Organic Coconut Health Benefits - Dieting, Lice, Eczema & More!

February 5, 2008 · 26 comments

Click here for the BEST PRICES on good brands of organic virgin coconut oil updated 12/18/08.

Or keep reading for more info…

“COCONUT OIL IS THE HEALTHIEST OIL ON EARTH”

Coconut oil is a healthy fat that kick-starts your metabolism and helps you lose weight - it is very different from other fats because it turns into instant energy and isn’t stored in fat cells. (Remember not all fats and calories are alike!) It is a lot like butter, cod liver oil and olive oil when you’re thinking of traditional fats and oils that have been used for thousands of years. Compare them to newer fats and oils like margarine, soy, canola, safflower, corn, sunflower and any of the others that you’ve only heard of in the past few decades, and think of how heart disease, diabetes and other issues are on the increase; whereas the health and nutritional benefits that can be derived from consuming coconut oil have been recognized in many parts of the world for centuries. You may not have heard what a healthy fat coconut oil is due to it’s high saturated fat content, but coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids and does not have a negative effect on cholesterol, it actually helps protect against heart disease. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which is known for being anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal.

photo by Koshyk

Here’s just a short list of conditions that are helped by using coconut oil:

Thyroid issues, heart health, skin health, weight loss, candida/yeast problems, digestive health, chronic fatigue, diabetes, viruses, getting rid of lice, building up the immune system, and the list goes on…

This post would go on forever if I tried to cover each topic at length, so here’s what I suggest: Google it! Whatever your issue is, type that in along with “coconut oil” and you’ll find all sorts of research and help. (If you need my help, leave a comment below.)

HOW TO GET MORE COCONUT INTO YOUR DIET

If you’re like me and don’t like the flavor of coconut (unless it’s in smoothies or in my popcorn), it’s trickier getting it into your diet, but usually you can find some recipes you like it in. Just Google “coconut recipes” and you’ll find a ton. If you find one you like, PLEASE leave a comment below and share it with us!

Also, if I’m making a recipe that I know I don’t want the flavor of coconut in, then I’ll use the unflavored, but that’s refined. From what I’ve been able to figure out, this coconut oil is no where near as beneficial as the unrefined virgin coconut oil that I’m talking about in this post, but it’s still better than none at all. See this post for info on where to get that at the best price.

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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

1

Kelly 02.20.08 at 4:42 pm

I wanted to let you know that I tried using the virgin coconut oil for half of the oil called for in an organic cake mix today and it was great! Remember, I don’t normally like the taste in recipes, but this was subtle and really good. For the rest of the oil I used some butter and some of the no-taste coconut oil. I melted it all first, then continued with the recipe. Much healthier than using canola, safflower or another unhealthy oil.

2

Lynn 02.26.08 at 9:22 am

Hello,

I use coconut oil to fry potatoes - either in the oven or on the stove and also to make popcorn in my Westbend StirCrazy popper. My friend who is a chef/owner at a lodge here in the Adirondack Mountains feeds her kids shoestring potatoes fried in coconut oil. They LOVE them, and she says that it cuts way down on their cravings for foods fried in junky fats when they go out. I’d surmise that this is because their little bodies are so starved for good, usable fatty acids even though she provides plentiful WAP food selections for them at home.

Lynn

3

Jessica 03.18.08 at 6:48 am

Our favorite way to take coconut oil is through coconut bark. I just posted the recipe on my blog, but basically it is coconut oil, butter, a little peanut butter, vanilla and stevia all mixed together, frozen, then cut into squares.

Yum!

Jessica
http://www.practicalnourishment.com

4

Kelly 03.18.08 at 7:41 am

Hi Jessica,

I was just at your site the other day, it looks great (I’m going to try the recipe!) and thanks for the link. :)

Kelly

5

Chantal 03.26.08 at 9:17 am

Coconut oil is very common in my Country Suriname.We use it to cook,
as a medicine against fever for babies ,and even to clean certain metals on furniture.
To soften the strong coconut taste in food we heat up the oil until it smoking hot,then let it cool down again.Some foods like our famous”moks-alesi” need the strong taste of coconut oil to make it perfect.Suriname has a district called Coroni where coconut is something like the official fruit!

