Virgin Coconut Oil - Experience or Interest?

Go for it!  It's supposed to have amazing restorative powers in terms of your skin and hair.  Coconut oil lip balm will be a wonderful use of it.  I've started looking into it in terms of using it in food, and what I've read about it so far sounds great.  

Does anyone know if it's true that coconut oil is the only oil in which its molecular structure stands up to applications of heat?  That's the part that I find most interesting about it.  Up until I started looking into it, I didn't realize how many oils lose nutrients in heat use. 

Infiniti

Does anyone know if it's true that coconut oil is the only oil in which its molecular structure stands up to applications of heat?

That's what my sister said! LOL

Source

Coconut oil is not destroyed by heat. The medium chain fatty acids are very resistant to heat and even commercial oils heated to very high temperatures retain their MCFA's. Coconut oil is one of the best and safest oils to use in cooking.

Coconut Oil Research 

Coconut oil is one of the most stable oils you can buy. It does not turn rancid easily. It does not attack your arteries. In fact, coconut oil was one of the foods Weston Price studied in his journeys. He discovered that the coconut was considered, by the local populations, a medicine food. He found that those civilizations that consumed coconut regularly had no knowledge of cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.

Let’s take a look at the healing properties of coconut oil:

Interesting stuff!  I'm very excited!

I'm excited as well!  I've been reading up on it for awhile, and I think I'm going to start to incorporate it into my diet.  

Here's an interesting forum thread on a low-carb forum which contains tons of recipes using coconut oil: http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/recipe-forum-sticky-threads/334903-coconut-oil-recipes-ideas.html 

Might want to read this.

The American Heart Association's Position

Where does the American Heart Association weigh in on coconut oil as an aid to weight loss? "I would be very pessimistic about this, says Robert Eckel, MD, the Association's spokesman on nutrition. He says he's concerned about the effects of high levels of saturated fat. "This is going to be a cholesterol-raising diet."

He says he also doubts claims that coconut oil can boost metabolism. "People have looked in the past as to whether MCTs have thermogenic properties, and I think the answer is pretty well negative. Generally, saturated fats tend not to be as well [metabolized], so if it does have any ability to promote heat generation, it's going to be minimal."

Eckel says coconut oil's effect on metabolism, if any, is modest compared with the potential for raising overall cholesterol and particularly "bad" LDL cholesterol. "Ingesting coconut oil for a short period of time will not do harm, but I'm concerned about the long haul."

Taken from http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-diet-miracle-fad?page=2

I've been giving it to my dogs for awhile, and I can't say that there has been any noticeable difference in their skin/coat/energy level, etc.  That's not to say it doesn't have any benefits, just not any that I've noticed.  I doubt I'll buy any more once I'm done with what I've got.  Although they really enjoy the taste of it.

timsdat

Might want to read this.

Yeah, I've been reading about this. The American Heart Association isn't the first place I'd go to get accurate information, to tell you the truth. I believe they have a vested interest in keeping people sick and eating corn oil and soybeans. There are MANY studies that conclude just the opposite.

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article10132.htm 

Coconut oil is composed of a group of unique fat molecules known as medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). Although they are technically classified as saturated fats, this fat can actually protect you from getting a heart attack or suffering a stroke.

Although coconut oil is predominately a saturated fat, it does not have a negative effect on cholesterol. Natural, nonhydrogenated coconut oil tends to increase HDL cholesterol and improve the cholesterol profile.

And

There is widespread misconception that coconut oil is bad for you because it is said to raise blood cholesterol and cause heart disease. The only "proof" is one four-decades old study. The study used hydrogenated coconut oil.

It is now known that the process of hydrogenation creates "trans fatty acids" (TFAs), which are toxic entities that enter cell membranes, block utilization of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and impede cell functionality. TFAs also cause a rise in blood cholesterol. These substances are not present in natural coconut oil.

In other words, a study based on hydrogenated coconut oil has no relevance to the non-hydrogenated coconut milk or coconut oil that you eat.

Like I said, I'm new to this, so I'm learning, too, but I don't really buy a lot of what the conventional medical community says.  

My mother had a weird boyfriend who was a big health nut, and he SWORE by coconut oil (among other things). He used it for cooking and for topical applications to the skin.

I didn't really get a chance to witness any results, but apparently he had great success with "natural healing" with his clients (he was a massage therapist), and I know he really helped improve my mother's health, as well. So even though he was pretty weird, I would be inclined to trust his judgment about health and nutrition, and he though coconut oil was just the best thing ever.

When you cook with it, does it make your food taste coconut-y? That's what I would be concerned with... I love coconut, but probably not in things like spaghetti sauce or pot roast. 

I've put it in my hair, I think that's my only experience.  My best friend in HS was from Bangladesh and she had SO much hair, thick black hair that would sometimes break or dry out.  I tried it on mine once but it didn't really make a difference, but I'm Dutch and have pretty sleek, semi-fine hair.  She used to put braided cornrows in my hair for gymnastics (normal ponytails get shaken loose and constantly come out during training) and we tried the coconut oil.  I put it in, then she did all the braids, then I washed my hair with the cornrows in.  I remember it smelled kinda funny, not really like coconut (or things flavored like coconut).  I don't know if it really helped or not since cornrows will damage hair no matter how careful you are.

Funny,I just looked at that at the store 3 days ago. I had read about it too and was considering getting it for Maizy to help her skin. Than I changed my mind, thinking, it's the latest oil craze, but maybe now I'll give it a try.

Maizysmom (and anyone) I just want to suggest that if you're going to try it, start with a small amount. I think it comes in pints. And make sure it's credible REAL Virgin Coconut Oil.

I haven't cooked with it yet, but my sister uses it in everything. From what I've read, it doesn't have much taste in cooked food. The taste is very delicate and would be easily overpowered. I know I don't taste olive oil in our food and that's all I use now. And it tastes stronger then the coconut.

I just bought some today at the health food store. I'm anxious to see if Maizy likes it and actually,I might try it.I also bought a tiny bottle of Oil of Oregano. A friend told me it's good for sore joints and back pain. You put 1 or 2 drops in some juice. Sometimes I feel like the Tinman from The Wizard of Oz, needing a good oiling every so often.

Cita

When you cook with it, does it make your food taste coconut-y?

I cooked eggs in it this morning.   During 2-3 bites, I got the hint of it, maybe not so much in the taste, but in the smell. Not really sure. It's very subtle. And it's not sweet. But it wasn't unpleasant at all. Kind of like a spice that you can't quite identify in a dish. Just wanted to share my experience about that.

My sister said it tastes especially good with chicken and shrimp. ("my sister said this, my sister said that";) LOL
 

Well, I gave some to the dogs and they all liked it. I might melt a little in a custard dish and pour it on Maizy's food.    As far as the Oil of Oregeno,YUCK--I put 2 drops in my orange juice and it tasted lousy. Than I put some on fingers,for joint pain------nothing,nada!  No feeling of warmth, no less pain. For $20.00 a tiny bottle,it's going back. The instructions said to do it either way.  I'm not impressed!

I love it, and Emma loves it. I use it on my skin and (super thick, somewhat coarse) hair. I use it on Em's skin and coat. We also eat it. I haven't noticed any huge benefits beyond that of any other good oil, but we enjoy the taste more than... say, flax (barf!). I like it, topically, better than other oils (mostly b/c it's easy to use).