There’s more than a hint of spring in the air here!
There are blossoms everywhere and… and my coconut oil is soft again.
So what does that mean? If you use coconut oil, you know exactly what I mean!
Coconut oil hardens up in the cold winter months and softens up when the weather starts to get nice again.
If you haven’t tried coconut oil, I recommend you try it…. sooner than later!
It’s an anti-everything that is good! Anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal, antibacterial and much more.
Extra virgin coconut oil is one of the only oils (besides grapeseed oil) that I use for high heat cooking & baking. I used to use olive oil for cooking, until I found out that olive oil’s “good” monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) break down when heated. The nourishing fatty acids start to oxidize, due to the oil’s instability at high temperatures. However, it still has a healthy place in salad dressings, toppings to healthy dips like hummus, etc.
Coconut oil is the “queen” of oils and has been called one of the most versatile health foods on our planet. Not only is it my favorite cooking oil, but coconut oil uses are quite extensive! As a cooking oil, its chemical structure is kept intact and therefore is resistant to breakdown of fatty acid, even when used in higher cooking temperatures. Research shows that coconut oil boosts the body’s metabolism, raises body temperatures, and helps provide greater energy which can lead to weight loss.
**The coconut tree is considered the “tree of life” in much of Southeast Asia, India, the Philippines, and other tropical locations. And today, there are over 1,500 studies proving the health benefits of coconut oil.
Some of the top coconut oil benefits include:
- Balances Hormones
- Kills Candida
- Improves Digestion
- Moisturizes Skin
- Reduces Cellulite
- Decreases Wrinkles and Age Spots
- Balances Blood Sugar and Improve Energy
- Improves Alzheimer’s
- Increases HDL and Lower LDL Cholesterol
- Burns Fat
**Source: http://draxe.com/coconut-oil-benefits/
Here are just some of the 100’s of uses for coconut oil
- Cooking and baking
- Moisturizer for dry skin – face & body
- Hair super-conditioner – I use overnight (with a large towel to protect my pillowcase)
- Hair gel – I warm a small amount in my hands and use as a hair gel
- Add to any foods or drink, for added energy. Add chia seeds for an extra boost of energy.
- Replace your dairy creamer for your coffee or tea – in a blender, try adding a spoonful of coconut oil, your hot beverage, a dash of cinnamon, and your favorite natural sweetener. Blend together for a rich creamy treat, without dairy or chemicals.
- Many top athletes (and professionals who want to increase energy & performance) have begun to blend their morning coffee with coconut oil and/or grass-fed ghee.
- Homemade deodorant – sans chemicals and toxins
- Homemade toothpaste or mouthwash – 50/50 coconut oil & baking soda make a great toothpaste or mouthwash – and an added bonus – it whitens too! Add a few drops of food grade peppermint oil for taste.
- Sunscreen – it’s a safe alternative to chemical-laden sunscreens. Good to use when you need SFP4.
- Shower scrub – mix with sugar for a wonderful scrub in the shower (just be careful as the floor might get slippery)
- Rub for a few minutes to reduce the appearance of varicose veins.
- Natural Makeup Remover – dab a small amount onto eyes and rub off gently with a warm, wet face cloth.
- Lighten your toiletry bag! I have been able to reduce the size of my travel bag by bringing coconut oil as a replacement for my moisturizer, hair conditioner, hair gel, deodorant, toothpaste (I pack a small container of baking soda and I can mix up toothpaste & mouthwash), sunscreen, makeup remover, face cream and makeup remover.
Make this delicious and healthy snack with Superfoods (both coconut oil and cacao):
**Raw Coconut and Cacao Bites
1 cup of shredded coconut
1 cup of almonds
1/2 a dozen (medjool, if you can get them) dates
4 tablespoons of cashew (or almond) butter
2 tablespoons of raw cacao
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- Start by putting the almonds and coconut in a food processor and blend for a minute or two, until a flour starts to form. Then add the nut butter, coconut oil and cacao blending for a few seconds before slowly adding in the dates.
- Continue to blend until everything has been combined together to form a sticky mixture. This mixture can then be rolled into balls and covered in more coconut and left in the fridge to firm up for an hour or alternately you can enjoy it with a spoon straight from a cup, or eat it straight from the blender!
- **http://deliciouslyella.com/raw-coconut-and-cacao-bites-vegan/