6

Kelly 03.26.08 at 3:48 pm

Hello Chantel,

I just saw the pics of your baby at your blog - she’s precious! Thank you for commenting, I’ll bet we could all learn a lot from you! I subscribed to your site via RSS and look forward to reading more. :)

Kelly p.s. Did you see the post I did on caring for your baby?

7

Holly 07.22.08 at 6:05 pm

I heated a pan and put a couple of spoonfuls (1/4 C?) of coconut oil in the pan. I put 8 boneless skinless chicken breasts in the pan. I used up the last of some dried Italian seasoning then threw in some fresh herbs from my window sill (basil, thyme and rosemary) I splashed a little hot sauce on each one and sprinkled with sea salt. I covered the pan with a tight fitting lid and then let them cook until done, I think it was about 30 minutes. I planned to turn them and get them brown, but they looked so happy just simmering in the juice that I let them be. They were kind of white, but when everyone tasted them they quit questioning it.

8

Kathleen 08.31.08 at 10:36 am

The claim:

“Here’s just a short list of conditions that are helped by using coconut oil:” [one listed is diabetes]

I’m very interested in knowing how diabetes is helped by using coconut oil. I’ve been insulin-dependent since 1978, and fats are on the “lesser” list for consumption, considering their contribution to higher levels of bad lipids (as well as too much starch, or carbohydrates). How does it actually improve a diabetic’s condition?

9

Kelly the Kitchen Kop 09.02.08 at 1:25 am

Hi Kathleen,

Here are some testimonies: http://www.coconutoil.com/diabetes.htm, but if you do a Google search with the words “coconut oil diabetes”, you’ll find much more.

Don’t take my word for it, do some research and see what you find. :)

Be sure to let us know how it helps you!

Kelly

10

Anonymous 10.05.08 at 7:01 am

Been using coconut oil for 2 months now. I have been suffering from fungal infections and weight gain. Although I have more energy, I have been gaining weight instead of losing and still have the fungal infection. Any ideas?
Anne G
Chicago

11

Kelly the Kitchen Kop 10.05.08 at 5:04 pm

Hi Anne,

I’m not a doctor, so don’t take my suggestions as your only source of information, just use it as a beginning of your research. I have 3 suggestions:

1. Read my post under the label (over to to the right in the blue section) “ringworm/fungal infections” - something in there might help. Especially note the part about needing to heal your immune system with probiotics before you can totally heal a fungal infection.

2. For weight gain, you probably need to watch the carbs - look under the label “dieting/weight loss” for help with that.

3. Lastly, you may want to find a good local natural doctor/naturopath to guide you with all this.

I’ll say a prayer that you are led to the answers that help you get completely healthy. :)

Kelly

12

Kelly the Kitchen Kop 12.16.08 at 12:29 pm

Lisa at another post was asking about acne remedies and I have another idea for you, Lisa:

Thankfully, our teenager doesn’t have acne too bad (unless he’s eating a lot of refined carbs), but when he does have an outbreak, I have him alternate with applying these two with a cottonball before bed: virgin coconut oil one night, then colloidal silver the next night, and that clears it up.

13

Freddo 01.20.09 at 4:48 am

Hi there Kelly,
Great blog! This is my family’s most absolute favourite way to get our daily coconut oil fix (plus all those extra healthy antioxidants) - CHOCOLATE!:

1/2 cup of Raw Organic Cacao Powder
1/4 cup of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
Maple Syrup to taste (I usually use 1/8 - 1/4 cup)

Melt Coconut Oil over a a very low heat then remove. Gradually add Raw Cacao Powder, Vanilla Essence, and then Maple Syrup to your desired sweetness. Stir together until well mixed and smooth (and your mouth starts watering looking at all that yummy healthy melted chocolate!). Pour into molds (we usually use small ice cube trays), then place in freezer for approx 30-40 mins. Bang them out and and enjoy!

