Since I recently wrote a little about some benefits of coconut oil is to your health, maybe you’ve been thinking about including it in your diet but wondering how much to take and how to take it. The recommendation I’ve generally seen is to take 3.5 – 4 T. daily, spread out throughout the day. The reason to take it regularly instead of all at one time is it helps to keep your metabolism running strong all day. However, start with a smaller amount, like a teaspoon at each meal, and slowly build up. That way your body can get used to it – otherwise you might experience a strong cleansing reaction which is positive for your health but not pleasant.
– Shakes/smoothies (since it chunks up, coconut milk may be more useful)
Mix into hot tea, coffee, milk
Bake with it, using it to replace shortening, margarine, or butter.
Saute or fry foods with it.
Spread it on bread or crackers like butter.
Use it as a salad dressing base, mixed with 50% olive oil so that it will pour more easily and not chunk up when poured on cold salad
Pop popcorn with it.
Make healthy desserts with it – my favorite way is to make healthy chocolate.
Spread it on your skin – it will be absorbed and help nourish you from the outside in!
If you already use coconut oil and have some great ways to enjoy it, please share them with us in the comments section!
Avivah
Please explain “healthy chocolate” :o) Thanks!
Will post recipe soon!
Oh, I found a kosher (Rabbi Teichman of LA) and organic coconut milk at Kroger! Of course I tried to remember the name of the stuff, but cannot (I will bli neder write it down next time I am in the store). It does not have the emulsifiers, just guar gum. I cannot remember if it has sulfites to keep it white. Will update as I get more info.
Irrelevant comment to this post, but care sharing what meals you serve in preparation for a fast? 🙂
Keep me posted with details, Yael!
LN – I don’t have anything standard, though it tends to be something light like fish. Whatever it is, I’ll post it in my menu plan for next week.
Here is the info on the organic coconut milk: Native Forest Organic Coconut Milk. Ingredients: Coconut, Water, guar gum. Hashgacha Rabbi Teichman of LA. Website: edwardandsons.com
I found it at Payless (our local version of Kroger) for $2.49. I have purchased regular kosher coconut milk for $1.50-$2.00 so it isn’t such a big stretch and coconut milk is so yummy!!
100% coconut oil is the best “hair product” I’ve ever used for my Ethiopian daughter’s hair. 🙂
I made that suggestion in my post about ways to use coconut oil when you’re not eating it! http://oceansofjoy.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/non-edible-use-of-coconut-oil/ But I really wasn’t happy with the results for my shaitel.
My recipe: open coconut oil jar, insert spoon, eat happily 🙂 I also make easy chocolate with it, cut it into chips and mix those into my banana “ice cream” (frozen chunks of banana food processed into soft serve like consistency)
Welcome, Kelly Michelle, and your ideas sound delicious! I make healthy chocolate with coconut oil, but never chopped it into chips. I also make banana ice cream just like you mentioned, and adding chocolate chips is a decadent sounding idea!