[JerseyPAGirl]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to know who uses coconut oil? I bought the organic, virgin and unrefined (cold pressed). I use 1 Tbsp. per day in my soup, which is now my lunch along with some almonds (I was doing a protein shake, but the soup with the coconut oil is MUCH more satiating!).

I've read all the amazing benefits of this oil, including dropping bad cholesterol and increasing the good.

Anyone use it? How much per day? What are your benefits?

[Swenea]

OMG...First of all welcome to the road to fat burning. Coconut oil is "the" fat-burning fat and it has been a staple in my household for over 7 years.

I'm glad you bought the best kind (IMHO): cold pressed, virgin and unrefined. The less processing the better. You are already discovering it's benefits. Fat, especially the good fats, are extremely nourishing and satiating.

Now here's a few things I use with that good fat:

- Pre-shampoo treatment for hair---softer and shinier
- Body moisturizer for hotter/humid months
- Antifungal properties--mix it with tea tree oil as an ointment
- Light spf/sunscreen (only for certain skin tones, works better on darker skin)

I use it like butter to saute my food or put it in my morning "Superchick Tea". Keeps my full of energy, no hunger pains...ever.

Popcorn popped on the stove top with coconut oil...you'll never eat microwaved again.

For desserts: Excellent healthy chocolate fudge or homemade "Magic shell" for ice cream, also good for cookies and pie crusts.

It's amazing!

(Could you tell I'm a little excited about it?...)

[Sundove]

Swenea What is a 'Magic shell'? It sounds really good

I love coconut oil, can eat it right off the spoon! if I eat too much, I don't lose weight, like any other fat, but that's just me

A pal used it as a mouthwash and she said it kept her teeth healthy--she claimed it drew out and trapped mouth bacteria that decay teeth. She took a small bit in her mouth and swished it around for as long as she could stand, then swallowed it.

Here's some interesting info I found from Wikipedia re unrefined virgin Coconut oil vs extra virgin Olive Oil:

Unrefined coconut oil is more suitable for cooking because it has a higher smoke point than extra virgin olive oil. COCO oil: ~350 F EVOO ~320 F

"The smoke point of an oil or fat is the temperature at which, under defined conditions, enough volatile compounds emerge when a bluish smoke becomes clearly visible from the oil. At this temperature, volatile compounds, such as free fatty acids, and short-chain degradation products of oxidation come up from the oil. These volatile compounds degrade in air to give soot. The smoke point indicates the temperature limit up to which that cooking oil can be used."

[Swenea]

Originally Posted by Sundove

Swenea What is a 'Magic shell'? It sounds really good

"Magic shell" is that chocolate topping you put on top of ice cream that turns hard shell coating when you put it back in the freezer for a few seconds. YUM!

Originally Posted by Sundove

Swenea A pal used it as a mouthwash and she said it kept her teeth healthy--she claimed it drew out and trapped mouth bacteria that decay teeth. She took a small bit in her mouth and swished it around for as long as she could stand, then swallowed it.

That technique is called oil pulling. I tried it and found it tedious, so I went back to just brushing my teeth. Also, I'm pretty sure you're supposed to spit the oil out. Why bother pulling toxins out if you're just going to swallow them?

[Sundove]

Thanks Swenea. Yum!!!

Re oil pulling, the idea behind swallowing, according to my friend, is that the stomach acid should take care of the bacteria. And the good fats in the oil can be digested.