unrefined coconut oil

[suz]

Do any of you cook with unrefined coconut oil or have you taken it as a supplement?  I was reading an article this morning saying how it as used in a blind test and those that got the unrefined coconut oil lost belly fat.  

I bought some just can't figure out how to take it as the article suggested.  

suz

[suz]

Inga,

Exactly about the thyroid meds.  I tried to discuss this with my doctor but she couldn't thnk outside the box.  I have been uppping my meds just a little the last couple of days and feel soooooo much better!! i know it is a little dangerous, but I know me and know what normal feels for me.  

Oh the websites you posted are good.  

thanks,

suz

[Inga]

My mom spoke to Dr Atkins years ago and he said some hypothyroid women just can't do low carb. I am one. If I go below 60% or so I am freezing, start losing hair and gaining weight. He said to try high carb, no sugar, low fat and he was correct. 

glad you liked the websites. Low carb friends is really super. 

[Sue57]

Coconut oil has many good reasons to use. I use it instead of veggie oil. Also I use it as a moisturizer for my face and at night run it through my hair. It is amazing.

[Sue57]

Coconut oil has many good reasons to use. I use it instead of veggie oil. Also I use it as a moisturizer for my face and at night run it through my hair. It is amazing.

[LCHFmom]

I hear its good for the skin, but I have not used it yet... 

One of my friends put it in her hair before going to work...( it was January) and by the time she walked into the office - it all hardened .. white chunks everywhere... 

[curious44]

There is many health benefits in Virgin coconut oil. My husband uses it on everything. He cooks with it but also anything he would put butter on he will use virgin coconut instead.  I dont mind it cooked in somethings but I can taste the coconut flavor in most things Ive cooked with it.  My mother in law adds it to her protien shake. 

[BritMGR]

I cook with it ALL the time!   I use it as a substitute for butter.  If I'm baking, I try to do 2/3 coconut oil and 1/3 butter or half and half depending on the recipe.  For sauteeing, frying, etc, I use coconut oil almost exclusively.  Also for baking chicken, tenderloin, etc.  

I also try to eat a spoonful of it at the solid or near-solid state first thing in the morning (but don't forget to add it in to your calories!) and again before dinner or before bed.  

I've noticed my skin and hair improving and I've dropped a significant amount of body fat.  I won't say this is exclusively from the unrefined, organic, coconut oil . . . but I do think that it has helped quite a bit!   I hope you try it and that it works for you.   Please just give it some time.  I've told friends about this and they stopped using it after a week or so because they didn't see any results.  As with everything else, results take time.

[KSS2]

Coconut oil has a very high smoke point so is great for frying/cooking with - better than olive oil because of the smoke point.

Other than cooking, I have also used it in smoothies/green smoothies too. Just melt it then add a tablespoon and whizz. You can pick the coconut flavour but not the oiliness.

Personally I can't imagine what it would be like in coffee! But if you don't like it don't do it.......

[tahari01]

I hope you're still on these boards. I'm wondering how your cholesterol/triglyceride levels are?  I'm really curious to know because I want to start using coconut oil, but afraid it'll screw with my levels.

[KJScarp]

I'm not sure who you are addressing your request to tahari, but I'll weigh in.  But first I need to point out that your dietary cholesterol has very little bearing on the cholesterol levels in your blood.  If you cut back on dietary cholesterol, your liver produces more cholesterol to keep the levels up.  Vice versa, the more cholesterol you eat, the less your liver makes.  The body is just trying to maintain homeostasis.

