Today I'll talk about the many coconut oil benefits and which coconut oil is best, but first, here's the story behind why Kent takes a spoonful of coconut oil every morning…
(If you just want to know where to get it, here's where we get our virgin coconut oil and here's where we get our refined no-smell/no-taste coconut oil.)
Sadly, Alzheimers runs in his Dad's family. Ron passed away in 2012 and he was such a great husband, Dad and Grandpa. (Read more here: Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him, and here about Kent's family: Alzheimers Disease and Coconut Oil.) After his Dad was diagnosed years ago, Kent read this article, about a doctor who saw drastic improvements in her husband when he began taking coconut daily. He didn't even hesitate and started doing the same, hoping to prevent this dreaded disease. (See the very encouraging studies I link to below.)
That's also why he takes cod liver oil daily (for omega-3's and the anti-inflammatory effect), vitamin K2 (can help fight off dementia and boost brain health), and probiotics (to build up his overall immune system), along with the supplements that he takes since we got him off his blood pressure meds.
How Kent takes the spoonful of coconut oil:
He takes it off the spoon and just holds it in his mouth until it melts and then swallows. Sounds easy, but I can't do it. It took him a while to get used to it and to not gag. He's a very disciplined guy and never misses a day.
Personally, I prefer getting this healthy oil into my diet in other ways:
- My tasty popcorn recipe with coconut oil (with butter too of course) or try this Kettle corn recipe. Wanna be naughty with a few healthy ingredients thrown in? Check out this Better than Garretts caramel corn recipe.
- You can also get the benefits of coconut oil through your skin when applied topically. It works well to help heal cuts or painfully dry skin, and is great on my hands after a day of changing diapers (back in the day) when I was washing them a lot.
- It's a great personal lubricant too… 😉
- Again, if you just want to know where to get it, here's where we get our virgin coconut oil and here's where we get our refined no-smell/no-taste coconut oil.
As always, remember I'm not a doctor or anywhere close, use your own judgment when deciding what to take or try when it comes to your health!
Coconut Oil Benefits
Coconut oil is a healthy fat that can help to kick-start your metabolism, boost your energy, and even support your weight loss – it's very different from other fats because it turns into instant energy and isn't stored as fat. (Remember not all fats and calories are alike!) When it comes to healthy fats, coconut oil is a lot like butter, cod liver oil and olive oil because it has 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 so many other health issues are on the increase; whereas people have consumed coconut oil 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 that are metabolized differently and can actually help protect your heart. It can also improve insulin levels and helping regulate blood glucose.
Medium Chain Tricglycerides:
“The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil have been shown to increase calories burned over 24 hours.” (Source)
“While it’s true that most of the fats in virgin coconut oil are saturated, opinions are changing on whether saturated fats are the arterial villains they were made out to be. “I think we in the nutrition field are beginning to say that saturated fats are not so bad, and the evidence that said they were is not so strong.” Dr. Brenna said.” (Source)
“Coconut oil contains Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) – which are fatty acids of a medium length. Most of the fatty acids in the diet are long-chain fatty acids, but the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently. They go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source of energy or turned into so-called ketones, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.” (Source)
Lauric Acid:
“Pure coconut oil contains about 50 percent lauric acid, and is the most abundant natural source of lauric acid available. When lauric acid is present in the body, it is converted into monolaurin, a monoglyceride compound which exhibits antiviral, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties. Breast milk is the only other natural source that contains such a high concentration of lauric acid, which could explain the drastic decrease of infections of all types in breast-fed babies. Lauric acid also increases your metabolism and improves the condition of your skin and hair.” (Source)
More:
- Read Eat Fat, Lose Fat: The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats, for more information on the benefits of coconut oil, especially as it relates to weight loss, along with some recipes to help you find ways to get more into your diet.
- Studies showing that the fatty acids in coconut oil can increase blood levels of ketones, supplying energy for the brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients and relieving symptoms. (Source): here, here, here, and here. And here's a new study I found that just ended, so I can't wait for those results. (Also, increasing ketones has been shown to help those with seizures too!)
- A new look at Coconut Oil by Mary Enig with more on the benefits of coconut oil and lauric acid.
Which coconut oil is best and what do the words mean?
You've heard all the coconut oil terms and may be confused: raw, organic, unrefined, refined, deodorized, expeller pressed, virgin, etc. Here's a little rundown…
- Organic means that the coconuts are grown without chemicals.
