The Amazing Coconut

On to the next healthy fat, coconut, in all of it's glorious forms, flour, oil, milk and cream.
It is hard not to know at least some about coconut, it is all over the place these days, the oil for it's fat lose abilities, skin conditions and so forth, the flour for everyone who is celiac or gluten free for whatever reason and the milk and cream in place of dairy.

Let's break it down:

• It is full of saturated fat, mainly in the form of MCT's, medium chain fatty acids. These provide energy to the body quickly and effectively. This energy is converted to ketons in the liver and ketons are a preferred energy source for the brain, heart and the body in general.. Provides fats for cell walls. Helps protect the heart from heart disease and arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, this is due, in part, to decreasing total cholesterol and blood pressure as well as other types of fat that are present. 
• Beneficial in Alzheimers, time will tell in prevention with more people eating it. In treating, there are already very promising signs of benefits. This is due to the keton production, which helps the brain to function optimally, this will also help with brain fog. Additionally, a high fat, very low carb diet, fat ketosis, is used to treat epilepsy, coconut in various forms are a very large portion of this diet.
• Due to the antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic properties of coconut oil, it strengthens the immune system and helps fight off viruses and bacteria. Due to these properties, it works wonders on the skin for things such as acne. It also helps rid the gut of bacterial, fungal and parasitic over growths, these over growths can lead to things such as candida (yeast) infection, SIBO, bacterial over growth and parasitic infections. Coconut oil will help the body fight these off.
• Coconut oil is great for the skin in general when taken internally as well as applied topically. The health of your skin begins in your gut, when it is healed, your skin will reflect this. It helps ward off signs of aging, keeping the skin moist and well hydrated. It helps with things such as eczema, psoriasis, and many other skin condition. It is a great massage oil, I will let you think further about that one. Helps protect against the sun, a mild sunscreen. 
• Heat stable fat for cooking at higher temperatures. Use coconut oil in place of vegetable oils and olive oil, vegetable oils should not ever be eaten and olive oil should be used as a cold oil, salad dressings and drizzling over food after cooking. I use coconut oil to cook many dishes. There are some however that we do not like the taste of the coconut oil in and those I use butter, bacon grease or fat from my bone broth instead. You will find the meals you like coconut oil with and those you do not.
• A very potent antioxidant. 
• Provides Vitamins E and K as well as iron
• Used in hair care products for deep conditioning and scalp issues. You can also make your own shampoo with coconut milk.
• Helps stave off hunger, helping with weight lose. Coconut also increases your metabolism, fat burning. Can help put you in fat ketosis, which is a powerful fat burning state. Coconut oil has been shown to decrease the dangerous abdominal fat.
• Coconut flour is high in  protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
• Coconut water is full of health benefits as well. This is a great recovery drink from a hard workout or a hangover, replenishing electrolytes in the body and fluids. Can aid in digestion.

This is a long, but a very short list of benefits to coconut. As a side note, do not be afraid of the saturated fat content of coconut. The lipid hypotheses has largely been discredited, to the point in some science circles to be a laughing stock. The fat in coconut will help ward off heart disease at many different levels. Have no fear and enjoy!

Ways of adding more coconut into your diet and life:

• Use as a cooking oil
• Bullet coffee, have you realized my love of this yet?!  
• Use on your skin daily
• In baking use the flour and oil in place grain flour and shortening
• Oil pull with coconut oil, on both your face and teeth
• Drink the milk and cream or use both in cooking and baking
• Can be used for making your own deodorant
• Eating it straight for increased energy, keton bodies and help grain cravings 
• Use it on dried chapped lips, for extra moisture try on top of honey
• Use as a carrier oil for essential oils 
• As a deep conditioner for hair, you can also make your own shampoo with coconut milk
• Help with acne and cold sores
• Give your significant other a relaxing massage.....
• Can be given to your pets, eaten or on skin aliments, mine two dogs LOVE coconut, helps sooth their itchy skin as well
• Make up remover 
• With some understanding of this amazing food, anywhere you can think of, use it

As you begin incorporating coconut oil into your eating, be sure to begin slowly. It is a fat and does have powerful antioxidant properties, so it will clean you out. Start slow and increase as you go.

Still saving the world one stick of butter at a time.

God bless,

Jenn