Why Coconut Oil Is Amazing
I am such a massive fan of the coconut. If the coconut was a person and I was a teenager again, I would have posters bearing its face all over my bedroom walls. If the coconut were to hold a concert, I would be there in the front row with my giant coconut foam finger. Heck, I would marry the coconut. I am not even exaggerating. Everything about the coconut is amazing, but today I want to focus on its oil.
One of the nutritional finds that has literally changed my life in the past few years is that of coconut oil and it’s incredible benefits. Before I became a Wellness Warrior, one of my favourite foods was hot chips. I was heart broken when I thought I would never be able to eat them again. Thankfully, coconut oil came along and saved me. Chips baked in coconut oil will blow your mind. Same goes for popcorn!
COCONUT OIL IS SAID TO BE THE HEALTHIEST OF ALL THE OILS. HERE’S WHY:
+ It’s healthy to cook with: Coconut oil will not turn rancid and oxidize when introduced to heat (unlike other oils – including olive). This means it is suitable for cooking at high temperatures, and has a shelf life of approximately two years or more.
+ It won’t mess with cholesterol: Coconut oil is one of the only few dietary sources of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), and it is said to be the best source. MCFA are special because they do not have a negative effect on cholesterol and they are known to reduce the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis.
+ It will aid in weight loss: Effective weight loss can be achieved when you replace long-chain fatty acids with medium-chain fatty acids. These guys are easily digested and converted into energy, speeding up metabolism.
+ It treats candida and other fungal and bacterial infections: The lauric acid in coconut oil is highly toxic to viruses, funguses and bacteria, which makes it effective for treating candida albicans, fungal infections and athlete’s foot. It also targets bacterial infections and viruses like measles, influenza, hepatitis C and even HIV. Breast milk is the only other source of lauric acid.
+ It prevents wrinkles: The medium-chain triglycerides, naturally occurring fats in coconut oil, deeply penetrate, moisturise and act as a protective barrier against environmental and free radical damage.
+ It replaces sunscreen: Coconut oil is the only thing I apply to my skin if I feel I need sun protection. Ever since I adopted a super nourishing diet I have found that my skin doesn’t really burn (I used to burn easily). However if I am going to be out in the sun for longer than I want, I will apply coconut oil to further prevent burning. Coconut oil screens 20 % of ultraviolet exposure.
WHAT TYPE SHOULD WE BUY?
Look for coconut oil that is organic, unrefined, undeodorised, and cold pressed. It’s also good to use one that is in a glass jar rather than plastic. I use a brand called Niugini.
HOW MUCH SHOULD WE CONSUME?
Some researchers suggest consuming around 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil each day in order to obtain the same amounts of MCFA a nursing infant would receive in one day. However, if you are used to eating a low fat diet, jumping right into consuming this amount of coconut oil may cause diarrhea, so start out slower and work your way up.
If you are pregnant and have never consumed coconut oil before, it’s a good idea to wait until after you’ve had your baby to experiment with it. However, if you are used to coconut oil, there is no reason to stop using it while pregnant.
Want to know what you can do with coconut oil? Click here.
Are you a fan of coconut oil too? How do you use it?
Positive affirmation for the day: Today I will do things that make me feel good.
MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR PLATE: HOW TO END YOUR TORTURED RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD.
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I hope this message about how healthy diets improve the skins resistance to sun damage continues to spread.
I stopped using sunscreen when I started this journey, introducing lots of raw foods to my diet. I was in Mexico for a month recently, spending hours in the sun each day, and with the help of coconut oil, I got a gorgeous brown glow on and didn’t even peel!- which is unheard of for me (seeing as the sun usually shocks me after all the time I spend in the snow).
I hope all your readers continue to nourish themselves on the insides as best they can so as to protect themselves on the outside. Sunscreen is a big no-no. x
Tara » Thanks Tara! I agree – it is such an important message. We are supposed to see the sun, and it is so cool to know that we can naturally build up a protection from it just by feeding ourselves with healthy wholefoods. We are amazing! xx
Great article – thanks Jess! I’ve recently begun using coconut oil both in food and as a moisturiser and loving it! But I wasn’t aware of all of these benefits so that’s very exciting 
Thanks this great post Jess.
