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Coconut oil has been on the market for a long time, but recently has made a big boom in health food trends.  From apples to broccoli and everything in between, most fruits and vegetables can be claimed as a “superfood”, just like coconut oil, and there are good reasons behind this initial declaration.  But with every positive article supporting its benefits, there are two more articles throwing out negative allegations.  One of the biggest concerns with adding coconut oil to your daily diet is its high fat content, but many don’t realize not all fat is bad fat.  Coconut oil is truly one of the most healthful foods out there, from helping with weight loss, to skin, hair, and nail health, and even increasing mental stability.  So to break it all down and ease your mind, this is what makes coconut oil different from other fat sources.

1)  Dropping Pounds (because mostly everyone is interested in newfound techniques to help with this dirty deed): There are a couple of ways coconut oil helps in this department. First of all, it’s chuck-full of fatty acids which contain ketone bodies, and ketone bodies are what naturally help suppress hunger.  In margarine or butter, long chain triglycerides (triglycerides are a form of fatty acid) are found, but coconut oil is made up of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs).  Now, these MCTs are our friend, because not only does this type of fatty acid help increase satiety with smaller portions, it also increases energy expenditure which in turn may help burn more body fat.  The MCTs in coconut oil also target abdominal body fat, which is the toughest to get rid of and the most dangerous to our health!  Interestingly enough, the studies that helped prove weight loss due to coconut oil didn’t have their subjects exercise or reduce calories, they just simply added coconut oil to their normal everyday diet and started shedding pounds.  So why is it so easy for people to lose weight by adding something to their diet?  Coconut oil is metabolized differently, it doesn’t need hormones or enzymes to help with digestion.  It goes directly to the liver, therefore it is used DIRECTLY as energy, and is not stored away as fat.

2) Medicinal Properties (can treat cholesterol, heart disease risks, and thyroid health): So we all know, or should know, that oil is a type of fat and there are subcategories of fats. Coconut oil is a saturated fat. However, the saturated fats within coconut oil are not the same saturated fats found in meats and cheeses, because those saturated fats are (once again) long chain triglycerides.  And like I mentioned before, the medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil are metabolized differently, and therefore have remedial effects on the body.  So, the saturated fats found in coconut oil raise HDL (good cholesterol), this improves blood cholesterol levels, blood coagulation factors, antioxidant status, and, in longevity, decreases one’s risk of developing heart disease.  Also, the MTCs help raise basal body temperature (which is your normal, standing body temperature before movement/exercise) which helps increase metabolism.  So in turn, coconut oil goes one step further in aiding in weight loss by also beneficially helping individuals with a low functioning thyroid.

3) Fights Against Bacteria, Virus, and Fungi:  This is due to the molecular make-up of the coconut oil.  About half of the fatty acids in coconut oil are Lauric Acid, which helps fight off harmful pathogens. When Lauric Acid is digested, it forms monolaurin (a single glyceride which makes up the backbone of triglycerides).  Basically, the breakdown products of coconut oil can effectively fight off infectious agents, such as the flu!

4) Skin, Hair, and Nails: Coconut oil can be used in many ways pertaining to skin, hair, and nails.  Applying it directly helps improve lipid content, thus increasing moisture and preventing damage and/or dryness of hair, skin, and nails. Believe it or not, coconut oil can also be used as mouthwash! It does this thing called oil-pulling, which helps get rid of bacteria, improves dental health and decreases bad breath.

5) Brain Disorders:  This is probably one of the most amazing properties of coconut oil.  Once again, this is all due to the MTCs.  When the MTCs are directly sent to the liver, they are broken down into ketone bodies which are sent throughout the bloodstream.  Studies have shown that individuals with higher concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood reduces seizure episodes, more specifically, this occurs in epileptic children.  Ketone bodies also help the improvement of Alzheimer’s disease.  To better understand this process, you need to know what exactly causes Alzheimer’s.  When dopamine-generating neurons die in the brain, this disrupts the glucose concentration in certain parts of the brain.  So essentially some parts of the brain aren’t getting enough energy.  However, the ketone bodies in coconut oil can supply an alternative energy source, therefore relieving symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Once again, most “superfoods” make it on the short list for specific reasons, it’s worth your time to take a deeper look into the initial logics.  Coconut oil has been proven to improve many biological functions, and continuing research is getting closer to solidifying these findings.  It very well could be one of the most beneficial naturally occurring fat sources within hand’s reach.

Shop these sites for quality coconut oil!

http://www.louana.com/product-detail.aspx?productID=75

http://www.tropicaltraditions.com

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It goes without saying that a nutritious diet is essential for anyone looking to get in shape, lose weight, or simply improve their overall health. Eating patterns that give your body enough of the vitamins and minerals it needs and stay within your recommended daily calorie intake have been proven to boost overall health and well-being. Anyone can implement a more healthful diet into their lifestyles with some time and effort.

The one of the biggest obstacles, however, to eating better is finding healthy foods and recipes that are not chocked full of substances considered more harmful to your health like saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugar. If a recipe is high in those substances or too calorie-dense, you should think twice. It can also be discouraging when you consider giving up your favorite dishes.

Even you come across a delicious recipe that is not necessarily healthful, though, there are plenty of cooking substitutes to use in place of other ingredients. Here are some of the most common substation items for baking or cooking recipes:

1.  Whole Wheat White Flour – Use whole wheat flour when baking instead of all-purpose white flour that has been processed. Whole wheat flour, and whole grains in general, have more fiber that will help to keep you full and reduce cravings throughout the day. Whole grains are also more nutritious.

2.  Unsweetened Applesauce – When a recipe calls for sugar, try using unsweetened applesauce instead. Using applesauce for baked goods like bread and muffins will cut down on saturated fat and calories while increasing the fiber content. You can also try any fruit puree or some natural sweeteners like honey, fruit juice concentrate, or Stevia instead of granulated sugar.

3.  Plain Greek Yogurt – Mayonnaise and sour cream are loaded with calories and saturated fat. Try low-fat or non-fat plain Greek yogurt in their place. Greek yogurt contains healthful probiotics for your gut and lots of protein. Be sure to check the labels, though, because many kinds of Greek yogurt are full of added sugars.

4.  Avocado and Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Try using avocado in place of either oil or butter. Avocados are high in monounsaturated fats, and these types of fats have been shown to reduce the risk for heart disease and help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Extra-virgin olive oil is also a healthier substitute for other types of cooking oils. Extra-virgin olive oil can be used for sautéing, and it can serve as a great alternative for creamy salad dressings that are high in saturated fat.

5.  Ground Turkey – Red meats like beef and pork are high in fat content and have been linked to all kinds of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Try using ground turkey instead or consider vegetarian substitutions like tofu or vegetarian ground beef crumbles.

When looking at recipes, either online or ones given to you, it is always important to look at their nutrition facts first. If they are not provided, there are several recipe analyzers that can provide this information. Moreover, using more healthful cooking substitutes can help you eat better and still enjoy your favorite food combinations.

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