{Photo credit: Cookies For Breakfast}
It seems the whole world is abuzz about coconut oil right now. Health gurus are touting its benefits, and regular everyday people becoming smitten with using this fat in their cooking. But why?
Lucky for you, we’re here to help, with 4 reasons why you should be cooking with coconut oil. Let’s get to it!
Benefits Metabolism
Believe it or not, cooking with coconut oil can help you lose weight! Coconut oil boosts your metabolism, and as a result of that boost, you’ll have more energy.
Also related to the boost in metabolism is a boost in your immune function: an improved metabolic rate will help improve your body’s immune system, and increase your body’s ability to heal faster.
Withstands Cooking Temperatures
Coconut oil is the only oil that can withstand all cooking temperatures, making it the best option for any kind of cooking that is done with heat.
Common cooking oils such as olive, vegetable, corn, soy, safflower, sunflower, and canola, can form toxic chemicals when heated, and can actually oxidize at high enough temperatures (such as for frying). Oxidized oils are more dangerous for your body than trans-fats! They are toxic to your organs and can damage the balance of fatty acids in your body.
Improves Cholesterol
Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, in the form of lauric acid, which actually helps improve your good HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid that is also present in breastmilk. It is also thought to have antibacterial/antiviral/antifungal properties, which also contributes to the feel-good benefits of coconut oil.
You may be thinking, “Isn’t saturated fat bad?” Truth is, not all saturated fats are bad! Some, such as coconut oil, are actually beneficial to your body, as seen in the cholesterol example.
Avoid GMOs and Animal Fats
Vegetable oils are traditionally made with plants that are usually grown using GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds, which have been linked to serious health problems such as cancer and food allergies, among many other issues. Coconuts have yet to be reached by the GMO madness (read: they’re safe!), and by buying organic coconut oil, you can avoid dangerous GMOs in your cooking.
Additionally, if you have a dairy allergy or if you are vegan, coconut oil fits into your diet perfectly. It can be used in virtually any cooking or baking recipe, and help you avoid animal fats such as butter.
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If you’re not cooking with coconut oil yet, try some today!
