Anyone using Virgin Coconut Oil ??
 

i use it on my face and body. it's a great moisturizer. :)

i know a lot of raw-foods enthusiasts like to put it in smoothies, etc. i can't figure out whether it's good or bad for you, but I tend to think you can't really go wrong with something natural and unprocessed. maybe give it a try in moderation and see how you feel?

It's high in sat fat. Here's a thread on it from "Does It Work?"
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=85

I use it. It has the healthy fat in it. Can cook with it or use it on your skin. I learned about it on a thyroid site. You need the virgin coconut oil though.

I am doing the great 6 week coconut experiment-Anyone else
 

I went and bought coconut extra virgin supplements and the book. I am really interested to see what happens. I am going to do it for six weeks and see what happens. My friend has done it for 6 weeks and her mother and mothers friends and they have all lost weight and felt better. I need to lose weight but I am really interested in the overall effect on the body. I hope someone else will do this with me. Thanks Gayle

Ummm...got a link to the American Heart Association's "uncertainty" about coconut oil? Because if the AHA IS "on the fence" regarding coconut oil, they SURE as heck haven't mentioned it on their oft-updated website...for example...

Tips for Eating Thai Food - " Ask that cooking be done with vegetable oil rather than coconut oil or lard."

Tropical Oils - AHA Recommendation
We advise people to reduce the amount of saturated fat in their diet. One way to do this is to limit your intake of foods containing tropical oils. A diet high in saturated fat tends to raise blood cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease.
What are "tropical oils"?
This term refers to coconut, palm kernel and palm oils. Like all fats and oils, these three oils contain various types of fatty acids. But unlike other plant oils, they contain a lot of saturated fatty acids. Coconut oil contains 92 percent, palm kernel oil has 82 percent and palm oil has 50 percent.

Tips on Reducing Cholesterol - advises limiting "Saturated oils like coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil."

Hydrogenated Fats - "Avoid fats if one of the first three listed ingredients is coconut oil, palm oil and/or palm kernel oil. These oils contain high amounts of saturated fats and so increase the risk of cholesterol deposits in artery walls."

Eating Plan: Fats and Oils - "Remember that although coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil are vegetable oils and have no cholesterol, they're high in saturated fat. Read food labels carefully."


It's a saturated fat. As Suzanne said back in March:

The subject of coconut oil as a miracle diet aid comes up from time to time...I prefer to quote our ever-astute Meg who said in this thread:

Here is a link to the Web MD article on Coconut oil with AMA comments
 

i use it on my hands(have skin issues due to thyroid)
fyi-----someone mentioned 'healthy oil'....it isnt its made of saturated fat

Hi
 

So far I have been using a tablespoon as a butter replacement on my morning lowfat toast. I can't even tell the difference really. I actually have felt really good and seem to have more energy. I guess time will tell. Man usually I am still hungry after my toast but now I am so full I can hardly eat my 3 pcs. It does fill you up I guess the fat. WOW. If it helps me get through my morning then it is worth it alone so I won't snack.

Personally...speaking as someone whose family history includes a LOT of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, breast and ovarian cancers - I'll keep my distance. It's just not worth it to me to possibly lose a few pounds only to increase my chance of having a surgeon saw my chest open for a bypass in the future...

And I wouldn't call the statement in the WebMD article from the American Heart Association being "unsure" about the status of coconut oil:

Not JUST 'pessimistic' - VERY pessimistic. Coconut oil has more saturated fat than butter and lard! No thanks.

And the companies selling the stuff aren't exactly known for telling the truth - here's a link to an FDA warning letter sent to one of the companies pushing coconut oil calling it a treatment for AIDS, herpes, Crohn's disease, and hypothyroidism...and another letter.

Additionally, here's a Q&A by Dr. Andrew Weil: Is Coconut Oil Good for You? in which he states:


Again...I'll pass.

I guess to be honest since I have been using it I have been eating healthier and really watching my fat intake so that I wouldn't be excessively eating it. There are many products that use coconut oil and people injest it all the time without thinking it. Many brands of hot coco use it even low fat. This is why I am trying it for six weeks to see what happens. I do feel more energetic and I feel so full in the morning after replacing it on my morning toast that I am not snacking. I don't know I think losing 10-20 pounds will help my heart too so I am going to see what happens. I will just see what happens. My friends have had great success and one friend just had her labs done and they were much better than before. I don't know I think the virgin is much better than regular. Who knows we will see.

Coconut Oil [m]
 

I have heard a lot about coconut oil and I was wondering if anybody has used it or had any results with it?? I have heard it is good for speeding up the metabolism and can be used for some cooking and as an anti-fungal ... It has many benefits..

Every website I've seen that promotes it happens to have a financial stake in the coconut oil business. Medical websites, such as the American Heart Association, still say avoid it.

Dr. Weil advises against it
http://www.drweil.com/u/QA/QA316479/

Here's a post I wrote not too long ago that may help :)

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...17&postcount=8

I just started it, so I'll let you know what happens to me!
I am taking it because I believe I have a slow thyroid. (My temp is always 96 & I'm depressed--waiting to see the doc on that) In the mean time, I heard it was a natural thyroid support, and wanted to see if it would help for that. I am one to eat butter, I don't believe in margarine, so I am replacing one sat. fat in my diet for another. We'll see what happens I guess.

There's a recent thread in General Diet plans that you can access at this link:

Anyone using Virgin Coconut Oil ??

You might also want to read the rest of the responses at the thread that Suzanne referred to - Coconut Oil Diet?

