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Posts Tagged ‘coconut oil’

5 Favorite Super Foods

15 Sep

(Extra Virgen) Coconut Oil – Not only is EVCO great for cooking, it is also an excellent skin treatment. The uses are endless and this product is used in many of the highest end organic cosmetic products, because it works. By the way, because EVCO is  primarily made up of Medium Chain Saturated Fatty acids ( all oils are blends of medium and long chain fatty acids. ) it has less calories than standard oil (6.7 versus 9).

Organic Cacao – Either roasting your own beans, or buying low temperature processed powdered cacao, this is one useful food. Cacao is known to be one of the best sources for trace minerals and nutrients such as magnesium.

Acai – A tasty super food originating from the Amazon River. I use this to add flavor to my greens supplements.

Spirulina – This stuff has been harvested throughout history. There is a wide variety of this on the market so choose carefully.

Maca – Maca is an adaptogen. This means it has shown to help regulate the endocrine system. This means restoring order to out of wack glands and all types of degenerative diseases. If your looking at a lifetime of medication of modern medical solution, you might want to do some research on this and other adaptogens.

I have come to prefer seperately source these foods first because products containing these prized ingredients command a premium in the marketplace. Each one of these foods has its in’s and outs to learn about. For example: Cacao’s flavor can vary greatly by species ( there are 3 variations of cacao that are sold on the world markets – Trinitario, Forastero or Criollo ) and soil/location as well. Same goes for Maca. Over time you will find sources that are appealing to your tastes.

 
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Posted in Ingredients, Tips on Healthy Living

 

An introduction to Coconut Oil

01 Jul

Recently I have been reading up on the differences between coconut oil and other vegetable based oils and have found some interesting information while reading a book called The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife.

This book contains very useful information as to what most oils are comprised of and how exposing them to heat affects their chemical compositions. It also discusses very clearly how these oils are digested. High grade food oils are expensive and coconut oil is no exception. As a consumer, its wise to educate yourself as you can then make a more informed decision as to what oils you will cook with and ultimately ingest into your body.

One of the most surprising pieces of info I have found so far is the medium chain fatty acids in Coconut oil contains 6.7 calories versus 9 per gram in other fat sources ( including olive oil). Your body also processes these fats differently,  they more directly converted into energy instead of being broken down and stored as fat throughout the body.

I have been cooking with coconut oil exclusively for about a month and have been very impressed with the results. I cook everything in it and you can substitute coconut oil for butter in many recipes. I will be posting more as I continue to experiment with my new favorite ingredient.

 
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Posted in Tips on Healthy Living