Virgin Coconut Oil

[RCA]

I've been reading great things about Virgin Coconut Oil. Has anyone had good experiences with it before?

[cradle2graveconservative]

Is there a particular purpose you had in mind for the oil?

I've only ever heard of it acting as a source of fats in situations where it isn't otherwise available.

That being said, I've eaten foods fried in coconut oil and they are quite delicious so if that's your goal, by all means, go nuts (pun intended, even though I'm pretty sure they're not nuts.)

[Zippyjuan]

How do you know if a coconut is a virgin?

Coconut oil is a saturated fat- similar to the ones in regular butter- which you are supposed to consume in moderation I thought.
From Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil

A study into the effects of a "diet rich in.." medium-chain fatty acids (such as in coconut oil and butter), concluded that "MCFAs in the form of MCTs significantly increased plasma triacylglycerol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations and the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol and thereby resulted in a less beneficial lipid profile overall."[9]

Further, research done by nutritionist Mary Enig has found that non-hydrogenated coconut oil (ie. extra-virgin) consumed in moderate amounts "is at worst neutral with respect to atherogenicity of fats and oils and, in fact, is likely to be a beneficial oil for prevention and treatment of some heart disease."[10]

HDL is the "good" form of cholesterol.

http://www.healthcastle.com/coconut-...ed-heart.shtml

Saturated Fat in Coconut Oil is bad for your heart
Written by Gloria Tsang, RD
Published in August 2006

Study showed saturated fat in coconut oil impaired anti-inflammatory ability of HDL cholesterol
Researchers from the Heart Research Institute in Australia studied the body response from eating meals containing good fats versus bad fats. Participants were fed with meals prepared with either coconut oil (high in "bad" saturated fats) or safflower oil (high in "good" polyunsaturated fats). After only 3 hours, researchers found the participants fed with the coconut meal high in saturated fat had a significantly reduced blood flow due to arteries' reduced ability to expand. After 6 hours, researchers found that the good high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol's anti-inflammatory properties had decreased after the saturated coconut meal, but improved after the polyunsaturated safflower meal. The results of this study were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in August 2006.

Editor's Note - Saturated Fat is bad, regardless of source.
This study once again shows how good fats may improve body functions while bad fats hamper our health. Despite its extreme high level of saturated fat, coconut oil supporters have been promoting coconut oil as a health food. They claimed that coconut oil can cause weight loss, lower blood cholesterol, and is a germ fighter. It is true the structure of some of the saturated fats in coconut oil is different from other saturated fats, but it is scientifically farfetched to claim it as health food to be eaten every day. Like any other foods, moderation is the key.

Saturated fats are mainly found in animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and seafood. Some plant foods are also high in saturated fats such as coconut, palm oil and palm kernel oil. Although this study is small, it showed that just one "bad" meal can do damage.

[squarepusher]

lol. I've been using coconut oil for about 6 years, and i swear by it. looks like some people in ths forum have been caught up in a bit of medical pseudo science


heres a read for anyone skeptical

http://www.amazon.com/Saturated-Fat-.../dp/0941599493

[cradle2graveconservative]

Originally Posted by squarepusher

looks like some people in ths forum have been caught up in a bit of medical pseudo science


heres a read for anyone skeptical

http://www.amazon.com/Saturated-Fat-.../dp/0941599493

Oh the irony...

HDL and LDL are NOT types of cholesterol; they are cholesterol transporters.

A la Wikipedia "Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are fatty acids with aliphatic tails of 6–12 [13] carbons, which can form medium-chain triglycerides."

I suppose it's not unusual then that their ingestion isn't necessarily beneficial. The human body [read: fatty acid sythase] is quite capable of making fatty acids up to 16 carbons long. With that in mind, it really isn't necessary to consume MCFA over SCFA but I don't quite understand why the body couldn't simply use MCFA has a step up in terms of elongation.

That being the case, I'd say stick with extra virgin olive oil as far as health benefits go.

[axiomata]

What you and your virgin coconut oil do in the privacy of your bedroom is none of my business.

[Kotin]

I use it.. my skin is much healthier, so is my hair.


its great stuff.

[dannno]

It's great for making desserts...especially ones with herbs in them.

[Zippyjuan]

Originally Posted by squarepusher

lol. I've been using coconut oil for about 6 years, and i swear by it. looks like some people in ths forum have been caught up in a bit of medical pseudo science


heres a read for anyone skeptical

http://www.amazon.com/Saturated-Fat-.../dp/0941599493

SO if I eat ice cream every day instead of salads with olive oil dressing on them will live longer and be healthier? "Saturated Fats May Save Your Life"? True you do need to consume some fats to survive but they should not be a dominant portion of your diet. Moderation is the key.

[dannno]

Originally Posted by Zippyjuan

SO if I eat ice cream every day instead of salads with olive oil dressing on them will live longer and be healthier? "Saturated Fats May Save Your Life"? True you do need to consume some fats to survive but they should not be a dominant portion of your diet. Moderation is the key.

Ya know, I'd actually agree with that guy if he replaced "vegetable oil" with "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil"