So if the FDA hasn't put their dietetic stamp of approval on it... why am I posting about why you should use it? Well... the FDA has approved it as a food... but they don't approve it as a recommended oil for health claims. Why not?
The lipid hypothesis. (Lipid meaning fat) What is that you say? Basically... some docs made health claims that the fat in your diet was directly related to the fat on your body, and the junk in your arteries. Hence, the lowfat craze that followed in the 20th century. However, this hypothesis is just that... a hypothesis. And what is a hypothesis, its a guess... granted, and educated guess, just a guess nonetheless... Look mom, I remembered something from 10th grade Chemistry! Yay!!
So, people got word from these studies that all fat in the diet needed to be eliminated because it directly caused heart disease. Of course, if doctors told people that, I can see why people jumped on the bandwagon... well... since those initial studies (started in 1850!) most if not all, have been disproven... BUT, no dietary updates have been made to the Federal Diet Recommendations! Why? Well... try to follow me here...
If fat is bad.... we must avoid it... we must not consume food that contains fat... but we still want to drink milk, eat cheese, and use butter to flavor food... so what is the solution?... imitation fat (trans fat)... substances or chemicals that taste just like real fat, but are "calorie-free" and appear "healthier"... ahhhh! a solution! or is it really?...
What has proven time and time again to be the case, the imitation fats that have saturated our diets (soybean oil, hydrogenated oils, including fake sweeteners like aspartame, nutrisweet, etc) these are the true culprits for heart disease (and a host of other diet related medical conditions).
What is the bummer about these imitation fats... yes, they may taste just like butter... but when the get past your tonuge and begin to travel the inside of your body, your body doesn't know what to do with them!!! Are they really fat... no... Are they a protein... well no... What is it!??! And what do I do with it?! And what happens often in the body, the body can't absorb it and they adhere to walls of arteries, stay in the bloodstream, or
Some physicians believe that trans fats also:
- Accelerate aging
- Compromise the immune system
- Damage the lungs
- Damage reproductive organs and their processes (including infertility and prenatal complications)
- Contribute to mental decline and chromosomal damage
- Increase problems with mental functioning such as autism, ADD, ADHD, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and depression
- Increase the risk for arthritis and autoimmune disease
All very bad things... but if we are to avoid fat like the government says, then what do we eat if the imitation stuff is worse for us?!
I'm so glad you asked! Well, back to that lipid hypothesis again... which has been proven to be just that, a hypothesis. What studies continue to reveal is that food is a complex blend of molecules and that foods are meant to be consumed whole entities. Not removing the fat from butter to lessen the calorie load... Butter eaten as butter... in manageable quantities.
Scientists are continuing to try to figure out God's universe day by day... and more and more. Amazing. The protein in an egg white isn't properly utilized or absorbed unless it has the fat of the egg yolk to help assimilate it into your body. Pastuerized milk that has been heated so high that it kills off the good enzymes that help your body absorb all of the lactose in the milk. That is why we as a nation are eating lots of "fat free" stuff and yet obestity is on the rise like never before. Granted, people eating McDonald's and Baskin Robbins everyday doesn't help either... but all of this combined eating of nutritionally void food takes a toll on your body...
Ah. So what in the world is okay to eat and what will give you the most bang for your nutritional buck... Real food. Whole Food. But even that is being blurred a little these days. Companies are marketing their food as "all natural" "real whole grain" and many more confusing unregulated phrases.
But, if you look into the history of the world, what has been the food that has sustained people...
"Coconut oil has been used for centuries as a vital source of food for health and general well being in traditional communities of tropical regions.Recent research verifies traditional beliefs that the coconut palm is “The Tree of Life” and that, just like any other pure, whole food, coconuts and virgin coconut oil have a significant role to play in a well balanced, nutritious diet. Abandoning unhealthy lifestyles and reverting to natural foods can help to reverse many of the diseases that have manifested in our bodies through the highly refined diet of our modern society.
Virgin coconut oil is one of the safest oils to cook with. It does not contain trans fatty acids and does not break down, even at high temperatures, unlike many other oils.
Coconut oil is known as the "energy fat" and is favoured by dieters, athletes, and body builders. It is slightly lower in calories than most other fats and oils and is processed in the liver and converted directly into energy.
Virgin coconut oil is also used for making soaps and lotions."1
Studies and historical research has shown that unrefined organic coconut oil is the best oil for you... You can cook with it, take it by the spoonful, use it as body lotion, or among many other things, make deodorant!
Fat is good for you. In order to properly assimilate food into your body, you need fat, the carrier. Without fat, you are forcing other body organs and parts to overwork themselves by trying to handle all the protein and vitamins without their #1 officer: fat.
Women especially need fat in their diets. If you want more info on that look HERE and HERE.
Researchers are realizing that the amount of fat in your diet does not correlate to the amount of fat you will gain by eating it. Granted if you eat cheap, nasty, processed fat (fake fats and oils that are in almost every fast food, restaurant, and processed food)... you will get fatter...
But, if you stick to whole, unrefined, minimally processed organic fats, the benefits to your body are undeniable.
Now, the thought of using coconut oil can be daunting. I HATE HATE HATE the smell and taste of coconut. Personally... if I see or smell heavy coconut, I'm out! I think it was all the exposure to cocnut chapstick as a child... I don't know... But... I have found that depending on the brand and type of coconut oil, the smell and flavor varies...
For the LEAST amount of coconut smell... buy the Organic Cold Pressed Unrefined Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I know... a mouthful, but they sell it at Whole Foods, Amazon.com, and now at Costco by the barrel! Wa hooo!
You can use it in place of any oil... I sauté with it, bake with it, fry in it, pop popcorn with it... anywhere oil is called for, substitute it in... except in salad dressings that call for olive oil... the taste will be very different in that case ;)
Hope this helps a little bit into knowing the good in whole fats. There is so much info out there and it makes sense in my head, I just hope it makes sense written in my silly little blog :)
xo
J
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