written by Evan Crothers

When working with clients to change their health I find there are certain foods that people have pre-conceived thoughts and judgments about.  To be honest, who can blame them?  There is so much information, much of it contradictory in nature, that it’s hard not to be confused about what is good and what is bad for you.
For years Coconut Oil got an F in the health world, for no other reason than it is high in saturated fat.  Until fairly recently, it was believed that saturated fats were created equal.  Health experts have found that this is not true.  Just like there are healthy fats, there are also healthy saturated fats.

The saturated fats that are found in Coconut Oil are naturally occurring and are vastly different from artificial saturated fats.  The ones to be wary of are the manipulated man made saturated fats that occur when Hydrogen is added to vegetable, canola and seed oils, which then create trans fats.  Most of us know that these fats should be avoided at all costs!

Studies have been conducted on many South Pacific Island communities where diets are high in Coconut Oil.  Despite the high dietary fat, heart disease was found to be almost non-existent, the complete opposite of what is found in our country.

So, what are the benefits of Coconut Oil?
    –    Improves Heart Health
    –    Contains no Cholesterol (unlike saturated animal fats)
    –    Boosts your Thyroid
    –    Increases your Metabolism
    –    Promotes a Lean Body & Weight Loss
    –    Supports your Immune System

How does your body process Coconut Oil vs. other Saturated Fats?
Coconut Oil is nature’s richest source of medium-chain fatty acids.  Most vegetable and seed oils are comprised of long-chain fatty acids.  These large molecules are difficult for your body to break down and are mostly stored as fat.  However, the medium-chain saturated fats that are found in Coconut Oil are easily digested and are immediately sent to your liver to be used for energy, boosting your metabolism, helping your body use fat for energy instead of storing it.

How do you incorporate Coconut Oil into your life?
Cooking with vegetable or canola oils produce many have toxic chemicals, and should be avoided, not to mention that many of them are genetically modified!
Olive Oil has many health benefits, and should be incorporated into your daily diet.  However, because of its structure it falls victim to oxidative damage when heated.  The beneficial compounds of Olive Oil start to degrade, and potentially harmful toxins and compounds can form.
Coconut Oil is stable enough to withstand heat, and has a higher smoking temperature than Olive Oil.

So lose the bad oils and begin cooking with an oil that will propel your health in the right direction!

P.S.  Trader Joe’s has the most affordable Coconut Oil I have found

Evan Crothers is a Holistic Health Nutritionist and creator of CONFIDENCE THROUGH NUTRITION.  He received his training from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. 

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