Ahhh, Coconut oil. Coconut oil can be used for a whole lot of things and the benefits are astounding!

Coconut oil is great in raw food recipes:

• Use 2 tsp of coconut oil daily in your morning smoothie.  It gives it such a nice texture and it is so good for you.
• Coconut oil is great in raw protein bars. It gives them a lovely texture and flavor and holds them together nicely.
• Treats, i.e. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil to your chia pudding to add a smooth creaminess.
• Add a little to your hot tea. For a special treat, add a pinch of raw cacao as well.
• Blend coconut oil with stevia and soaked cashews to make a delicious frosting.
• Blend coconut oil with soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, and other ingredients of your choosing for a delicious cheese alternative

I also enjoy cooking with coconut oil. I love to add some to my veggies before roasting them. It gives them such a great flavor.

Coconut oil is also great in showers since it can be used as a cleanser as well as a moisturizer for your whole body, some people use it on their faces.
It’s not a bad idea to keep it on your nightstand to remind yourself to moisturize with it – especially this time of year when our skin has been
left dry from the cold weather.  Coconut oil is great to massage into your scalp.  It is so beneficial for your hair and skin. There is a lot
to be said for anything that is chemical free that we can use on our bodies.  When it comes to using products on my body, I always figure
if you can eat it, that’s a great thing.

There are a lot of ways to use coconut oil and there are even more reasons why you should.

Coconut oil has lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid.  These acids give it antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidant
abilities.  It is mostly saturated fat, 92% with a small percentage being mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated.  Coconut oil is
one of those healthy fats!

Some of the benefits that are attributed to coconut oil include (but not limited to) help with:

• Heart disease
• Immunity
• Healing and infections
• Digestion
• Candida
• Kidney stones
• Liver disease
• Diabetes
• Stress
• Bone loss
• Tooth decay
• Alzheimer’s
• Hormone regulation
• Blood sugar regulation

“Coconut oil has fewer calories than any other fat source. Unlike the high-calorie, cholesterol-soaked, long-chain,
saturated animal fats found in meat and dairy products, coconut cream and coconut oil are made of raw saturated fats
containing mostly medium-chain fatty acids that the body can metabolize efficiently and convert to energy quickly.” (Wolfe, 2009)

In the 1940’s, coconut oil was used by some farmers to help fatten up their cows however; the opposite happened-the
cows actually became leaner.

Coconut oil is useful for bone and dental health because it improves calcium and magnesium absorption. This is good for
dental health.  It is especially beneficial to women who are at the age to develop osteoporosis.

When you go to order or purchase your coconut oil this is what you should look for: organic-raw-extra virgin-cold pressed. I love Blue Mountain Organics.

There is also coconut water (yum!), shredded coconut, and coconut butter! Just make sure the products you are
buying do not have added sugars. I love drinking coconut water on its own or adding it to my
smoothies. Coconut water is loaded with potassium and it helps replace fluids and salts lost during exercise.
When I am training for a marathon, I try to drink coconut water every day. I look for raw, organic. I love
Harmless Harvest and Harvest Bay (organic, unflavored variety) brands. I try to avoid Zico, Vita-Coco, O.N.E., and Naked coconut water.

If you don’t already, start adding coconut oil into life, you will not be sorry!

adapted from 2013 ©The Health Coach Group. All Rights Reserved.

*Be sure to join our next Ame Wellness group hosted by me on Facebook to
learn more great health tips and info. such as this. Our next group starts April 1st. For more information and to sign-up,
email me: Alyssa@www.amesalonandspa.com. I look forward to hearing from you!