- From what I can pull together, “extra virgin” and “virgin” are the same – there are no industry standards to gauge this with. They both have to do with how many times the coconut meal (or coconut “meat”) was pressed to get the oil out. Sometimes it's called “extra virgin”, “virgin, or “first pressed”. Another source said that “extra virgin” means the least amount of pressure (and therefore less heat) was used, and that “virgin” means more heat, more friction, but higher yields. I think that because coconut oil comes from other countries that also muddies things up – we can have certain U.S. standards, or standardized terms, but it may mean different things depending on the country it comes from.
- “Raw”, “unrefined”, or “refined” all have to do with how much heat is used to process the coconut oil. All coconut oils use some heat, because otherwise certain components won't be removed that give an off taste.
- “Expeller pressed” or “mechanical pressed” means no chemicals were used to remove the oil, but it was done “physically”, with a machine. The oil can be just expeller pressed, OR cold expeller pressed, which is tied in with the last point as far as the heat involved in processing. Often “expeller pressed” is also “refined” — see the next one… (Do you see why all this is so confusing?!)
- “Refined” – this is the kind of coconut oil you can use if you don't want a coconut taste or smell. It is still beneficial to us, but some say not quite as much so as the unrefined. (I use it for recipes that a coconut flavor won't “work” in.)
More on both kinds:
Read more here about refined coconut oil with no taste or smell.
- Here's where to get coconut oil with no taste or smell for recipes that a coconut flavor won't work well in.
Read more here about Virgin, unrefined coconut oil.
- Here's where to get virgin, unrefined coconut oil. (Use the code KOP to get 10% off).
Share in the comments what YOU love about coconut oil & how you take it?
More you might like:
- Wonder how to get more coconut oil into your diet and need ideas for new ways to use coconut oil?
- Read more here about Kent's family, Alzheimers Disease and Coconut Oil
- Just can't eat liver?
- How to Add More SUPER to Your Superfood Smoothies
- Is My Probiotic Really Helping or am I Wasting Money? 5 Ways to Know For Sure
- Read about how coconut oil is protective against the Swine Flu
- Mary, the doctor mentioned above, wrote this book about their story: What if there was a cure?
- Here's a neat story: How coconut oil gave me back my brain:
Andrea Perry Calkins says
I stir mine into warm water – can’t take it off the spoon. But my kids are allowed to spoon out of it anytime anyday!
Danielle Levins says
I might have missed it in the article, but about how much does he eat from a spoon on a given day?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
@Danielle — literally a spoonful, a tablespoon. 🙂
Danielle Levins says
Kelly the Kitchen Kop That’s what I would have guessed, love the simple things that don’t require lots of fuss! Thank you!
Megan Christian Cowan says
I’ve never heard of it fixing arrhythmia, that’s pretty cool! Mine goes away when I remember to take my magnesium.
Jill-David Boman says
I have SVT (supra-ventricular tachycardia) and started taking a spoonful of coconut oil before running several months ago. It’s made a huge difference in the frequency of episodes (which happen most often during exercise for me).
Janet Talmadge says
Heart arrhythmia is best addressed by looking at magnesium status. Ask the doctor for RBC magnesium blood test, or order it for yourself from an online ordering lab like Request-a-test.com. RBC magnesium should optimally be 6.0 to 7.0. Eighty percent of people in the U.S. are deficient in magnesium.
Kelly Garrard Smith says
Our little dog LOVES his daily dose too! He asks for it every night. 🙂
Brandi Bruner says
Drink it in coffee, everyday!
Cindy Reinking Fetting says
Anyone have info about coconut oil consumption after gall bladder removal?
Arnon Jaya says
alzeimer could be caused by calcification in brain
source :
‘Symptoms of this disease include deterioration of motor functions and speech, seizures, and other involuntary movement. Other symptoms are headaches, dementia, and vision impairment. Characteristics of Parkinson’s Disease are also similar to Fahr’s Syndrome.[3]’
in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahr's_syndrome#Signs_and_symptoms
from google (calcified brain) result 7
Rachel Blauwkamp says
It’s so good for everything! We do oil pulling for our teeth, and my hubby reversed a couple cavities!
Ed DeSoto says
Have you heard of (ANH) Organic Virgin Coconut oil that takes a month to make?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Ed, ANH is another name for cold-pressed, right?
