Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is a highly saturated tropical oil derived from coconuts of the coconut palm tree. Traditionally it has provided many health benefits to the peoples who live in areas of tropics and subtropic where coconut palms grow.

Coconut oil is 92% saturated with over two-thirds of the saturated fat as medium-chain fatty acids. 48% of these medium chain fatty acids are made up of lauric acid. Lauric Acid, with is also found in large quantities in mother's milk, is a fatty acid with strong antifungal and antimicrobial properties.

The stability of coconut oil for storage and safe use in cooking and baking is precisely due to its high saturated content. It may be stored for reasonable lengths of time at room temperature without going rancid.

Benefits include:

-Promotes weight loss

-Provides an immediate source of energy

-Supplies important nutrients

-Highly resistant to spoilage

-Heat Resistant, best oil for cooking

According to Bruce Fife, author of The Coconut Oil Miracle, coconut oil has also

-Protects against heart disease, cancer and diabetes

-Acts as an antioxidant in its resistance to attack by free radicals protecting against degenerative diseases, in general

-Protects for a range of infectious diseases

-Strengthens the immune system, kill viruses

In our household we purchase only two oils: Coconut Oil and Olive Oil. Although our main use of these oils is for cooking, baking and eating, here is a list of other ways we use Coconut Oil:

-Moisturizer: great body moisturizer, a little goes a long way.

-Deodorant: I have tried almost every natural deodorant but this recipe has given us the best results!!

-Leave in Hair Conditioner

-Hair Gel/Defrizzer: A small amount of coconut oil works amazingly to scrunch and hold my hair in curls.

-Toothpaste: see this recipe for frugal natural toothpaste

-Make-up remover: put some coconut oil on a cotton swab to remove all make-up especially mascara

-Chapstick

-Lubricant

-Diaper salve: great for red butts!

-Baby Lotion

-Nipple Cream : nourishes soar cracked nipples

Cooking and Baking: You can use coconut oil in place of any oil for cooking or baking. Substitute the exact amount of oil as your original recipe calls for (1:1). Coconut oil, in its solid form, is an especially great replacement for butter, lard or crisco. When replacing vegetable or canola oil, melt the coconut oil first. Coconut oil is also great for greasing pans and adding into smoothies.

NOTE: At room temperature, 76 degrees or higher, coconut oil is a solid. At 75 degrees it melts to a liquid. To melting coconut oil, use the same method you would to warm a cold baby bottle, place the jar or bowl of coconut oil into a container of hot water.

Where to Buy: Coconut oil is available at most grocery and health food stores. Look for unrefined, cold pressed coconut oil. Nutivia, Spectrum and Garden of Life all are good brands. We purchase our organic, extra-virgin, unrefined coconut oil at an excellent price from Mountain Rose Herbs (www.mountainroseherbs.com).