hahaha! (this is my cat cali, AKA "coco"-lander...derived from cali-CO...how original! haha!!)
okay, so i am a big fan of my cat cali coco-lander, but that's not what this post is about! hehe!! i wanted to drop ya'll a line and let you know the book i am currently reading-- "Eat Fat Lose Fat" by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon. its mostly about how using coconut and coconut oil (not cali "cocos" heheh...altho pets do help keep us healthy, but that's another blog topic! ;) pardon the mid-sentence tangent! but hey, you're used to it...hehe!) can help you get healthier--lose weight, recover from illness, etc... well, im not one to fall for fad stuff or things that seem to good to be true, and i was skeptical when my hubby decided to check this book out from the library, especially when i saw the cover of the book said something about "coconut diets!" :-O
so let's back up a bit. as i have progressed along my journey to better health and have become more educated about current studies and opinions on food and nutrients, i have really changed my own view about FATS in general.
i mean come on, when you're fat, it seems like fat is the last thing you should be eating, right?? WRONG!
for the last year or so, i've been focusing on eating more healthy fats and trying (let me stress TRYING *lol*) to get away from eating those addicting trans fats. olive oil, nuts, eggs, fish/cod liver oil, primrose oil, flax oil (usually ground seeds, not the actual oil--its too unstable and goes rancid quickly), coconut oil--those are all ones i consume on a pretty normal basis.
i have NOT gained weight from it, having even up to 40 or 45% of my calories coming from these fats on some days. i have noticed clearer skin (coconut oil is now my ONLY moisturizer for my face and body), softer hair and my dry skin is gone. woohoo!
and it goes WAY further than the weight issue or outward stuff. because of the low-fat craze of the 80's, most of us dont have a clue that healthy fats are not our enemies. sure, people lose weight going the low-fat route cause they are consuming hundreds of calories less.
however, they're also robbing themselves of nutrients, and in addition losing out on many other nutrients they are taking in from their salads and slim-fast bars because our body needs fats to use many of the vitamins in minerals in our foods.
(fyi--any salad you have should contain at least 8g of fat so those greens are actually worth eating!! LOL so if you MUST have low-fat or fat-free dressing, throw some walnuts and pumpkin seeds on that salad!)
we need fat to make hormones, lower stress (hormone related!), have energy, feel full, aid digestion, and heck, we need fat to BE HAPPY! everyone who's gone on a fat-free diet knows that! ;)
anyhoo...back to coconut oil! we have actually been using coconut oil off and on for a few years in our smoothies and to cook with. its solid at room temp--yep, its a saturated fat! now, dont freak out! ;) here's some of the great things about coconut oil:
- its VERY stable (takes a LONG time to go rancid/slow oxidation) and has a high smoke point, which makes it great for cooking/frying at low/med temps
- the saturated fats in coconut oil are medium-chain--which means our bodies use it differently than normal saturated fats (for example, butter). it is metabolized more quickly, which is why it also helps boost your metabolism! in addition, it's not converted into cholesterol like animal-based saturated fats are in excess.
- it's rich in lauric acid, which is anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal! this has given coconut oil a good name in the treatment of many diseases and also prevention. (it even helps clear up acne and get rid of warts!! i speak from personal experience!)
- and most of all, it enhances and supports our immune system with the nutrients it contains! (and boosting your immune system will solve many-a-physical ailment, as i have personally experienced in the last few months!)
so, ya think my list is boring and bookish? 8-) check out this site for an interesting and humorous read on the benefits of coconut oil! (side note on this link: at the end she mentions Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. that's what i use!)
so ta kinda summarize my point of this post...it will take me a few more days to finish this book, but i can tell it is going to be a great source of information on getting healthier in general, and i am starting to see how adding a little more coconut oil (and a LOT less trans fats) will really help me with my recovery from endometriosis.
(i love to read all sorts of health books--even if they are somewhat one-sided--so i can take out of it what i feel applies to me and just add it to my opinions and use it!! anyhoo...hehe...)
i need to lose weight, which will help my body get rid of all that extra estrogen being stored in all my excess body fat! coconut oil will help boost my metabolism and help me feel satiated so i dont crave junk. and this means i will want less fast-food-evil-trans-fatty crapola, which will indirectly help my immune system function properly!
and with my immune system purring like a kitten, my poor adrenals can normalize and my anxiety will lessen even more.
oh and one other thing, the book reallly loves cod liver oil, especially when taken with the coconut oil because the nutrients in each help the body use the other. i take cod liver oil every day and it has greatly reduced my anxiety, among countless other benefits! (the best brand IMHO--Carlson's!)
one last thing! the other day i was reading thru the website of one of my fave places to get skin care (every once in a while, for a special treat!). and found an interesting concoction i am going to try starting tomorrow! it's called "morning brew." here's the recipe (also in the link):
- 2 tea bags of organic white tea
- 1 T cold pressed organic virgin coconut oil
- 1 T organic unsulphered black strap molasses
- 1 T organic raw honey
- 1 T organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
however, im going to use fresh lemon juice instead of the apple cider vinegar (personal preference lol). since im not having smoothies much these days, i thought this might be an easy way to get some coconut oil while i have my tea every morning. plus, i've read lots of good things about blackstrap molasses in helping women with reproductive issues by providing extra iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium! all stuff i need!! i'll let you know how i like it ;) haha!
there's so much info out there about why we need fat to be healthy, so if my blabblings intrigue you, PLEASE go out and do some of your own research and see what works for you! :D you will be healthier for it!!
and remember, even for the most healthy of foods, MODERATION is the key. getting a great variety of whole foods (AND FATS!) will give your body a chance to heal itself of all of what we consider "normal aches and pains," function at peak performance, and live longer more fulfilling lives!! and that's what we all want, right?
~josey~
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