Can you eat raw virgin coconut oil?
YES. The basic rule of raw foods is that foods are unprocessed and uncooked to retain highest nutritional value and benefit to the body.
With regard to virgin coconut oil, during extraction of the coconut oil, the temperature cannot go above 40 C / 104 F. If it does, the oil cannot be classified as raw.
How to add virgin coconut oil to diet?
You can use it for cooking your favorite dish. Virgin coconut oil is perfect for cooking because almost 90% of its fatty acids are saturated, making it extremely stable at high temperatures.
Virgin coconut oil can be substituted for other oil or butter in a 1:1 ratio in most recipes.
You can add virgin coconut oil to coffee or tea.
Can you swallow virgin coconut oil?
Drink virgin coconut oil. It is nutty delicious. Just consume it by the spoonful (in moderation; a tablespoon is just all the fat you should drink in a day). Just do not waste it by using it as a mouthwash to whiten your teeth.
How do you take virgin coconut oil?
Start slowly to avoid the unsettled stomach and loose stools that may occur with high intake.
Consume 1 teaspoon per day, gradually increasing to 1 tablespoon per day over 1–2 weeks.
Consuming 1- 2 tablespoons per day is enough to achieve health benefits, but it is best to work up to this amount gradually.
VIRGIN COCONUT OIL SMOOTHIE KETO RECIPE
This coconut oil smoothie keto was concocted to boost immunity.
Make an emulsion. It will be quite helpful in making the virgin coconut oil more miscible with water and easier to digest. For this, we use non-GMO lecithin to bind the ingredients together.
Lecithin from non-GMO soy or sunflower seed is rich in inositol and choline, which are elements that nourish the brain and overall cell function. It is also extremely bioavailable in pasture-raised egg yolks.
INGREDIENTS:
1-tablespoon wildflower raw honey (optional)
1–2 tablespoons high quality virgin coconut oil
1–2 teaspoons sunflower seed lecithin powder. If working with granulated lecithin, always use a bit more (in this coconut oil smoothie, it would be about 1 tablespoon).
PREPARATION PROCEDURE:
1) Use ¼-cup hot water.
2) Blend on high for 30 seconds, or until the mix is emulsified or fully blended.
When should I drink VCO?
In general, either virgin coconut oil smoothie may be taken anytime of the day, as a single dose or divided doses spread throughout the whole day. If specific concern is weight loss, take it before meals. If problem is constipation, take it after dinner.
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VIRGIN COCONUT OIL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Which virgin coconut oil is best?
Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 16 Ounce
The Viva Naturals is made of only the finest organic coconut fruits, harvested by hand from the ecologically sustainable plantations in the Philippines, and undergoes a procedure that does not include anything artificial.
The coconut fruits are harvested at their peak freshness before these are extracted into the purest possible form of virgin coconut oil.
Nutiva Organic, Unrefined, Virgin Coconut Oil, 78 Fl Oz
Nutiva virgin coconut oil has almost the same composition of medium-chain triglycerides in a vegan, non-GMO formulation. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified it as organic so you will feel more at ease whenever you consume a teaspoonful of this virgin coconut oil.
Nature's Way Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Pure & Unrefined, Cold-Pressed, USDA Organic, Non-GMO, 32 Ounce
You can have peace of mind knowing Nature’s Way is pure and contains no gluten or hexane. It does not contain GMO ingredients as well. It is a good product to maintain your healthy hair and skin while also giving it the chance to boost your immune system.
How do you know if coconut oil is virgin?
Unrefined coconut oil is normally considered virgin and it have a light delicious coconut taste and aroma that will vary from brand to brand.This “virginity” mostly depends on the freshness of the coconut used and type of processing it was subjected to.
What is the difference between virgin coconut oil and regular coconut oil?
Coconut oil comes in two forms: refined and unrefined, or virgin.
The instant differences between Virgin and Refined Coconut Oil are the taste and aroma.
Another difference between virgin coconut oil and refined coconut oil is that virgin coconut oil is unrefined.
Virgin coconut oil is usually produced using cold pressed method. It is extracted using a single press method from fresh coconut meat that is grated and dried for a couple of hours at a temperature lower than 40 degrees Celsius.
On the other hand, refined coconut oil comes from dried coconut meat. The oil is taken out under high heat (often steam) and then goes through a bleaching (natural earthen bleaching clay) and deodorizing process.
Refined coconut oil does not smell like coconut -- it has a neutral odor and flavor.
Is virgin coconut oil anti inflammatory?
Interestingly, virgin coconut oil has been shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits.
It has antimicrobial effects on Clostridium difficile. The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil have an antimicrobial effect on different fungal diseases that can occur in the body.
