Let's Talk Coconut Part 3

Hey beautiful people!
Today we continue our drive down the coconut information highway and I can't wait because after this post I get to put up some recipe posts that taste so good, they will blow your coconutty socks off!
   But that's for another day, today you came for coconut product info and that's what I am going to give you. As you can see from the picture above, coconut is a big part of my diet and body care routine. It's been such a God send for someone with as many sensitivities and allergies as I have.
I shall begin with the humble coconut oil and it's many uses but first, take a close look at the pics because I really want to encourage you to buy the best products for yourself, loved one's, and the environment.
I know when money is tight organic and cold pressed can be the last thing you will spend on but in this case that would be tantamount to throwing the baby out with the bath water. No touchie.
Trust me, I know what it's like to be counting the last of your change to be able to buy milk, so don't feel like this is a ridiculous and inconsiderate demand. I have even bought coconut oil from the West Indian grocers when I was in a pinch, once, and only once because I realized right away that it was a big mistake. I felt sick after ingesting it, it did not perform the same way, and had been so processed that none of the health qualities we are specifically looking for in cold pressed coconut oil, are in it. It's like buying GMO seeds from Monsanto for an organic garden-whaaaaat? Again, no touchie.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of coconut oil that have been experimentally confirmed in human studies.

1. Coconut Oil Contains a Unique Combination of Fatty Acids With Powerful Medicinal Properties

Coconut oil has been demonized in the past because it contains saturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat known to man, with almost 90% of the fatty acids in it being saturated.
However, new data is showing that saturated fats are harmless. Many massive studies that include hundreds of thousands of people prove that the whole “artery-clogging” idea was a myth.
Additionally, coconut oil doesn’t contain your average run-of-the-mill saturated fats like you would find in cheese or steak.
No, they contain so-called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) – which are fatty acids of a medium length.
Most of the fatty acids in the diet are long-chain fatty acids, but the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently.
They go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

2. Populations That Eat a LOT of Coconut Are Among The Healthiest People on The Planet

Coconut is kind of an “exotic” food in the Western world, primarily consumed by health conscious people.
However, in some parts of the world, coconut is a dietary staple that people have thrived on for many generations.
The best example of such a population is the Tokelauans, which live in the South Pacific.
They eat over 60% of their calories from coconuts and are the biggest consumers of saturated fat in the world.
These people are in excellent health, with no evidence of heart disease.
Another example of a population that eats a lot of coconut and remains in excellent health is the Kitavans Bottom Line: Plenty of populations around the world have thrived for multiple generations eating massive amounts of coconut.

3. Coconut Oil Can Increase Your Energy Expenditure, Helping You Burn More Fat

Obesity is currently one of the biggest health problems in the world.
While some people think obesity is only a matter of calories, others (myself included) believe that the sources of those calories are critical too.
It is a fact that different foods affect our bodies and hormones in different ways. In this regard, a calorie is NOT a calorie.
The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can increase energy expenditure compared to the same amount of calories from longer chain fats.
One study found that 15-30 grams of MCTs per day increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%, totalling about 120 calories per day.

Bottom Line: The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil have been shown to increase 24 hour energy expenditure by as much as 5%, potentially leading to significant weight loss over the long term.

4. The Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil Can Kill Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi, Helping to Stave Off Infections

Almost 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil is the 12-carbon Lauric Acid.
When coconut oil is enzymatically digested, it also forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin.
Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi.
For example, these substances have been shown to kill the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus (a very dangerous pathogen) and the yeast Candida Albicans, a common source of yeast infections in humans  Bottom Line: The fatty acids and breakdown products in coconut oil can kill harmful pathogens, potentially helping to prevent infections.

5. Coconut Oil Can Kill Your Hunger, Making You Eat Less Without Even Trying

One interesting feature of coconut oil is that it can reduce your hunger.
This may be related to the way the fatty acids in it are metabolized, because ketone bodies can have an appetite reducing effect.
In one study, varying amounts of medium and long chain triglycerides were fed to 6 healthy men.
The men eating the most MCTs ate 256 fewer calories per day, on average.
Another study in 14 healthy men discovered that those who ate the most MCTs at breakfast ate significantly fewer calories at lunch.
These studies were small and only done for a short period of time. If this effect were to persist over the long term, it could have a dramatic influence on body weight over a period of several years.

Bottom Line: The fatty acids in coconut oil can significantly reduce appetite, which may positively affect body weight over the long term.

6. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Are Turned into Ketones, Which Can Reduce Seizures

A so-called ketogenic (very low carb, very high fat) diet is currrently being studied to treat various disorders.
The best known therapeutic application of this diet is treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children.
This diet involves eating very little carbohydrates and large amounts of fat, leading to greatly increased concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood.
For some reason, this diet can dramatically reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children, even those who haven’t had success with multiple different types of drugs.
Because the MCTs in coconut oil get shipped to the liver and turned into ketone bodies, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing for a bit more carbs in the diet.

Bottom Line: The MCTs in coconut oil can increase blood concentration of ketone bodies, which can help reduce seizures in epileptic children.