Kelly
The Intelligent Omnivore says
I do agree coconut oil has many health promoting properties, but some caution should be heeded. If you trying to lose weight, even if your ultra low carb, coconut oil does not burn quite the same as fat in the body. Take it easy with coconut oil if you have any fat to lose.
Teena says
I just started dissolving 2 tbls coconut oil in warm water and drinking it each morning. It has only been three days but I don’t feel hungry around 9 am like I usually do. I HATE the taste of coconut so I might buy some of the capsules. Great post!
KitchenKop says
Morning Teena!
Yes, I’ve heard that from a lot of people, that it can curb hunger. Some drink it in their coffee?
Kel
The Intelligent Omnivore says
Oil and butter do not mix at all with coffee. If you have no issues with dairy, full fat whipping cream really is the way to go, with no sweetener of course. It is vastly different at a molecular level than milk or half and half.
Genet Harris says
Wow!
More power to him!
Me? I much prefer to take my coconut oil in the form of chocolate fudge, faux Reeces cups, chocolate sauce or truffles or “no bake” cookies or other instruments of extreme torture !
KitchenKop says
LOL, yes, me too Genet! 🙂
Jill B says
It’s been a very gradual process!
Jill B says
This post is such interesting timing! I have an arrhythmia called SVT (supraventricular tachycardia)–anywhere from twice a week to once every two months I have an episode of an extremely fast, inefficient heart rate. I’ve had it all my life and have gotten better and better at converting it back to a normal rhythm when it happens, but it can be really inconvenient, especially since I’ve taken up running over the past year. Well, I’ve been doing an experiment for about 6 weeks now, that consists of 3 parts. First, I take a spoonful of coconut oil before each of my runs. That was my husband’s idea because of how our heart uses fatty acids as its primary fuel source and the fatty acids in coconut oil are so quickly absorbed and efficiently utilized by the body. I was doing that for about 2 weeks before adding the other parts of my experiment and already noticed my heart felt much more “solid” during my runs. I next added a couple amino acids (taurine and arginine, based in part from recommendations in Dr. Jack Wolfson’s book, The Paleo Cardiologist. Taurine down-regulates the sympathetic nervous system and has an overall relaxing effect and arginine is a pre-cursor to nitric oxide, which is a vasodilator. I haven’t had a single episode since doing this and over the past 6 weeks I’ve run my longest trail runs so far (2-8 mile runs and 2-5 mile runs, plus my normal 2-3 mile routes)!
KitchenKop says
Wow Jill, that is crazy but so cool! I didn’t know you were running so much, how you can do 8 miles is waaaaay beyond me! I stopped running years ago because I started having joint issues. My body is happier if I just do long walks with some short bursts of running here and there. 🙂
Kel
Leigh says
Thank you. I got it to work. I had copied and pasted it initially and that was the problem. I had to manually type it in for it to work. 🙂 Good to know.
Leigh says
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for all the great info. The Perfect Supplements coupon code doesn’t seem to be working for me. It should be for anything on their site, correct? I’m trying to buy butter oil capsules. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Leigh
KitchenKop says
Hi Leigh,
Yep, should work for anything. KOP2017 with no spaces.
I’ll try too and report back.
Kelly
KitchenKop says
Okay, yep it worked again for me just fine. Maybe try a different browser Leigh? For example if you’re using Firefox, try Safari or Chrome?
Kelly
Leo Tat says
Hi Kelly,
Has Kent noticed any benefits after taking 1 tablespoon of coconut oil?
My father (who has passed away) had rapid deterioration from dementia. I found out about coconut oil’s benefits on slowing or stopping dementia/alzheimer’s, but I was not able to administer it for him because I lived far away. I told my sister about it who lived closed by but he complained about the taste.
I take 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil everyday in the morning with my lattee. I can’t stand swallowing it by itself. I use it mostly for ketogenic reasons.
KitchenKop says
Hi Leo,
I just asked him and he said that since he started take coconut oil and the cod liver oil, his skin doesn’t dry out every winter like it used to. Other than that, he’s pretty healthy anyway, so didn’t notice anything else. Hopefully it’s working to protect his brain in ways we can’t see!
Kelly
Jeanne says
Hi, Perfect Supplements also has coconut oil in capsule form if that would make it easier for you Leo!