14

Kelly 01.20.09 at 6:30 am

Freddo,
As you may have guessed, I love this idea! What’s “vanilla essence” though? Just vanilla extract?
Thanks!
Kelly

15

Freddo 01.20.09 at 11:04 pm

Hi Kelly,

Sorry - I’m from “Downunder”….”vanilla essence” is probably what you know as vanilla extract. Here we can get either imitation vanilla (which is obviously artificial flavour, in an alcohol base) or something more real which is the actual vanilla bean extract in a thicker syrup-type form (not sweetened).

One thing to know though, the chocolate ends up a bit like a truffle - it does not have the hardness of commercially made chocolate. This is because of the melting point of the coconut oil (just over standard room temp) and the lack of processing.

Cheers
Freddo

16

Kelly 01.20.09 at 11:38 pm

Thanks Freddo, and by the way, a truffle would work for me just fine!

17

Stacey 01.27.09 at 4:52 pm

I have these bumps on my legs that best I can tell are from wearing stretch jeans. If I go a few days wearing dress pants they tend to go away. They aren’t like pimples. Anyway I discovered last summer that if I put coconut oil on them after my shower, my legs stay smooth and bump free. It is also the best eye makeup remover ever.

18

Kelly 01.27.09 at 6:43 pm

Stacey, I love hearing more ways to use coconut oil! Thanks! :)

19

Leah 02.07.09 at 3:11 am

Please elaborate about coconut and getting rid of lice. Thank you.

20

Kelly 02.07.09 at 9:11 am

Hi Leah, I started to respond to you, but it got long, so I I’m going to do a post on it soon! I’ll shoot for this week so I don’t make you wait. In the meantime you could google it.

Thanks, Kelly

21

sheri lasater 02.18.09 at 9:26 am

Mom,

You had asked me why I use coconut oil and I couldn’t remember why, I just knew it was good for us.

This is the lady (Kelly) who told me so. There is a wealth of information on nutrition on her site! I get her emails every day and love her writing style (short and easy). I think you’ll like it too.

I love you,

Annie

22

Annie Lasater 02.18.09 at 9:37 am

How embaressing…I thought I was sending this to my Mom! (the last comment) It’s a good thing I didn’t write anything too personal.:) I couldn’t figure out how to delete the comment so I figured I should explain why it’s on here. I’m sure whoever has seen it was a bit confused. LOL.

Annie Lasater

23

Kelly 02.18.09 at 11:26 pm

Annie, this is SO cute! Thank you so much for telling others about my blog!! :)

If it were something bad, I’d delete it for you in a jiffy, but this is fun!

24

Katie 03.01.09 at 4:14 pm

I have been experimenting with coconut oil in some of my standby recipes that used to call for (gasp!) shortening, and have had great results.

Check my blog at http://www.kitchenstewardship.wordpress.com for links on the Recipes tab to Whole Grain Cornbread, Homemade Biscuits and Homemade Tortillas. You can use either refined or unrefined coconut oil in any of them, and truly — the coconut taste doesn’t come through one bit. Here is my new FAVORITE pancake recipe that calls for coconut oil as well: http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2008/11/basic-whole-grain-pancakes-soaked.html. I don’t buy coconut milk, so I just subbed regular milk (assuming the vinegar would make the soaking acidic enough to be safe on the counter overnight) or a combination of buttermilk and yogurt. Seriously yummy, and they reheat great.

Katie’s last blog post..Food for Thought: America’s Food Waste

25

Keeley Blackstock 03.10.09 at 3:08 pm

Hi - I was wondering in regards to head lice and coconut shampoo. Would I need Coconut Oil Shampoo or Coconut Milk Shampoo? Thanks

26

Kelly 03.10.09 at 10:46 pm

Hi Keeley,
I’d go with the coc. oil shampoo, but I’m not sure if it matters…?

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