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Jeff Brinkley
4 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 12 2005 : 08:58:22
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I have looked at Quack Watch but have not found anything on coconut oil. Does anyone know anything on coconut oil - does it help you use weight, help fight the flu.... ect?
Thanks
Jeff |
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Terry Dunkle
USA
695 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2005 : 12:17:11
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| Coconut oil is one of the notorious "tropical oils" that contain more saturated fat than others. Who says it helps you lose weight or fight the flu? This sounds about as quacky as Coral Calcium (see www.dietpower.com/coralcalcium.htm ). |
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Jeff Brinkley
4 Posts |
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Terry Dunkle
USA
695 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2005 : 13:51:35
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Bears all the earmarks of quackery. Author cites just a few (sometimes old) studies that seem to support the premise, but ignores many other studies that would refute it. Author dismisses low-fat diets, which are supported by decades of nutrition research. Page is obviously designed to sell coconut oil, not to present an objective report on its benefits and drawbacks.
Women's World is not noted for scientific rigor. |
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mntwinsmom
USA
274 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2005 : 18:53:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Brinkley
I have looked at Quack Watch but have not found anything on coconut oil. Does anyone know anything on coconut oil - does it help you use weight, help fight the flu.... ect?
Thanks
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Terry spends a lot more time truly studying all this nutritional stuff and I will always defer to his judgement and research regarding scientific studies etc. and, once more, I agree with him. That being said, in the "for what it's worth" catagory, I've encountered writing on it too so:
Coconut Oil is suggested in Dana Carpender’s 500 Low-Carb Recipes cookbook as “…an excellent substitute for hydrogenated vegetable shortening…” (p.23) While she continues on to tell you where to find it, she really never mentions that there’s a nutritional reason for using it other than NOT using Crisco. She ends her section on coconut oil by saying that using it to sauté food doesn’t change the flavor of what you’re cooking. In short, it’s truly a matter of taste. I use it because I don’t like the heaviness of olive oil when I am stir-frying my veggies (and now that I’ve started using coconut oil – yes, I taste the difference and olive oil is heavier to me). Please keep in mind, Carpender is not and does not profess to be a doctor or a nutritionist. She’s someone who has eaten low-carb for a long time and remained healthy (according to her own press) but she’s a writer as far as I know. She’s collected some awesome recipes but she’s simply a writer.
If you’re finding out about coconut oil, you’re also probably going to be reading about macadamia nut oil at some point (if you haven’t already). Fred Pescatore, M.D. wrote in one of his books The Hampton’s Diet, that we should “remember the fatty-acid profile of [our] cooking oils and salad oils too.” (p. 16) He goes on to iterate why we should use this oil. It took me forever but I found a bottle and bought it because I like to try new stuff when I’m cooking. It doesn’t alter the flavor of what I’m cooking either and it’s not heavy. What’s irritating to me is that the only bottle I was able to track down carried his name so I feel like he’s promoting a product that he’s the only one making but I haven’t really done any research on it. Dr. Pescatore was a former Atkin’s person at the Atkins Center. I don’t know what his medical specialty is or frankly what research he’s basing his claims on about the macadamia nut oil. But, I like to read cookbooks and the information is there.
It frankly all does seem a bit like hype. But, that’s just me and my doubting ways. I do like the lighter oil to cook with but I haven’t heard much more about either one being particularly better for us. They are oils – in excess I would think they’d probably be bad at some point.
So – there’s my two cents.
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Edited by - mntwinsmom on Feb 13 2005 22:57:31 |
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phantomqueen
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - May 27 2005 : 10:27:09
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| Be careful with coconut oil. Coconuts are that, nuts, and you can have problems with it if you are food allergy prone. Palm oil is of course related and it's a "no, no" oil found in almost everything from crackers to ice cream. (Check the B&J's a lot of the flavors have it. Part of the reason gourmet ice cream is so rich!) Once in a while in Thai food or whatever and it wouldn't hurt you, but IMHO it's not the best oil to use on a daily basis. Stuff personally makes me break out in hives if I get too much of it... |
Edited by - phantomqueen on May 27 2005 10:29:38 |
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mehriels
5 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2006 : 22:41:50
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| hello. i'm mehriels, a new member here.I read the discussions on virgin coconut oil.just want to say that i believe virgin coconut oil is healthy. It strengthens the immune system, will help you lose weight, and can cure a lot of diseases even aids and cancer. Its so popular nowadays that its easy to get info on the subject.there are a lot of books and websites available. |
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Lane
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2006 : 19:36:59
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I'm going to vote with mehriels on this one and here's why:
First, there are many natural foods that were banned by the nutrition gurus. Examples: eggs, avacados, walnuts. The experts have since backtracked.
Second, and most importantly, (at least to me) any food that grows has "life" inside of it. All convenience foods have the "life" refined right out of it -- thus prolonging shelf life. It is best to eat anything that will spoil -- just eat it before it does. The life that it holds is passed on to nourish you. Your body wants and needs life.
Coconuts grow, therefore they have life inside of them. However, just as it is unwise to eat a gallon of strawberries, it is unwise to eat too much of any one food, that's why we were given such variety. Enjoy all living foods in moderation.
Lastly, and here is where my real bias comes in, I submit this for your consideration:
Genesis 1:29-31
29 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so.
31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Live long & prosper!
Regards, Lane
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Lane
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2006 : 19:45:02
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quote:
Originally posted by phantomqueen
Be careful with coconut oil. Coconuts are that, nuts, and you can have problems with it if you are food allergy prone. Palm oil is of course related and it's a "no, no" oil found in almost everything from crackers to ice cream. (Check the B&J's a lot of the flavors have it. Part of the reason gourmet ice cream is so rich!) Once in a while in Thai food or whatever and it wouldn't hurt you, but IMHO it's not the best oil to use on a daily basis. Stuff personally makes me break out in hives if I get too much of it...
I'm not so worried about the coconut oil that's found in these foods; it's the gargantuan amount of refined SUGAR that will kill you!
P.S. The word "refined" basically means that the nutritious elements of a given food has been removed! Sugar cane does have nutrients, it's just that they are taken out to make it "pretty," which subsequently ends up making it "deadly."
Lane |
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phantomqueen
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2006 : 14:43:18
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Coconut Oil is actually pretty good when used in moderation.
It can help you a lot if you have an inflammitory bowl problem, for instance. (Some folks with IBS etc have found using small amts of Coconut Oil helps. It has a compound which seems to regulate conditions like IBS, Chron's etc. You can also eat Macaroons or fresh coconut to get it...)
But yes, it is a NUT and it can have a bad effect on you if you are allegic or have food sensitivities to nuts products.
I personally cannot use it because I get very sick after I eat coconut products in general.
Some nuts, like PB bug me a lot. Almond butter on the other hand I can eat and nothing happens. Coconut Oil can make me very sick.
It's in a lot of foods, everything from crackers to some Ben and Jerry's pints so you do have to be careful there.
It is a tasty oil though, and perfect in some cuisines. |
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foodcritic
1 Posts |
Posted - Jun 08 2007 : 13:47:23
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I have been using coconut oil for a variety of things and you must educate yourself on the properties of this oil before falling for the old "it's bad for you" thinking. It is right up there with olive oil in being a truly good oil to add to food.
There is a book called "The Coconut Oil Miracle"... I hope that is the correct title, and I think the author's last name is Fife.
If you're really interested, get the book at Amazon and read it before writing off coconut oil.
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Coconut Oil