7. Coconut Oil Can Improve Blood Cholesterol Levels and May Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease

Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, which actually do not harm the blood lipid profile like previously thought.
Saturated fats raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtype.
In one study in 40 women, coconut oil reduced Total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL compared to soybean oil.
There are also rat studies showing that coconut oil reduces triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol, increases HDL and improves blood coagulation factors and antioxidant status.
This improvement in cardiovascular risk factors should theoretically lead to a reduced risk of heart disease over the long term.

Bottom Line: Studies in both humans and rats show that coconut oil improves important risk factors like Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, which may translate to a reduced risk of heart disease.

8. Coconut Oil Can Protect Hair Against Damage, Moisturize Skin and Function as Sunscreen

Coconut oil can serve various purposes that have nothing to do with eating it.
Many people are using it for cosmetic purposes and to improve the health and appearance of their skin and hair.
Studies on individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture and lipid content of the skin.
Coconut oil can also be very protective against hair damage and one study shows effectiveness as sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays
Another application is using it like mouthwash in a process called oil pulling, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath

Bottom Line: Coconut oil can be applied topically as well, studies showing it to be effective as a skin moisturizer and protecting against hair damage. It can also be used as a mild form of sunscreen and as mouthwash.

9. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Can Boost Brain Function in Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide and occurs primarily in elderly individuals.
In Alzheimer’s patients, there appears to be a reduced ability to use glucose for energy in certain parts of the brain.
Ketone bodies can supply energy for the brain and researchers have speculated that ketones can provide an alternative energy source for these malfunctioning cells and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
In one 2006 study, consumption of medium chain triglycerides led to immediate improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s.
Other studies support these findings and medium chain triglycerides are being intensively studied as potential therapeutic agents in Alzheimer’s disease.

Bottom Line: Studies show that the fatty acids in coconut oil can increase blood levels of ketone bodies, supplying energy for the brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients and relieving symptoms.

10. Coconut Oil Can Help You Lose Fat, Especially The Dangerous Fat in Your Abdominal Cavity

Given that coconut oil can reduce appetite and increase fat burning, it makes sense that it can also help you lose weight.
Coconut oil appears to be especially effective in reducing abdominal fat, which lodges in the abdominal cavity and around organs.
This is the most dangerous fat of all and is highly associated with many Western diseases.
Waist circumference is easily measured and is a great marker for the amount of fat in the abdominal cavity.
A study in 40 women with abdominal obesity, supplementing with 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day lead to a significant reduction in both BMI and waist circumference in a period of 12 weeks.
Another study in 20 obese males noted a reduction in waist circumference of 2.86 cm (1.1 inches) after 4 weeks of 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day.
This number may not seem too impressive on the surface, but be aware that these people aren’t adding exercise or restricting calories. They’re losing significant amounts of abdominal fat simply by adding coconut oil to their diet.

11. Anything Else?

If you want to buy coconut oil, then there is an excellent selection on Amazon with thousands of customer reviews that are fun to browse through.
If you want to enjoy the health benefits outlined in the article, then you must get organic, virgin coconut oil… NOT the refined stuff.

 Thanks to authority nutrition for the article info, great stuff!http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/
So, in the picture below is what you need to be looking for in a cold-pressed, extra virgin, organic coconut oil. 
One of my favourite products of all time is Dessert Essence's fantastic, organic, vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, coconut hand & body lotion. It's sumptuous, rich without being greasy, absorbs beautifully, and smells so freaking good that people around you will wonder what is baking. I get so many compliments on the smell and quality of this product when I use it or let others try some. I especially like it's itty bitty price of  $10. For those of you ladies that are prone to more sensitive and reactive skin when you have your monthly cycle, you might want to give this lotion a try to keep your skin moisturized without rash and itchies. You can find Desert Essence products at health food stores, grocery stores like Loblaws in the health food section, and on-line here:
http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Essence-Organic-Coconut-Lotion/dp/B006H9J1RG/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1432597132&sr=1-2&keywords=desert+essence+coconut+lotion

(I was NOT paid to endorse this product in any way, or asked to showcase this product on Amazon. I like what I like and want to share what has worked for me that I feel may be beneficial to all my readers.)

Here is a picture of it with an organic coconut lip balm-

This is how many people are used to seeing coconut, usually shredded and refined sugar laden. I highly recommend getting the organic shredded coconut and ditching the sweetened version. I always buy mine unsweetened and find it tastes so much better, also, because I am not a huge fan of overly strong coconut taste, I prefer the smaller shred to the larger filaments.

