Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

[LuckyD]

I have been seeing some dialogue on coconut oil recently as a health supplement and a weight loss aid. I was wondering if anyone in here has tried it. It sounds intriguing however I am skeptical. The arguments for using it seems sound. But I would rather here from you guys in here what you know or think about it.
Thanks, Diana

[not2late]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

If you like the taste, use it, just make sure it's not the hydrogenated coconut oil---because that's like eating artery clogging trans fats.

Personally, I don't believe in "miracle foods". I think eating a wide variety of foods is the best for our general health and our weight issues.

[sadie147]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

From what I know non-hydrogonated coconut oil (solid at room temp) is fine and a 'good' fat, hydrogenated coconut oil (liquid at room temp) is a trans fat.

so it would be fine to cook with the non hydroganted oil if you like, however I personally don't believe the weight loss claims. I think cooking with any fat/oil will be no different.

I have cooked with it and find it tasteless (i was actually hoping for a bit of a coconut taste). And I've tried both regular and organic and they were pretty much the same.

though one thing it is amazing for is as a skin moisturizer!

[HeidiE]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

1. flat out ...the weight loss claims are crapp ...2. I think it is too damnnn expensive to pay $14 for a pint of organic extra virgin coconut oil and as much as I would love to try it in a curry I am going to pass and stick with coconut milk instead.....

never believe in one food or one supplement being the thing that works...life is all about finding balance

[Lyssie]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

Why would you use extra virgin coconut oil? I guess I remember it as being cheaper than that, but is that because I would have had a lower grade since the only thing I used it for was as a moisturizer... or to throw in handmade soaps?

[LuckyD]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

Well I think I will save coconut oil for moisturizing. Its way too expensive to justify. I will spend big bucks on olive oil occasionally but I LOVE olive oil. I agree that there is no one magic food. But if I heard people in here raving about it I would have probably given it a try.

[moonwish]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

I have also heard the "miracle" story about walnut oil and even used it for a while. It tasted really good...

[sallyseachange]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

Yes.... here too it's horribly expensive. Would like to use it but at Italian prices...no way!

[not2late]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

I use walnut oil and almond oil in salad dressing sometimes. But I have to mix it with a bland olive oil because it's too strongly flavored on its own.

That's why I say---if you like the taste, use it in moderation. Just make sure you aren't using any of the hydrogenated stuff.

But I wouldn't use it as a 'miracle food' type thing. Eat a variety of foods so you get a variety of nutritional benefits.

[HeidiE]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

I buy regular unprocessed coconut oil at Indian markets for my skin for only $8 a liter it says it is for cooking and is not hydrogenated but I have never used it to eat ....it is not organic extra virgin however and I believe that is what the articles say you should have ..good food ...lots of it..and getting the crap out of your diet...moviging your body and drinking lots of water...pure and simple!!! we all know that right???

Lucky I will spend bucks on some good extra virgin olive oil as well ...YUM!!!!

[Miss Phode]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

I love coconut oil on my body but I don't like it in my body. I fell for the EVCO thing and paid waaaaaay too much money for it, tried taking a spoonful of it internally and it made me gag. My hubby would cook with it on ocassion, and I didn't really like it, even when he put it in curry. Now...one thing I do like is coconut oil, dark cocoa powder, unsweetened of course, and sweetener mixed together, and then pressed into the bottom of a pan lined with waxed paper, and chilled. Cut it into small cubes, and eat it like fudge. If you have really good coconut oil, it tastes like chocolate fudge with a hint of coconut, but...if the coconut oil is nasty, it just tastes nasty too. As you can imagine, it's incredibly expensive to make this, so mostly I have fond memories of it, and never make it anymore.

OK, can you tell I've had caffiene??? lol which, by the way is not suitable for induction.

[not2late]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

When I was little one of our neighbors was Southeast Asian. Anyhow, they used to make their own coconut products using coconuts. They would buy a coconut or two. Drain the coconut water--the clearish liquid in the coconut (their children would fight over the water..of course, guests like me would get a portion of it!) Then they would grate the coconut meat. The grated coconut meat was put into several layers of cheesecloth and that was put into a large bowl. Then boiling water was poured over it and allowed to sit for a while. The cheesecloth was taken up like a bag and squeezed of the milky-white liquid and this was done several times until the coconut milk was clear. Then they would simmer the coconut milk. As the milk cooled the coconut cream/oil would settle on the top. That was skimmed off, saved and used as a cooking oil. The milk was used as a cooking ingredient. And the grated coconut was toasted in the oven and used for cooking as well.

[HeidiE]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

I saw someplace and maybe it was someplace else that Scot123 had posted how to make your own coconut oil ....I just figure I don't need it with my arsenal of oils that are wonderful to cook with and a can of coconut milk has a ton of fat in it ..

I have thought that I would like to try some of the stuff I use on my skin ..but then I am not sure ..so why bother ...

Phode I have wanted to try that chocolate and coconut oil you posted and think maybe it would be worth buying it one time and calling it expensive chocolate ..I love how the stuff melts ..it would be really good I bet!!!

[Miss Phode]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

Heidi it's good, but it's hard to find good coconut oil, because you sort of have to smell it. I bought stuff one time from Tropical Traditions, and it was good, but extremely expensive. Next time I bought the same product, it didn't taste or smell good at all.

[HeidiE]

Re: Coconut Oil: What Do We Think About It

argh they dont let you do that before opening it ..so maybe not ..or I could just try the Indian stuff I buy it is liquid at warm room temp so I figure it is not hydrogenated and it smells wonderful I have chocolate and I need chocolate and with as little as I need to kill my desire for it ...maybe I should?