Coconut Oil is really starting to be recognized for it amazing benefits.
You actually introduced me to using this in replace of my normal body lotion
Lisa x
I recently used coconut oil as a tanning enhancer I have not been in the sun a lot over the years, it was memorial day recently in the states and I ‘layed out to tan for 30 minutes or so’ it helped me turn red, not diffuse, but I love the stuff, I get the cheap stuff off Amazon it is organic but I might try what you suggest, I believe in it just maybe not ass a sun protectant 
I have been using this brand of Coconut Oil for around 2 months now and can not fault it, I’ve cooked everything with it included my much loved popcornn too.
It is an amazing product – if you haven’t tried it yet do your self a favour and buy some.
Haha I laughed out loud when I read you would be there in the front row with a giant coconut foam finger. I purchased some coconut oil and found that it burned my food and my pans. It was only the supermarket kind. This post has inspired me to give it another go, at least if it burns my food again I can use it on my body. Health food store here I come!
Hi Jen,
I too use Coconut oil. I buy mine from Hippocrates Health which is all pure. When I bake my vegetables I put a teaspoon of cumin along with a teaspoon of liquified coconut oil ( I heat it over a bowl of hot water) in a small bowl and mix it together then roll my pieces of vegetables in the mix before baking. They are so yummy!
I also make my own pop corn with coconut oil. They taste sooo much better.
Great to know about the sunblock!
Great post Jess! Yep, love everything about coconut oil and coconuts in general. I use the oil for oil pulling, cooking and skin moisturiser. Great to know it also acts as a sunscreen as I haven’t used sunscreen for years because of their chemical components. I’ll even just take a tablespoon of coconut oil and swallow it.
I also try and have a coconut each day, either drink the water straight from the nut, with a straw (and cocktail unbrella) or pop it into a smoothie. Also love coconut flour. Love, Love, Love all things coconut!!
I used coconut oil as a hair conditioner. Left it on my hair for an hour before washing. My hair turned out noticeably smoother and silkier. I’m definitely going to use your suggestions now!
wow – I work on a farm everyday in the hot sun and had stopped using coconut oil because I thought it wouldn’t be a sufficient sunscreen. How I’ve hated putting expensive, unnatural sunblock on everyday – woo hoo, back to the coconut oil! Best news I’ve read all day : )
Hi jess,
Iam blood type 0 and in eat according to your blood type , coconut is forbidden. Despite that I do use it in my gluten free cooking and everyday for my skin. It helps me a lot especially for my thyroid. So what do you think ? Is it just a myth?
I think the blood type diet has too many restrictions…thats just my personal view. We need to focus on a whole food diet. If there are restrictions for no good reason (eg allergy) then you are not receiving a wide range of nutrients that are vital for the body, and its also not good for the mind to be so restricted.
Coconut oil is my new favourite oil for everything – cooking, moisturiser, for dandruff and other skin conditions. I love it and that fact that it is a medium chain fat makes it very useful to the body.
Eliminating all cane sugar from the body long term is an effective way of maintaining health, it also helps with the ability not to burn when out in the sun. We all need the sun so bad – Vitamin D is so important to every cell in the body!
Jess I love your blog, you look so well and your talents are brilliant!
Wow- I had absolutely no idea about coconut’s qualities as a sunscreen! This is fantastic news! Does it work well as facial sunscreen too? (Silly question, but never mind!) Thanks Jess!
So enjoyed this article – I love that it can be used as a sunscreen, too!
