Coconut water and Coconut Oil has been getting a lot of press lately hailing it’s miracle benefits. What Nutritionist Megan Crockart discusses across a 3 part series is the different coconut products on the market now and their benefits.
Coconuts are actually a fruit not a true nut as nuts do not open at maturity to release its seed like a coconut does. Coconuts are high in minerals such as potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper and iron and good levels of antioxidants.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has become one of the most sought after oils right at the moment. Yes it is a saturated fat which in the past has given it a bad name as it was considered the same as animal saturated fat. But it is very different. Animal saturated fat can increase cholesterol whereas coconut oil will actually help decrease bad LDL cholesterol as it does not enter as a lipoprotein formation (cholesterol). Because of its high saturated fat content (92%) it remains solid or semisolid at room temperature and easily becomes a liquid with minimal heat.
What makes coconut oil a healthy oil for everyday use in raw food and cooking, but also for skin and body care is it is one of the richest sources of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). MCFA’s do not require the liver and gallbladder to digest and emulsify them so they provide faster energy, increased metabolic rate and increased circulation. MCFA’s also support good digestion and assimilation of fats. High in lauric acid which has antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and disease fighting properties (only other source is breast milk). Interestingly a study is currently underway to see the antiviral effects for HIV. Rich in antioxidants and due to the MCFA’s which an deeply penetrate the skin, its a great anti-ageing moisturiser and great to apply after sun exposure to the skin or any other burns or abrasions. It can also be used for hair care particularly in helping with dandruff.
Its believed to help with weight loss as the MCFA’s speed up metabolism faster than long chain fatty acids as they are digested faster and converted to energy at a faster rate. Also coconut provides satiety so it makes you feel fuller.
Can also assist in bone health due to the high levels of minerals.
It is an excellent oil to cook with at high temperatures as it is extremely stable at temperatures above 160 degrees Celsius. In general it is a more stable oil as it has less problems with rancidity compared to some more delicate oils such as flaxseed.
So look for extra virgin cold pressed oils. A couple of our favourites are Coconut Magic and Elesis. Add a tablespoon to your morning smoothie, use it as a cooking oil, add it to any baking instead of other fats/oils, use it as a hair conditioner and skin moisturiser. Its extremely versatile. If you wish to add some essential oils to it especially if you wish a calming skin moisturiser add Lavender and Lime. Coming into Winter add fine rock salt to make a body scrub to help stimulate your skin in the morning before the day begins. Or for your hair Rosemary is a great essential oil for your scalp.
If you can’t make it in store no problem we have all these items online @ Vive Health.