Although coconut oil is saturated it is the kind of fat that is good for you in moderation. People who live in tropical climates and who have a diet high in coconut oil are healthier, have less heart disease, cancer, colon problems and so on, than unsaturated fat eaters. Everyone needs some saturated fat. If all you eat is unsaturated, you're in trouble.
Over the past 40 years, Americans have increased their consumption of unsaturated fats and partially hydrogenated fats and have decreased their consumption of saturated fatty acids and butter. Lauric acid, the major fatty acid in coconut oil and breast milk, is rarely present in the American diet. Yet saturated fats are still being called the health culprits while grocery stores abound with many kinds of seed and nut oils. Many have been told that if the unsaturated oil is unprocessed, it is safe. This is untrue.
In addition to using coconut oil in baking/cooking I use it as a facial moisturizer and for cuts and lacerations. Now coconut milk...that will do me in.
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