This topic comes up from time to time - keep in mind as I always say, the diet marketers are very wily and know EXACTLY what to say to get you to part with your money. (the ones that slay me are the ones I call "I know a guy..." aka "I heard from someone who read about a doctor somewhere in BFE that they were using coconut oil as a cure for (fill in the blank with whatever disease you want)" But then you check Pubmed and there's NOTHING! Nada! :shrug:

I emphatically agree with Suzanne - there is no proof of its veracity as a weight loss aid, it is HIGHER in saturated fat than lard or butter, and all the "pro" coconut oil sites on the Web are actually selling the stuff.

Keep in mind as well that most of the junk foods that made a lot of people fat/obese to begin with are LOADED with tropical oils, including coconut oils...(please don't start with the "but it's VIRGIN coconut oil" stuff...it's still 92% saturated and that is NOT good!)

I'll stick to olive oil, personally...

Before self-medicating based on something you 'heard' especially with the level of saturated fat (HIGHER than butter!) that coconut oil contains, you might want to consult with your endocrinologist or doctor first...especially if you or your family members have heart conditions.

Meanwhile, you might try using olive oil on your bread, like the Italians do...

If you have a thyroid problem you don't need hocus-pocus "thyroid support" -- you need hormones. You'd be better off spending the money you would have spent on coconut oil on the book Living Well with Hypothyroidism. Many doctors will do a basic screen and stop if that comes back normal, but this book explains why you might need a full thyroid panel, and how various conditions can be treated. It's very helpful in giving you the info you need to talk to your doctor.

Besides, if you are taking something that DOES affect your thyroid or other hormone function, then it will mask problems you have in your blood work. That's not what you want to have happen.

Thanks for your suggestions. I am just at my wits end feeling crappy and depressed. I have to wait about 3wks to see the doctor (long story) so I felt that trying something couldn't hurt. :?: Ahh well...I just wait I guess.

I'm sorry you haven't felt well :( Have you tried increasing your exercise, even by adding a 30 min daily walk? It has been proven to increase our metabolism, and it can also alleviate depression by increasing serotonin production.

Good luck :)

In the meanwhile, why not visit our Dieting with Obstacles forum, if you haven't already done so...lots of knowledge and support there ;)

Thank you for the support everyone....this is truly a special group of people :hug:

I'll search around the dieting with obstacles for a while and see if that helps!

Update
 

Hello this was a rough week. I had Aunt Flo. I will say this I didn't lose weight but I do feel good and better than I usually do during this week. I do like the coconut oil and even if I am not losing weight right know I am doing it more for health. I do think there is something to feeling better with this stuff. My mother is doing it too and she is perky and normally not this perky. Strange well hope everyone is doing good this week.

My MEDICAL DOCTOR (not a vegan, by the way, he's a regular, Board Certified, pharmaceutical-sponsored Doctor) suggests that I eat a serving of Extra-virgin coconut oil and a serving of actual coconut daily.

I LOVE the taste of it and as a vegan and someone who eats ZERO cholesterol and geys very little saturated fat in my diet, I feel good about my choice. My cholesterol is 126, my blood pressure is 117/72 and I am healthy in every way (just over fat by a bit at 27% body fat) and so I agree with my Doctor's reccomendation.

Keep in mind that, while coconut oil does have saturated fat it contains NO cholesterol!!! Also, look at the entire nutritional profile, the caprylic acid, lauric acid and all the fatty acids in this plant oil before discounting it as a "bad" oil.

Just because it doesn't contain cholesterol doesn't mean the saturated fat is any less harmful, according to not only the American Heart Association but also the Mayo Clinic, whose extremely informative website contains this page:

Cholesterol quiz: Is your diet hurting your heart?

Here's question & answer #2:

If you want to use coconut oil as a source of caprylic acid, you can purchase it as a supplement.

PDR Health also has an interesting page on MCT's (Medium-Chain Triglycerides) which include the highly-touted lauric acids found in coconut oil:

Coconut oil is high in sat fats and I think actually has natural trans fats as well, though not sure about that.

I use it though!! But not to eat. Melted with sweet almond oil, cocoa butter and a little beeswax it makes an excellent body butter!

cheerio,
Sue

Coconut oil (and most tropical oils in general) have high saturated fats--which in my books practically negates any benefit it may have. Yes, there are studies showing that tropical populations using coconut oils have less chance of heart disease--but those people do more physical labor throughout the day too.

I'd stick with Canola, Extra Virgin Olive, Enova, or Benecol for cooking.

I also have low thyroid and some weight to lose and I decided to try it. Not only did it not work for me but boy did I get awful stomach cramps and diarhea with it. I stopped after three weeks and it took about two months for everything to start working right. My advice: stay away!

Personally (my opinion), I think adding a bit more fat than currently recommended by most nutritionists to the diet in many cases IS beneficial to weight loss, depression, dry skin, appetite control and a host of other things, but coconut oil seems risky compared to peanut butter, flaxseed oil, canola oil, etc.; I do ingest saturated fat in the 2 percent milk I drink and in meat, so I wouldn't want to add anymore in the form of coconut oil. It kind of looks like something that'd be good to apply to one's face when sunburned. :)

Can you lose weight by not eating much at all ? I am on a new med and have not much interest in food.. I am just eating protien bar and small bites here and there but I am still trying to lose weight. will this be ok ? Thanks

It can be very serious to cut calories to the point that your body is not getting enough nutrition. You may lose weight but at some point, that will stop, your bod will go into "starvation mode" and hold on to every calorie in the belief that you are starving it.

Maybe the lack of appetite is temporary due to the meds? At any rate, this is something you need to talk to your doctor about asap, as you need to eat! :)