morning I was thinking about how I wish I had some coconut milk at work for my coffee. My mom had turned me onto that as an alternative to soy. I don't like to drink cow's milk, so I have used soy for years. Little did we know it was not all it was cracked up to be. So before I started to get any ill effects from the soy I switched. I never thought to check to see what health benefits, if any, that Coconut Milk had. After looking at that jar of oil I thought I might wanna stop drinking the milk.
What I found out has blown my mind. Really! Why doesn't the whole world know how amazing a Coconut is??? (Actually I know the reason, and it is sad. The world does know, it's only in the US that we are just getting this info.)
First off the saturated fat found in Coconut oil is called a "short chain fat". That means that the fat is absorbed quickly into the liver and is made ready, very quickly, for the body to convert into energy. That means your body does not store it in your love handles!
The most impressive nutrient seems to be the Lauric Acid, along with it's side kick the Capric Acid, keep you young, healthy, and lower your stress.
Lauric Acid "converts to the fatty acid monolaurin in the body. Monolaurin has adverse effects on a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, fungi, and enveloped viruses. It destroys the lipid membrane of such enveloped viruses as HIV, measles, Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), influenza and cytomegalovirus (CMV). The usefulness of monolaurin in treating AIDS is currently under investigation. Lauric acid is a main component of human breast milk and helps protect children from illness during infancy."
Oddly enough my mother was just telling us the other day that a mother's breast milk will actually stop a baby from getting sick, and was wishing there was a  way to get the nutrients as an adult! Now we know there is!
The quote above and a lot more information was taken from http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/cocgood.html.
I would check out that site. Or if you Google "coconut oil", you will find a whole bunch of sites loaded with great information! I would do the research for yourself to see all the great info I left out!
By the way, you can also use coconut oil on your hair and skin! It's not just for cooking!

I wonder if they have it at Trader Joes??

Here's to your health in 2011!!
XO
P