In one research study, scientist applied virgin coconut oil to the inflamed ears of rats. Not only was virgin coconut oil found to have an anti-inflammatory effect, but it relieved pain as well.
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VIRGIN COCONUT OIL BENEFITS
For many years, we have been fooled to believe that virgin coconut oil is completely bad for the body.
Virgin coconut oil is made up of almost 90% saturated fats. Saturated fats called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) that are not as all other saturated fats (such as long-chain triglycerides (TCL)) found in most foods.
Actually, MCTs are metabolized differently. They are more rapidly degraded and absorbed by the body, providing a quick energy source and less likely to be stored as fat in your belly. Medium chain triglycerides are therefore extremely beneficial for your health and metabolism.
There is increasing evidence that virgin coconut oil offers some health benefits, both internally and externally. Here are some of the benefits based on several research studies.
Remember some of the experiments are done on rats, so you are lucky if are a rat. This is not a cure-all product. It may work for others but will not effective on your condition.
1) Virgin coconut oil can help with weight loss. It can aid with weight loss, especially with doses of unrefined coconut oil. It also acts as an appetite suppressant.
Capric acid in virgin coconut oil helps boost thyroid performance, which in turn reduces a body's resting heart rate and aids in burning fat for an increased energy boost.
The fat in coconut oil raises our metabolism of fat and stabilizes our weight.
A tablespoon of oil can quell cravings for sweets in the afternoon.
2) Helps stop heart disease and high blood pressure. The fatty acids in virgin coconut oil can encourage your body to burn fat, and they provide quick energy to your body and brain. They also raise HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood, which may help reduce heart disease risk.
3) Good for lowering blood sugar and minor diabetes. Extra virgin coconut oil can reduce hypoglycemic attacks, hunger pangs and snacking during meals by contributing to stabilizing the glycemic response.
4) Helps fight back against Alzheimer's disease. The medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) component in virgin coconut oil aids in restoring brain function in Alzheimer patients.
5) Aids in liver health. Virgin coconut oil also guards against any damage to the liver.
6) May reduce seizures. Capric acid in virgin coconut oil acts as a non-competitive AMPA receptor antagonist at therapeutically relevant concentrations, in a voltage- and subunit-dependent manner, and this is sufficient to explain its antiseizure effects.
7) A boost in good cholesterol. It can increase one's level of good cholesterol.
8) Help in quality of life (QOL) among breast cancer patients. Virgin coconut oil consumption during chemotherapy helped improve the functional status and global quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients.
In addition, it reduced the symptoms related to side effects of chemotherapy.
9) Virgin coconut oil boosts energy. Unrefined coconut oil can increase energy and endurance.
10) Aids with digestion. It helps with food digestion by aiding the body take in fat-soluble components like vitamins and magnesium.
Is coconut oil good for gut bacteria?
Some Youtubers and armchair experts claim that virgin coconut oil has a probiotic effect and strengthens the intestinal flora.
Lauric acid makes up about 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil. When your body digests Lauric acid, it forms a substance called monolaurin.
Both Lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
11) Acts as an ointment for wounds and burns. Virgin coconut oil is good for the skin, especially in the treatment of dermatitis, wounds, and burns.
12) Acts as an anti-aging component. Rich with antioxidants, virgin coconut oil is known to slow the aging process, generally by curbing any undue stress on the liver. This is according to anecdotal testimonies of some beauty bloggers on Youtube.
There is some evidence that virgin coconut oil may help treat dermatitis better than other oils.
One such research study looked at the effects of coconut oil in rats and found faster healing time for wounds. Researchers attributed this to increased collagen components from the coconut oil.
13) May protect your skin, hair, and teeth. Virgin coconut oil has many uses that have nothing to do with eating it or making coconut oil smoothie keto.
Many beauty conscious people use it for cosmetic purposes to improve the health and appearance of their skin and hair.
REFERENCES:
Chang P, Augustin K, Boddum K, Williams S, Sun M, Terschak JA, Hardege JD, Chen PE, Walker MC, Williams RS. 2016. Seizure control by decanoic acid through direct AMPA receptor inhibition. Brain. 139 (Pt 2): 431–443. doi:10.1093/brain/awv325. PMC 4805082. PMID 26608744.
Erica Palmcratz Aziz. 2018. Superfood Boost: Immunity-Building Smoothie Bowls, Green Drinks, Energy Bars, and More!. Skyhorse. ASIN: B075SK3KDC. https://amzn.to/2yhxKUv
John Schott. 2015. Superfood Shakes: How To Go Beyond Smoothies to Craft Whole Food Super Shakes to Enhance Natural Immunity, Strength, and Beauty. Archangel Ink. ASIN: B015YS0CF0. https://amzn.to/2UNgTQO
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