Sun cancer (skin cancer) runs in my family, so I try to avoid the sun as much as possible…and I live in AZ! I try to walk before the sun comes up, or I wear long sleeves so my arms don’t catch any rays, but I love being in the sun! I use badger sunscreen from time to time, but I feel ridiculous with a white paste on my face. Using coconut oil on my skin (why not, I cook with it, I snack on coconut butter–mmm!) sounds like the perfect solution! I also love the idea of using something that smells amazing as a sunscreen–most other options don’t smell very friendly Thanks Jessica!
the American Indians have been curing sun cancer for 2000 thousand years. Look up
Elaine Hollingsworth site
http://www.doctorsaredangerous.com/
also http://www.health-science-spirit.com/
we must take responsibility for our own health.
Doctors are owned!!! Big Pharma
they have one motive and its not our well being good luck stay
Ps Ioden !!!!!!!!!!! Lugols
Thank you for this Jess. Really enjoyed this post.
I love coconut oil! Thanks for sharing the recommended daily intake, that was new to me! xx
Thanks for sharing your love of coconut oil with the world. This is a great article.
I cannot live without this super food.
I hope you don’t mind, I posted your story on my fb page (www.facebook.com/PassionatelyVital)
In health and wellness,
Colette
Colette » Of course I don’t mind! Thanks for sharing x
Hi Jess,
I was only discussing this last night with family – they are of the opionion that it is a saturated fat and scientists do not promote the use of coconut oil in our diets. Their doctor friends have told them not to consume it.
Are you aware of any ‘scientific evidence’ I can show them to help convince them of these properties?
Would love to be able to show them how good it is!!! `
Sarah » Sure thing! Check out this website: http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/research-link.htm – good luck turning them around xx
It is so funny I would receive this post form you in my email because I went to the health food store today to buy an item that they no longer carried. I walked out of the store with a bootle of coconut oil. No one ‘pressed’ me to buy it. I took it home and I set it on my counter and stared at it all day wondering why I bought it and what I was going to do with it. And lo and behold, your post! Thank you!
I use and eat a lot of coconut oil and very rarely burn in the sun. I hope the price doesn’t double when the demand for it goes crazy! Thanks for a great post, Jess
So weird question but is there such a thing a coconut oil that doesn’t taste as coconutty? I love using it on my skin and can tolerate the taste in something but mostly I just hate the flavour it’s so strong!!
Tash » Ha ha you can be deodorised coconut oil but it doesn’t have the healing properties as the non-deodorised stuff. I thought the taste was strong at first too, but now I can’t even tell! x
I love the stuff! AND I have used it on my skin through my whole pregnancy and am now full term without a single stretch mark! Bonus!! Cinta xx
Jacinta » Woo hoo! That’s awesome lovely xx
Great article. Can I ask why you wouldnt recommend starting to use coconut oil while pregnant? I’m pregnant at the moment and have been reading up on coconut oil and finally bought some yesterday to try. Now I am wondering if it’s best to wait.
Erin » Hi Erin, I am not totally sure why it isn’t advised. Pregnant women who are used to consuming coconut oil are fine, but a lot of research I’ve seen says to hold off introducing it during pregnancy if you’re not used to it. I think it could be because not many studies have been done, so it’s a bit of an unknown. I would say that small amounts would be okay though. It can have a bit of a laxative effect if you consume a lot of it and you aren’t used to coconut oil or you follow a low fat diet. x
Thanks for the reply Jess I wondered if it was a ‘just in case’ scenario. Maybe for now I’ll stick with only smelling it now and then.
Oh, coconut, oh, coconut!
The only problem I have when it comes to consuming more of this wonderful oil,
is that dishes like green juice or salad don’t call for coconut oil.
But, hey, it’s summertime here in Norway – it’s smoothie season!
Hi Jess and fellow WW’s
Being the health nut that I am I of course have many a time reached for this superfood in my cooking. However, anytime I use it the same thin happens to me: my stomach turns in knots, I get an overwhelming wave of nausea an then get violently, violently ill for around 6-8 hours after. I have tried a few brands, quantities, recipes etc but the same result. Yet i can use it onmy skin, the largest k
Organ, daily with no issues!! I was wondering if anyone else had the samething happen? Or could shed light as to why??
