Coconut oil is enjoying its time in the spotlight these days as both a superfood in the kitchen and a miracle worker for countless cosmetic and personal uses.
From a more exotic take on vegetable stir fry to excellent waterproof makeup remover (trust us on this one!) coconut oil is showing up in some very unexpected places. If you’re a fan of the tropical scent and flavor, coconut oil can definitely take over your life but why has coconut oil always had such a bad reputation? Coconut oil is 90% saturated fat which has always been classified as one of the two “bad” fats traditional doctors tell us to stay away from. The debate on saturated fat in general is still actually not resolved but it is worth noting that coconut oil *seems* to be an exception.
For example, for thousands of years in warm-weathered climates where the plant naturally grows, coconut has been a major diet staple and important source of fat for many native cultures. In comparing these cultures to the United States, however, there is significantly less heart disease and obesity among the coconut-eating population which, as high consumers of saturated fat in coconuts, would be thought to cause the opposite effect.
One explanation for this is that coconut oil’s sat-fat may be different or at least react differently in the body as opposed to other saturated fats which come from animal products such as meat and cheese. Coconut oil’s saturated fat is predominantly made of medium chain fatty acids which are different than the shorter chain saturated fats found in things like dairy. The structure of the medium-chain sat-fat also allows the body to utilize its energy quickly. For this reason, many endurance athletes use coconut oil to deliver a quickly accessed, sustaining energy.
Coconut oil also boasts being antibacterial and antifungal properties which may help ward away food pathogens and infections such as yeast infections. In our homes, coconut oil is used as body lotion, sun screen, leave in conditioner, hair defrizzer, and face mask as well as having a permanent place in our pantries for baking, sautéing, and adding to smoothies. If you decide to try this multifaceted oil be sure to buy only the organic and virgin variety of coconut oil to reap its many benefits!
Now that we have showered you with so much goodness…
