Coconut Oil

11:31 AM Posted In , , Edit This 1 Comment »
Coconut oil, despite it's bad reputation, is a wonderful addition to a healthy diet. Coconut oil has a thermogenic effect. Basically, it raises your body temperature which increases your metabolism. Middle Chain Fatty Acids (the type of fat in coconut oil) actually uses up energy as they are being metabolized, this is why it is good to add a moderate amount of coconut oil to your daily menu plan.

Coconut oil also contains high amounts of lauric acid, a proven antiviral, antibacterial, antifungl and antiparisitic agent. The only other place lauric acid has been found is human milk. Lauric acid is converted in the human body into monolaurin which helps your body to defend itself agains viruses (like herpes, measels, HIV), and bacteria (such as staph infections and listeria that causes food poisoning) as well as parasites.

Coconut oil is perfect for many types of cooking or uncooking! It is solid when below 72 degrees and oil when warmer. It is the perfect oil for sauteeing because it doesn't create trans fats at high temperatures like most oil (including canola, vegetable and olive oils.) Coconut oil is great for making raw desserts as well as baking breads and cookies! You can use it in place of any oil or lard in cooking, with good success.

Coconut oil is great for people suffering with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, AIDS, gallbladder disease, osteoporosis, Crohn's Disease, and hypoglycemia (which is what I take it for.) I have even heard people say that coconut oil helps them to kick the sugar habit!

So, if you have margarine, shortening, lard and vegetable oils in your pantry get on the healthy bandwagon and replace them all with coconut oil!

Want to learn more about coconut oils benefits? Check to see if your library carries a great little book called The Coconut Oil Miracle. Concerned about saturated fats in coconut oil? Great video!

There are some great deals on coconut oil out there, just make sure you do not purchase hydrogenated coconut oil!



Day 3 Green Smoothie Challenge

12:13 PM Posted In , , , , , , Edit This 1 Comment »
Well, I've decided I will post how I am doing with the 10 points to the Green smoothie challenge here. I will also add some recipes, ideas, plans and hopefully some encouragement here too!
  1. Water: I do pretty good drinking my water up until crazy hour (4p.m. to about 8p.m.), so tomorrow I am going to try to drink most of my water before then. How do you make sure you are getting your 8-12 glasses?
  2. One QUART of Green smoothie. Check. I have all the leftovers from the demo nights!
  3. Consumption of raw veggies and fruits. Check. Haley made me a HUGE salad for lunch, it had romaine lettuce, vidalia onions, tomatoes, green and black olives, cucumbers, sun dried tomatoes, pink sea salt and lemon juice.
  4. Whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds: see #5 nut butter
  5. I put coconut oil in a smoothie (not my green smoothie..here's what I did, frozen bananas, 1 tablespoon carob powder, dash of salt, scoop of coconut oil, 1 spoonful of nut butter and vanilla...yummy)
  6. Kelp, dulse, nori or seaweed...will sprinkle some dulse on my suppertime salad.
  7. I took Ultimate Defense upon arising this morning (with two glasses of water) and I take another one at bedtime.
  8. Oops...at lunch I did eat a taste of the homemade spaghetti the kids made. I guess that was flour pasta, so I messed up on that one!
  9. After my supper salad I will have had 3 meals with the largest percentage being raw. I did have a snack, the banana smoothie.
  10. I took a long walk with Macey today, but I wouldn't say I pushed myself. I really have to think of what I can do for exercise. Any ideas or suggestions? I like to play tennis but I don't have the equipment. I am open to any one who wants a work out partner, but it can't be expensive. I need some support and suggestions here!
Okay gals, now it's your turn! In the comments post your suggestions or how you have done with the 10 points today. Any other ideas or thoughts as well. Lets encourage each other and make it through the 30 days.

Interesting things to throw in a green smoothie? Well, try 1/4 to 1/2 of a raw beet! (If they look good you can also add the beet greens, they are very nutritious) The smoothie will no longer be green, but it will be sweeter and more nutritious!

Remember Eat to Live, not Live to Eat.

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