So, you have seen that white greasy jar of stuff in the cooking isle and wondered how to use it?  Or you have heard of people swishing it in their mouth to get rid of bacteria?  Or you have seen it at your local artisan fair mixed with essential oils.  And Bullet Prood Coffee, what’s that?

Coconut oil is becoming increasingly popular in health and wellness circles. Not only does it offer unique beauty benefits, but as an edible oil, it’s able to help you lose weight and offers a multitude of other health boosts.

The oil is extracted from the kernel of coconuts, and when bought raw appears looks like a thick butter-like substance. It can be purchased in a liquid oil form which makes it even more versatile.

• The fatty acids found within coconuts are digested, sent to the liver and then quickly used as an energy source. If they’re not used as energy, they are turned into ketone bodies, which means you won’t gain a bunch of weight eating it.  They also help reduce your chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and can help people with epilepsy. This is just one of the many reasons why you should consider looking to the  coconut as a source of your fatty acids.
• Your heart will thank you if your incorporate coconut oil into your diet. The natural saturated fats found in coconut oil can actually benefit the heart, and the saturated fats increasing the amount of ‘good’ cholesterol in your body. This healthy cholesterol is known as HDL, and the more you have, the healthier your heart and it helps turn the LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol into HDL. It’s a win-win!
• It is helpful for kidney infections and to give you a healthy liver.  There is a substance in it,  MCFA, that is able to damage the lipid coating that surrounds bacteria cells, quickly kills the cells and stops the infection from growing further and causing any more damage in your internal organs. It can also help fight the helicobacter pylori bacteria that can cause ulcers and even stomach cancer. And because it produces ketones in the body instead of sugar, this also gives tumor cells no source of food.

• Coconut oil also kills the bad bacteria which battles with good bacteria, and stops a candida imbalance. This helps maintain a good balance of stomach acid, reducing the chances of experiencing inflammation, and ensuring that your digestive processes keep working properly.
• Once it reaches the liver, it’s almost immediately converted into energy. This is so effective that athletes all over the world are now turning to coconut oil-based foods and drinks that help keep them at the top of their game during long-distance running events and more.Want to make your own coconut oil fuel for running and athletics?Try taking a tablespoon of coconut oil, honey and some chia seeds and eating it. This is a great fuel that will give you a huge boost of energy about a half an hour after you eat it.
• It can help you lose weight because it causes appetite suppression.  One of the reasons why coconut is great for suppressing hunger is the way that the fatty acids are metabolized by the body. This is a result of the ketone found within coconuts, which can help reduce appetite.

• Coconut oil is rich in MCTs, which are medium-chain triglycerides. These fats allow you to spend more energy when you exercise, making them far better for weight loss than other long chain fats. Regularly adding these medium chain fats to your diet could easily allow you to burn fat and reach your ideal weight in no time.

• It’s also great at protecting your bones against osteoporosis, coconut can help increase the amount of calcium that is absorbed by your gut. The more calcium your gut takes from your food, the stronger your bones will remain. So, if you’re worried about your bones as you get older, be sure to introduce coconut oil into your diet!

• Coconut oil can help prevent and even treat Type 2 Diabets.  It does this by balancing insulin reactions and making sure that the reactors within the cells work properly. A healthy digestive system is also promoted by the oil, which helps the pancreas to work at a normal, healthy rate. All this balances out to help us have a working digestive system and helps your body gain the energy it needs from the food that you eat.

Well enough of the medical side of Coconut oil.  How about the other usages for it.

Skin care: Coconut oil is an excellent massage oil that acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skin, including dry skin. Unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin from the application of coconut oil. Therefore, it is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays the appearance of wrinkles and sagging of skin, which normally accompany aging.

It helps to prevent premature aging because of  its well-known antioxidant properties. It also helps in treating various skin problems, including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. That’s why I like to purchase products that Coconut oil is one of the first ingredients.

Hair care: Coconut oil helps in healthy growth of hair and gives your hair a shiny quality. It is used as hair care oil and is used in some conditioners and dandruff relief creams. YOu can even put it on your hair at night and wrap it up and in the morning you will have incredible shine.

Shave cream is another thing that it is good for.  Why absorb all those chemicals under your arms and bikini line when you can use coconut oil and get a smooth and moisturizing shave.

For Healthy teeth and gums it’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine. Oil pulling is a fantastic oral detoxification procedure that is done by swishing a tablespoon of oil  in your mouth for 10-20 minutes and then spitting it out.  You will not want to spit this in your sink as it causes quite a residue.  Spit into kleenex or toilet paper and toss in the garbage.

Skin softener: Most of us use several creams and lotions for softening our skin, especially the skin of the face and hands. Coconut oil is a great skin softener and helps you do away with dry and hard skin conditions. Simply take some coconut oil on your palms, rub your palms against each other once or twice and then on your face, hands, or wherever you want to see the moisturizing effect. And it’s great for a makeup remover.

Coconut oil is also good for hardened and cracked feet, which may happen due to excessive cold or strenuous work while standing on your feet. The cracks in your feet will not vanish, but your feet will become softer within days if you apply coconut oil to the affected area.

As an exfoliate, including coconut oil as an agent with other exfoliating or grainy materials like salts and sugars can vastly improve the effects. You will successfully scrape off excess dead skin and clean out whatever substances have blocked the pores without leaving the skin feeling irritated. The natural soothing nature of the oil combines with the grainy, exfoliating material perfectly, and leaves your skin with an even color, closed pores, and a soft texture.

Cooking is probably the most used way that I consume coconut oil.  In my bullet proof coffee, my daily shake or at dinner to saute veggies with.  Coconut oil is super versatile and really the main staple that we use in the house. Also my favorite fat bomb is made with coconut oil and coconut butter and dark chocolate.  http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2014/04/better-than-mounds-chocolate-coconut-candies-low-carb-gluten-free.html

How I make my Bullet proof coffee is brew my favorite coffee and then add a TBLS of coconut oil and 2 TBLS of heavy cream and blend it quickly in the blender of Nutribullet.  It makes the creamiest and yummy cup of coffee that gives me energy until my next meal.

So pick up that jar of white goodness and start using it every day.

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