Monday, February 27, 2012

Coconut Oils

Coconut oil has hit mainstream. Is it another health nut fad or is there something behind the claim to healthy fame?

Rest assured, you can thank the fad for bringing this healthful oil to the forefront.

Organic Facts has an excellent article on the benefits and workings of coconut oil.

Coconut Oil has also been used to help lessen the impact of Alzheimer's! This is important to me since my dear Grandfather was afflicted with Alzheimer's. Video

Coconut oil has a wide variety of uses, not just in the kitchen, but in the bathroom, too! Here's a list:

Organic Unrefined coconut oil tastes like coconut. You can eat it raw. My daughter loves it!
Coconut oil works well in baked goods, too.
I use refined coconut oil (no coconut flavor to it) to pan fry and to oven fry with excellent results.
Melt organic unrefined coconut oil in a small pan on the stove and pour it into your smoothie while mixing in the blender. Yum!

Coconut oil is great for your skin and hair, too:

Make deodorant (although, I recommend using organic unrefined coconut oil rather than LouAna and arrowroot powder rather than cornstarch)
Smooth your hair (just smooth it into your dry ends and brush through with a gentle brush)
Moisturize your skin (just massage it in gently)
Heal damaged skin (just massage it in gently)
Soothe diaper rash and chaffing (just rub it into the skin gently)

When purchasing coconut oil, look for organic to be sure you are free from pesticides and chemicals.

Unrefined coconut oil is very white when solid and smells and tastes like coconut. This is the healthiest as it has been rendered and processed the least.

Refined coconut oil is a bit off white when solid and has no coconut smell or taste. It is still good for you, but get a reliable brand such as Spectrum to avoid any possible hydrogenation.

Also, make sure you get food grade coconut oil. There are coconut oils on the market that are labeled for cosmetic use only.

Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and melts around 76 degrees. It is a very stable oil, slow to oxidize (slow to go rancid, so don't be afraid to buy in bulk) and it is ok for it to go liquid and return to solid many times.

Some coconut oils may seem a bit gritty, especially the unrefined, but it is not rancid. It is ok.

Some placed to purchase coconut oil:

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