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DO A RACHEL WITH THE MIRACLE FOOD THAT’S SO GOOD
Cooking with coconut oil is SO 2008, as the cast of hit sitcom Friends might say. Nobody could really argue with that since Jennifer Aniston was spotted with a trolley-load, though for tougher types, perhaps the fact the England Rugby Union team of 2007 were reaping its benefits is even more significant.
Coconut oil is being touted as the health food of 2008 – something of a turnaround given the bad press it received in the ‘80s. Faulty science back then painted all fats as bad guys. Since that time, surveys examining the health of worldwide communities, who rely on the coconut as the main staple in their diet, have shown how healthy they are. They don’t refer to the coconut palm as “The Tree of Life” without reason.
Coconut oil is now dubbed a ‘functional food’ – one providing health benefits beyond its nutritional or calorie content. Although its composition is 90% saturated fat, 44.6% of it is lauric acid. This is the basis for naturopathic, Dr Bruce Fife, giving it the title of ‘the healthiest oil on earth’, in his book The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil.
The only other abundant source of lauric acid is breast milk, which offers similar nutritional benefits. The difference between the fat molecule in coconut oil and that in other oils is significant. All oils are composed of molecules called fatty acids. These consist of long chains of carbon atoms, with hydrogen atoms attached. They are either short chain, medium chain, or long chain.
Most of those in our Western diet are long chain (LCFA), but virgin coconut oil is composed of medium chain fatty acids. This means they do not circulate in the blood, but are sent directly to the liver. There, they are converted into energy, just like carbohydrates, rather than being stored as fat.
Coconut oil’s benefits have long been acknowledged by Pacific Islanders, Hawaiians and communities in Sri Lanka and Southern India. It has long been prized for its medicinal qualities, often linked to its anti microbial and other viral properties. Those who make coconut oil part of their diet rarely suffer digestive or bacterial-related problems and generally enjoy better health than Western counterparts.
This super food has also been shown to assist weight loss, by speeding up the body’s metabolism and burning more calories. It is cholesterol-free, said to be heart healthy and viewed as a great de-toxifier.
All these benefits have been overlooked because much of the coconut oil that has saturated the market, in past decades, has been hydrogenated. This means its natural chemical composition has been altered, destroying the natural goodness coconut oil should deliver.
To enable Western societies to benefit from coconut oil – which in its natural form is even more beneficial than the much lauded olive oil – one of the United States most trusted suppliers of organic and naturally produced health foods has extended its sphere of operation.
Working with natural coconut suppliers in the Philippines, where the local economy truly benefits from its coconut trade, Barleans has been able to bring a wholly natural coconut oil product to the health market.
Barleans Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is produced from coconuts harvested when their flavour and nutritional value is at its peak. Organic expeller, or hand-pressed coconut oil, as produced by Barleans, retains its natural white colour, light texture, mild taste and fresh coconut scent.
This differs greatly from hydrogenated coconut oil, which is yellowish white, tasteless and colourless. Barleans coconut oil is also solvent and chemical free. From a pure and pristine environment, Barleans produces a yield of pure and pristine oil.
Each plantation, as well as the coconut oil extraction process, is certified as organic. Every organic coconut is hand selected and picked fresh and the oil is produced on a just-on-time ordering basis, backed by pressing and on-demand bottling that brings the oil from tree-top to the table in record time.
Healthy & Essential is delighted to be able to bring this virgin coconut oil to its customers as from March 20, 2008. Whether you choose to use it in a stir-fry or curry, add it to a risotto, create a coconut-fried tofu dish, or knock up a coconut oil salad dressing, this added ingredient is one to help keep you in peak condition.
If you want to really emulate the Pacific Islanders, you can also use it as a skin moisturiser and softener, or as a hair tonic.
We’re not sure how Jennifer Aniston reaps her benefits, but your chance to explore the world of coconut oil is just a few clicks away. Anyone placing an order between March 7-31 will receive a free 16 oz tub worth £8.99, making them the one with a miracle food at their fingertips. As the cast of Friends might say, that’s SO cool and SO Healthy & Essential.
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