I Love coconut oil...I use it in cooking, on my hair and as a moisturiser. The naturally occurring saturated fat found in coconut oil has some spectacular health benefits such as promoting heart health, weight loss, immune system health, thyroid function and more. Half of the fat content in coconut oil is lauric acid—a fat rarely found in nature—that could easily qualify as a "miracle" ingredient because of its unique health-promoting properties. Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties. Do you use it?—
Coconut oil can be used for a lot of things.
You can cook with it not only does it tastes delicious and the health benefits are astounding!
Coconut oil is great in showers. It is a great cleanser as well as a moisturizer. You can also keep it on your nightstand as a moisturizer. There is a lot to be said for anything that is chemical free that we can use on our bodies. There are some people who use coconut oil on their faces.
Coconut oil is great to massage into your scalp. It is nice for the hair and the skin.
Coconut oil is great in raw food recipes:
- You can use 1 tsp of coconut oil daily in my morning smoothie. It gives it such a nice texture and it is so good for you. (below)
- You can use coconut oil in raw protein bars. It gives them a lovely texture, flavor and holds them together nicely.
- You can use coconut oil in treats, i.e. chocolate, mushroom, chia pudding (for immunity and strength) with a teaspoon of coconut oil in to add smooth creaminess too.
- You can add coconut oil in hot tea with a pinch of raw cacao for a special treat as well.
- You can even use coconut oil with cashews and stevia to make a delicious frosting.
There are a lot of ways to use coconut oil there are even more reasons why you should.
Coconut oil has lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid. These acids give it antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidant abilities. It is mostly saturated fat, 92% with a small percentage being mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated. Coconut oil is a healthy fat.
Some of the benefits that are attributed to coconut oil include (but not limited to):
- Weight loss
- Heart disease
- Immunity
- Healing and infections
- Digestion
- Candida
- Kidney stones
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Stress
- Bone loss
- Tooth decay
- Alzheimers
- Hormone regulation
“Coconut oil has fewer calories than any other fat source. Unlike the high-calorie, cholesterol-soaked, long-chain, saturated animal fats found in meat and dairy products, coconut cream and coconut oil are made of raw saturated fats containing mostly medium-chain fatty acids that the body can metabolize efficiently and convert to energy quickly.”(Wolfe, 2009)
Coconut oil also helps to regulate blood sugar. It is one fat that diabetics can eat without fear.
I’d like to share a funny story about coconut oil and weight loss is from the 1940′s. Coconut oil was used by some farmers to help fatten up their cows however; the opposite happened the cows actually became leaner.
Coconut oil is useful for bone and dental health because it improves calcium and magnesium absorption. This is good for dental health. It is especially beneficial to women who are at the age to develop osteoporosis.
When you go to order or purchase your coconut oil this is what you should look for:
organic-raw-extra virgin-cold pressed.
There is also coconut water, shredded coconut and coconut butter!
Add coconut oil to your household, you will not be sorry!
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A recent story aired by "Today Tonight" revealed we might be getting more than we bargained for when it comes to our favourite brand of frozen mixed berries.
Brands under the microscope: “Creative Gourmet”, “Woolworths Select”, "Nanna's" and "Coles Fresh Frozen" products.
The findings? The following brands were found to contain traces of a number of fungicides and pesticides that are BANNED here in Australia due to their carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects on the human body.
* Creative Gourmet berries and Woolworths Select were found to contain Carbaryl - Carbaryl is a cholinesterase inhibitor and is toxic to humans. It is classified as a likely human carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.)
* Select Mixed Berries were found to contain the chemical Pyraclostrobin- a suspected carcinogen.
* Coles Raspberries were found to have traces of Difenoconazole - a known carcinogen and endocrine disruptor.
These fungicides are considered “toxic to humans and are NOT permitted for use in Australia.
So how did these chemicals make their way into our food chain? Most of these berries are imported. Creative Gourmet import their berries from a variety of countries including CHILE, Serbia, China and Poland. The report also interviewed an Australian farmer who said they just can't compete with the low costs from overseas.
In a separate report, berries that are imported from CHILE were found to contain traces of DDT. DDT is one of the most dangerous pesticides that has ever been used on our food supply and as a result, has been banned in Australia for many years. DDT has been linked to the following:
- This chemical is likely to cause cancer.
- Reproductive effects have been observed in animals, including early onset of puberty in females, infertility, and sex reversal (fish). High DDE levels in mothers’ blood may also increase the likelihood of preterm birth and low birth weight.
- Changes in the normal levels of thyroid hormone.
- Chronic effects on liver, kidney, and nervous system (in laboratory animals).
- Laboratory tests of animals have shown evidence of birth defects (abnormal tail development) and other developmental effects (impaired learning in maze tests)
DDT is still being used in parts of China (another country who supplies our berry producers). Woolworths and Coles are now conducting their own investigations however, all products are still available on the shelves of all supermarkets.
Nanna's seems to have the all clear but make sure you wash off the 'approved' pesticides.
Where possible, berries should always be organic varieties or pesticide free. Their soft permeable surface enables them to absorb high quantities of pesticides. If you can't afford organic, choose Australian producers in order to ensure you aren't ingesting any banned chemicals forbidden here in Australia and make sure you wash your berries well before eating them.
Cleaning fruit - fill sink with water, add 1 C. vinegar, mix. Add all fruit and soak for 10 minutes. Water will be dirty and fruit will sparkle with no wax or dirty film. Great for berries too - they keep longer!
I want to help you develop a healthy relationship with food by creating a personalized program.
I offer a free consultations in person, by phone or via Skype.
http://www.linkreaction.com.au/index.php/health-coaching