Virgin coconut oil is one of nature’s original ‘super foods’, thanks to its amazing nutritional properties and versatility in maintaining our day to day health, but sadly this super food’s popularity has also been tainted by a lot of misinformed, negative press creating a plenty of confusion and angst as to whether we should eat it or avoid it!
Much of the confusion surrounding the health benefits of coconut oil, stems from the rampant confusion surrounding fats in general and their links to disease and obesity, ( you can read more about the role of fats in our diet here), but although virgin, cold pressed coconut oil is technically classified as a saturated fat, which sends many of us running for the gym, the truth is, not all saturated fats were created equal! Virgin coconut oil is different to other saturated fats, (even though saturated fats in their natural, unprocessed state are not bad for our health), because it contains what’s known as ‘medium chain fatty acids’, which are actually ‘healthy’ fats.
When international super model, Miranda Kerr first consulted me for nutritional advice to stay strong and healthy, I recommended she eat 1 – 2 table spoons of virgin coconut oil every day to keep her skin smooth and her hair shiny, as well as help to regulate her metabolic rate.
The only fats we need to fear are the vegetable oils we used to cook with, such as canola, sunflower, soy and corn as well as margarine. (You can read my article on why you should avoid margarine here). This is because polyunsaturated vegetable oils can easily oxidize, or become rancid when exposed to heat during cooking or processing and this results in the formation of trans fats which have been linked to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma and obesity – just to name a few! We are also consuming way too many omega 6 containing vegetable oils now days, thanks to all the processed foods we are eating and the excess consumption of polyunsaturated fats, distorts the delicate balance of dietary omega 6:3 fatty acids.
Extra virgin coconut oil is actually the healthiest oil to cook with, because of its high smoke point, meaning it is more stable to heat than other cooking oils, which tend to burn more easily, causing them to oxidise and create free radicals.
Cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil possesses some amazing health benefits including:
• Helping to fight infection from pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi, thanks to the capric acid, which possess antimicrobial properties – great for keeping candida under control
- Increases the function of the thyroid – helping to boost metabolism – if you want to lose weight… eat virgin coconut oil!
- Reduces inflammation – which is the underlying cause of many lifestyle and degenerative diseases, including high blood pressure and cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes, not to mention auto immune disease
- Maintains the health of pregnant and nursing mothers
- Helps reduce sugar cravings and boosts energy because of the medium chain fatty acids, which are so easily absorbed into the cell for energy as well as being filling
- Helps protect skin from the effects of ageing by improving the appearance of fine lines and helping to keep connective tissue supple and strong
My tips for incorporating virgin coconut oil into your diet:
• Add a desert spoon into your morning smoothie
• Use it in place of butter or margarine in baking
• Use it as a natural moisturizer blended with your favourite essential oils.
• Use virgin coconut oil when pan frying or baking
• Be sure to choose virgin coconut oil over the cheap refine brands that has been exposed to high levels of processing and heat.
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Hi Camille
great to hear your faith in the humble coconut has been restored! I’d love to support you in your journey to losing 25 kilos in some way, so I am going to send you a complimentary copy of my e-book Eat Yourself Healthy In 28 Days, so please drop my PA a line and he can organise you a copy and be sure to keep me posted with your progress along the way! enquiries@sallyjoseph.com.au Sally x
Hi Camille
great to hear your faith in the humble coconut has been restored! I’d love to support you in your journey to losing 25 kilos in some way, so I am going to send you a complimentary copy of my e-book Eat Yourself Healthy In 28 Days, so please drop my PA a line and he can organise you a copy and be sure to keep me posted with your progress along the way! enquiries@sallyjoseph.com.au Sally x
Hi Sally,
Give me an elephant stamp I guessed right but I will admit I wasn’t a believer at first either. I bought a jar about a year ago after some research but eventually threw it out. I just couldn’t get my head around the fact that coconut in any form, is not fattening. But recently I bought some for skincare (adding my therapeutic essential oils to – divine), researched some more and finally trusted. I have about 25 kilos to lose and you’ve just confirmed it for me once more of it’s benefits, Ta.
ps. when I’m cooking – 1 desert spoon into the fry pan, 1 into my mouth, yum! Sometimes I still use cold pressed virgin olive oil, is this okay?
Hi Sally,
Give me an elephant stamp I guessed right but I will admit I wasn’t a believer at first either. I bought a jar about a year ago after some research but eventually threw it out. I just couldn’t get my head around the fact that coconut in any form, is not fattening. But recently I bought some for skincare (adding my therapeutic essential oils to – divine), researched some more and finally trusted. I have about 25 kilos to lose and you’ve just confirmed it for me once more of it’s benefits, Ta.
ps. when I’m cooking – 1 desert spoon into the fry pan, 1 into my mouth, yum! Sometimes I still use cold pressed virgin olive oil, is this okay?
That’s awesome Annabel, sometimes we just need a little push in the right direction to make change! All good now though! x
That’s awesome Annabel, sometimes we just need a little push in the right direction to make change! All good now though! x
Thanks Jess, I am so glad to hear my article cleared the confusion! Good on you for trying to spread the word and help your family get up to speed! Keep up the good work and thanks for reading my blog x
Thanks Jess, I am so glad to hear my article cleared the confusion! Good on you for trying to spread the word and help your family get up to speed! Keep up the good work and thanks for reading my blog x
Hi Sally
As soon as I read this I went to the pantry and threw out the bottle of Canola Oil (which Ive known is not good for me but for some odd reason didnt seem to worry about) and instead replaced it with the tub of (believe it or not) unopened virgin coconut oil. ive made a promise to not buy anymore cheap refined oil. stupid thing is I knew this but didnt act until I read your article – go figure!!!! Thanks Sally
Hi Sally
As soon as I read this I went to the pantry and threw out the bottle of Canola Oil (which Ive known is not good for me but for some odd reason didnt seem to worry about) and instead replaced it with the tub of (believe it or not) unopened virgin coconut oil. ive made a promise to not buy anymore cheap refined oil. stupid thing is I knew this but didnt act until I read your article – go figure!!!! Thanks Sally
Thank you Sally for this excellent informative article, it has helped to de-mistify a lot of common questions surrounding coconut oil.
I started incorporating coconut oil into my diet about a year ago based on some articles I’d read about it’s perceived benefits and have been enjoying it’s flavour and cooking uses daily. I also passed on the suggestion to family members and friends but have been endlessly frustrated by continuing reports in the media that sought to paint coconut oil as the nasty fatty foe to be avoided. Unfortunately a lot of people still believe what they read in the newspaper, and here in the west the story was page three news a couple of months back. My aunt was one person at least who decided to cut it out after reading that article.
I’m so pleased to read your post that highlights many of the cloudy areas people are concerned about and I will definitely be passing it around for others to read.
Warm regards, from Jessica
Thank you Sally for this excellent informative article, it has helped to de-mistify a lot of common questions surrounding coconut oil.
I started incorporating coconut oil into my diet about a year ago based on some articles I’d read about it’s perceived benefits and have been enjoying it’s flavour and cooking uses daily. I also passed on the suggestion to family members and friends but have been endlessly frustrated by continuing reports in the media that sought to paint coconut oil as the nasty fatty foe to be avoided. Unfortunately a lot of people still believe what they read in the newspaper, and here in the west the story was page three news a couple of months back. My aunt was one person at least who decided to cut it out after reading that article.
I’m so pleased to read your post that highlights many of the cloudy areas people are concerned about and I will definitely be passing it around for others to read.
Warm regards, from Jessica