I call it goddess grease. It’s rich, creamy, exotic and to me, the ultimate in luxury. I am talking Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil. It’s high fat content gave it a bad rep for awhile, but thank God the majority of us smartened up and know some fats are actually good for us and essential to thriving cells. Eat it, spread it, cook it, there’s not much I can’t do with this miracle-in-a-jar. I have bottles of it in the kitchen, bathroom and the bedroom. It’s a bit of an obsession of mine. And it’s no fad. Here’s why:
It’s Heart Healthy: Coconut oil’s saturated fat is lauric acid, proven to protect the heart by reducing bad cholesterol and enhancing good cholesterol levels. It also helps lower blood pressure and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries.It boosts metabolism and keeps your weight in check: OK who doesn’t want either of these? Coconut oil’s medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) break down in the liver and are easily converted into energy not just stored as fat. This leads to more efficient energy burning and an increase in metabolism. Simply put, eating this will give you more energy. And because it does not spike blood sugar levels (great for those with diabetes or pre-diabetes) hunger is satiated for a longer period of time and you won’t be ready to reach for that who knows what. It also contains fewer calories than other oils. Can I say anymore?
Beauty Building: It’s an amazing moisturizer and great for any kind of skin irritation including bug bites, scrapes, bruises, red patches, eczema and diaper rash. Rub it on and watch issue disappear. Seriously. My all time favorite is using it as a makeup remover. It’s pretty much a one-stop-shop. Clear the counter.
Immune Booster: It is anti-everything—anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antioxidant, anti-ager and anti-viral—both when applied topically and consumed. It helps our bodies mount resistance to both viruses and bacteria that can cause illness.
Here are my top 10 uses for the miracle in a jar.
- Mix with cocao powder, almond milk and honey for a healthier hot chocolate or chocolate milk.
- A complete replacement for butter in baking. Chocolate cookies never tasted so good. No one will even notice.
- Almost a complete replacement for Olive Oil in cooking. Yup, you heard that right. It’s more stable. I sauté all my veggies in it. I still like my Olive oil for dipping and salad dressing.
- Pancakes never tasted so good using coconut oil instead of butter to cook them.
- Supercharged smoothies The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil are the subject of lots of scientific studies right now. One recently showed that MCTs effectively destroyed viruses, another that it lowered cholesterol, and a third indicates it might assist in weight loss.
- Healthy Chocolate desserts. Need I say more?
- Cinnamon toast crunch. Mix a little coconut oil with cinnamon and spread it on your favorite sprouted bread for a filling morning (or afternoon) pick-me up. Hey, there’s only so much avocado toast you can eat, am I right?
- I add a tablespoon to the boiling water to make creamier oatmeal, just a touch tropic too.
- Make super healthy popcorn. Is there anything better than a bowl of freshly popped kernels while you get your weekly fix of Game of Thrones? Drizzle melted coconut oil and sprinkle nutritional yeast on stove-popped popcorn to get that buttery, movie theater taste.
- Use it like vegan Crisco. Use a dab of coconut oil on a paper towel to grease your cookie trays and keep your gluten-free angel food cake from getting stuck in the tin.
- Season your cast iron skillet. Instead of a non-stick spray, prime your new pans with coconut oil the first few times you use them. The result will be a longer-lasting pan that’s easy to clean.
- Lubricate kitchen tools before handling sticky foods. Slicing dates is much easier than it sounds, isn’t it? Before chopping up raw ingredients, spread a bit on your knives and scissors, and slice with ease.
- A winter face and body moisturizer.
- A ½ cup to the family bath. Soothes any itchiness, scratches, rashes and red patches we may have. Plus, it softens the water just so.
- As a smooth, easy-to-apply and easily absorbed massage oil.
- As a detangler. I take1/2 teaspoon, melt it and mix with 3 cups water. Put in spray bottle.
- Oil pulling is a huge source of detoxification, part mouth wash and teeth whitener. Swish teaspoon coconut oil through brushed teeth for as log as you can. Try it 3 nights consecutive, you will be hooked.