Lastly, we are going to talk a bit about coconut sugar and coconut caramel-yum!!!!!
Look at that picture below and tell me you aren't a bit curious? These are both low-glycemic sweetners. Notice I said sweetners? This does not mean that you are not adding a form of sugar to your food stuffs but a sweetner that has fewer negative effects on your glycemic index, as well as having minerals and being recognized by the body as a food source which is easily converted into energy.
Personally, I use this so sparingly because I try to avoid sugar. I do appreciate it's milder, caramel, slight malt flavour, and that it isn't sacharine sweet. It is very pleasant and from personal experience, superior to white refined sugar.
My body does not respond to coconut sugar the way it does to white refined sugar. I don't bloat, get bad stomach pains, have gas, get headaches, toothaches, or embarassing stomach noises, when I eat coconut sugar. White sugar also causes shooting pain in my body, I always know right away that the inflammation response has been triggered within minutes of ingesting it, and that is why I avoid it. Coconut sugar has become a treat item in our household and has been wonderful in helping my mother, a diabetic, get off dangerous products like aspartame/Splenda, which were causing her pain when she ate it and tenderness in her liver. Since switching to coconut sugar, she has had no problems, fewer glycemic spikes, and genuinely enjoys the taste of it in her morning tea. Please note, she only uses it in her tea which she has about 2 cups of per day. So as always, too much of anything is not a good thing but, in moderation, you can absolutely enjoy.
The coconut caramel is pretty much the same product, I find it is so much better than Agave nectar, which I completely stay away from now. That's in a previous post, you can read here in the link I provided and btw, it has a fantastic recipe!
http://thekinkycoconut.blogspot.ca/2015/04/gluten-free-raw-vegan-blueberry-bon-bons.html

  I use coconut caramel in my rawfood protein and fat bomb preparations, (recipe for one of thess will come soon, so check back!) which gives just the right taste and stickiness you need to keep things held together. Again, these are in moderation. There's a picture of both after the information that follows.

Here is an article from a dietician about coconut sugar & I got some positive info from the Livestrong site that follows after the initial Globe & Mail dietician's write-up:

The question: What is coconut sugar? Is it a better choice than white sugar?The answer: Coconut sugar (also called coconut palm sugar or coconut crystals) has become a popular alternative to white sugar due to its flavour and perceived health benefits. It’s also viewed as being more natural, or less highly processed, than table sugar.

Coconut sugar is made from the sap of flower buds from the coconut palm tree. (It’s not made from coconuts as you might think.) The sap is boiled over moderate heat to evaporate most of its water content. The final product is coconut sugar, which is caramel-coloured and tastes similar to brown sugar.Chemically speaking, much of coconut sugar is identical to white sugar (e.g. sucrose). Seventy to 79 per cent of coconut sugar is sucrose; the rest is made up of individual molecules of glucose and fructose (the two sugars than make up sucrose). When it comes to calories and carbohydrate content, there’s no difference between coconut sugar and white sugar – both have 16 calories and 4 grams of sugar per teaspoon.Coconut sugar is often hyped as retaining many minerals from the sap, especially potassium. It’s true that 100 grams (25 teaspoons!) of coconut sugar has 1,030 mg of potassium, nearly one-quarter of a day’s worth. But don’t count on getting much of anything except sugar in a teaspoon or two.According to the Philippine Food and Nutrition Research Institute, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index (35) than white sugar (60 to 65), meaning it doesn’t spike your blood glucose and insulin like table sugar does. (Honey and agave syrup are low on the glycemic index scale too.) Glycemic index values of 55 or less are considered low; values of 70 or more are high.Bottom line: Nutritionally, there isn’t much of a difference between coconut sugar and table sugar. Both are added sugars we need to limit. Too much sugar of any type – white, brown, coconut, honey, maple syrup, agave nectar – raises blood triglycerides, lowers HDL (good) cholesterol and contributes excess calories to your diet. If you decide to make the switch to coconut sugar, use it sparingly.Leslie Beck, a registered dietitian, is based at the Medisys clinic in Toronto. She can be seen every Thursday at noon on CTV News Channel's Direct; lesliebeck.com.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/ask-a-health-expert/coconut-sugar-is-it-healthier-than-white-sugar-or-just-hype/article19187927/ 

Coconut sugar is the boiled and dehydrated sap of the coconut palm. It comes with a higher price tag than granulated sugar but offers the same number of carbohydrates and calories. The benefits of coconut sugar are making it a hot commodity in the health food world -- this form of sugar does offer some trace nutrients and may have less of a dramatic impact on your blood sugar than other types of sweeteners.

Nutrient Content

Coconut sugar isn't a nutritional superfood, but it does offer more vitamins and minerals than white table sugar. It contains trace amounts of vitamin C, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron and copper. Coconut sugar also provides small amounts of phytonutrients, such as polyphenols, flavonoids and anthocyanidin, and antioxidants. You'll also find the B vitamin inositol, often used as a mood booster, in coconut sugar.

Low Glycemic Impact

The glycemic index measures the effects of carbohydrates on your blood sugar. Coconut sugar ranks just 35 on this index, while regular table sugar ranks between 60 and 75. Foods high on the glycemic index cause your blood sugar to spike, which can lead to a sugar rush and subsequent crash. Fast spikes in blood sugar can also cause your insulin levels to soar in a short period of time, and this can have serious consequences for diabetics.http://www.livestrong.com/article/367337-what-are-the-benefits-of-coconut-sugar/ 
Leave your comments and experiences with coconut sugar in the comments section, I love to hear from you and don't forget to subscribe!