Also, total cholesterol numbers are largely meaningless.  Cholesterol ratios, the triglyceride number, and the particle size LDL you have (large, light, fluffly v. small, dense) are the important numbers.  This is a great site for calculating your cholestrol ratios:  http://www.hughcalc.org/chol2013.php

That being said, between 2010 (when I started eating a high fat low carb diet) and 2013 (the last time I had my numbers checked), my numbers went as follows:

Total:  237 to 230

Tri:  130 to 78

LDL:  159 to 141

HDL:  61 to 73

Using the ratio calculator I linked to above, my ratios went from good, good, normal to ideal, ideal, ideal.  Given the ideal ratios, I don't feel any need to have further testing to determine the type of LDLs - the low trigs and the high HDL are consistent with the large, fluffy, benign particles.

Did you see the Time magazine article in the 6/23/14 issue?  The cover story is all about how the recommendations to lower saturated fat and cholesterol were all wrong, and that a high saturated fat intake *IN THE ABSENCE OF CARBOHYDRATE* does not lead to cardiovascular disease.  The problem was that when people cut back on saturated fats in their diet, they increased their carbohydrate intake, and the high carbohydrate intake is what actually has lead to cardiovascular disease.

[KJScarp]

I just watched the documentary "Cereal Killers", which is available to view for free until 7/4/14.  I highly recommend watching the documentary, as it explains, very well, what I was trying to get across in my message of earlier today.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/06/28/cereal-killers-movie.aspx

[Sue57]

I am not sure what post this was from, but I have for the most part taken myself off because I was getting too many emails! However, I still do use the cocunut oil but not alot. I use Olive Oil and Sesame Seed as well. I use the coconut oil mostly however for my skin! Its great! I have not had any change in my health. Hope this helps.

[rebecca_27]

I have a friend that makes what he calls "breakfast cookies" out of Quaker oatmeal cereal and coconut oil. He puts about 3 tbs. in a cupcake tin, then adds just a bit of the oatmeal, and sticks it in the freezer to firm up. He says he's been eating one for breakfast for the past few months, and has lost 22 lbs., while not changing his exercise habits or other eating habits! My family is big on coconut oil, so I'll list a few more benefits:
-Natural energy supplement
-Good natural conditioner/moisturizer/sun tan lotion
-Oil pulling- put a 1 tbl. In your mouth and swish it around for 10-20 minutes. It will clean out bacteria in hard to reach places, while whitening your teeth! Just don't swallow it, because it can be harmful to your stomach after the bacteria from your mouth gets mixed in.
-As people have mentioned above, it's (most likely) the best oil to cook your food in.
Honestly, it's good for the inside and outsides of your body! Just make sure it's unrefined! 🙂

[cdbeiser]

Suz,

I am not a doctor, but also suffer from hypothyroidism.  I recently had to find a new doc.  I decided to go with an osteopath.  I found out that the numbers for hypothyroid are a little misleading.. the smaller the number, the lower your thyroid hormone is... While I thought my thyroid was "fine" based on my previous md's testing and  high numbers, in reality, the new doc wanted to change and up my meds.  I also went to a natural thyroid med instead of the synthetic.  It has made all the difference in the world.  I would hope an endocrinologist would know about the numbers, but you might get another opinion or discuss what thyroid med you are taking with them.  (just a suggestion 🙂 ) you may find it helps with the weight loss.  Mine had stalled to almost nothing after only loosing like 10 lbs, but after the new meds, I lost another 30.

Hope that helps 

[move2lose]

I love Coconut Oil in my coffee.  I have not yet tried to cook with it.  Does it burn fast?

[KSS2]

The good thing about cooking with coconut oil is that it has a high smoke point. That means it doesn't burn a quickly as say butter or even olive oil. But it will burn if you leave it too long like everything.

[Yolalove]

I use coconut oil since a long time .I use only coconut oil, olive oil, ghee and butter  for everything. Do you know Bruce Fife books? I think it s the one know most  coconut oil for health I have almost all his books they are very interessting and has cookbook too.

[AndDoraMakes2]

Ive just started out cooking with coconut oil both in stir fry and pan fry, as well as an oil or shortening substutute in baking. Adapted a zuchini bread recipe using it and stevia with honey and almonds which took on a slight and great coconut flavour!