Many thanks!! xxx
I get the same thing!
hey sistaa. since it’s so cleansing, antimicrobial, antiyeast, antifungal…you may be experiencing some “die off” symptoms. suggestion would be to do as little as half a tsp- see what happens and gradually increase if you so desire! love n light x
Jess,
How do you make the hot chips with coconut oil…Sounds yummy!
Casi » Hey Casi, we just cut up the potato, coat in coconut oil and then bake them in the oven. Or we cook them on the BBQ. Soooo good! x
I recently fell in love with coconut oil and have been cooking with it and using it on my skin. I have been experimenting with using it along with sweet almond oil and other ingredients to make face scrub and diaper cream, with good results. I just recently learned that it also acts as a sunscreen – very exciting. Thank you Jess!
I so love coconut oil. I use it as my hair and skin moisturizer
Thank you very much Jess for this post. You are great. It is ok to use this oil with the Gerson teraphy?
I was eating loads of coconut oil for the electrolytes when I went snowboarding in America earlier this year (Dipped strawberries in it – yum!). Everyone thought I was crazy and told me I should be drinking gatorade or powerade to replenish electrolytes…until I was the only one who didn’t get altitude sickness!!
I’ve recently discovered the joy of coconut oil and have been experimenting with it in my cooking, love the flavour it brings and the health benefits are a huge bonus. Hadn’t heard of using it for sunscreen, but will definitely be giving it a go! Thanks so much!
Coconut oil is a great supplement to use for dogs as well! It helps with arthritis (and other joint problems), yeast infections, topical wound healiing, promotes healthy skin and coats, to name a few benefits.
Thanks for the article,
Kathy
We switched to coconut oil a couple of years ago. We cook our free range chicken eggs in them. Never thought about the chips though. I may have to try it! Learned more great things about coconut oil. Love it.
Julieanne Case
Always from the heart!
Reconnecting you to your Original Blueprint, Your Essence, Your Joy| Healing you from the Inside Out |Reconnective Healing | The Reconnection| Reconnective Art |
I keep going back & forth about the Coconut Oil……Now on the Gerson it is a major no no, right?? I know you are done with the actual therapy, but just wondered how you navigated the rest. Does Gerson give the seal of approval for post therapy oil/eating??
LosVeganos » Yep, no coconut oil on Gerson. They don’t give the seal of approval after we are finished, but this is a decision I made on my own based on what I feel is best for me.
That’s cool. I just wondered as sometimes I don’t understand the whys of certain Gerson ideas…..I have faith in it and respect all of it. Just the exclusion of certain things like some spices and berries, it gets confusing and then I wonder if he were alive today if anything about the therapy or post therapy would be modified. Are you allowed any fruits and spices now!??
Congrats on everything, such an inspiration to so many people.
Ad hugs to your mum too…..
Where do you can buy Niugini? i can’t seem to find a place in the US that sells it. Thanks!!
Hi there, would love to know what you think of coconut yoghurt as I have just come across it
Chenoa » I love coconut yoghurt!!
Thanks Jess, I will buy more now
Off to buy my spirulina and maca powder tomorrow. And plan on starting the day with my warm lemon juice and my very first ‘green mo’ smoothie (the first one in your e-book (minus those items though as I can’t get them till the afternoon.. very excited. Just trying to figure out if I need to be adding ‘apple cidar vinegar’ somewhere into my morning routine as well.. so much to learn and so excited about it
Jess- number one: you are so my mirror and my idol. I stay up to date with all of your posts and I hope to one day be in a very similar spot that you now hold! YES to coconut oil and candida.. kinda extreme (but you are probably familiar with these) I had a couple tablespoons throughout the day with no other food- lots of detox and bye bye candida! Fun experiment May need to try again…
Also, watched your oil pulling video yesterday and so giving it a go tomorrow!
Also (x2) posted your book on my new website
yay! LOVE and LIGHT !
Carly Morgan » Oh thank you so much Carly!! That’s awesome xx