I also drop a nice dollop in my morning smoothie and i believe it keeps me running all the way till lunch time. I also make a nice concoction for my skin with coconut oil, extra virgin oil and some other nice smelling oil like almond oil and it's the only thing that goes on my skin and hair. I would never ever use anything else and it's so darn cheap and good for you. My body and skin thanks me everytime i look in the mirror, i know it does - everyday.

A top-notch article with a load of references to support it. I've been using coconut oil for (E) All of the above, for years. Keeps my face looking ten years younger than my real age. But the illustration! I know, everybody's a critic, picky picky, but coconut oil just doesn't look like that! It's white and solid, like (gasp) lard or Crisco.

OTHER BENEFITS TO COCONUT OIL I HAVE DISCOVERED:

(1) I was "OIL PULLING" with coconut oil for some months.  My dental hygienist commented 3 times at my last appointment how clean my teeth were and couldn't believe it.  Oil pulling is a technique discovered by a Ukrainian doctor and is indicated that it helps free the body of disease.  You switch a good oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes each day and then spit it out.  They put this switched oil under a microscope and found bacteria, parasites etc.  They think it pulls this stuff out of your body.  My opinion is that bacteria, parasites etc enter the body from the mouth and by removing this in your mouth, you prevent it from entering the body.  Also, the good oils from the mouth penetrate the tissues in the mouth which help heal the body.

(2) Coconut oil makes a great toothpaste.  Coconut oil prevents dental caries and leaves your teeth feeling very clean. Just dip your toothbrush in coconut oil and brush.

(3) I put coconut oil on my hair before shampooing.  And then after I dry my hair, I take a very small amount to put on my hair where it looks dry.

(4) Coconut oil is great for the skin.  Leaves your skin very smooth.  I put in on my legs prior to shaving.  I also put in on my face.

(5) I do use it for removing make-up but be careful you don't get it in your eye since it burns.

(6) I use it for cooking but my kids don't like the taste.  Need to start the kids when they are very young - babies or toddlers.  It is harder to get them to like it when they get older.

Wow, from the comments, this topic is a winner, Dr. Mercola!

People might be surprised to know that coconut oil is also good as an ingredient in UNDERARM DEODORANT and in HOMEMADE SOAP.

Some people swear by a combination of coconut oil and baking soda as an underarm deodorant. People who have tried this claim that it really works and that, after some weeks on this regimen, their "baseline" smell (after the effects of the deodorant wear off) is much more neutral than before. The oil and soda are simply mixed in a small jar and a very small amount is applied to the underarm area after showering. The mixture needs to be stirred now and then as it has no added chemicals to stop the oil and soda from separating. People who want to wean off their aluminum antiperspirants may try this and see if it works for them.

A UK newspaper reported that, “A potential link between aluminium - commonly found in the form of aluminium salts in anti-perspirants - and breast cancer was found in the study by Chris Exley, at Keele University. A higher content of aluminium was found in breast tissue samples - taken from 17 women with breast cancer who had mastectomies at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester - near the underarm area where anti-perspirants and deodorants are applied. ‘Although the presence of aluminium in the breast does not, in itself, imply any causal link to breast cancer, it does underline the need for more research, especially in view of the known toxicity of aluminium,’ says Dr Exley.” [The aluminum does NOT just sit on the skin, it penetrates fairly deeply into the tissues near the application site.]

Coconut oil is also a good addition to homemade soap -- it makes a rich lather. In your soap recipe, try three parts olive oil to one part coconut oil.

I saw a Figian woman on TV doing a cooking demo and was disappointed to hear her say, "we no longer cook in lots of coconut milk and cream, because that would be a death sentence. We are making more healthy food choices these days." She was actully obese and looked far from healthy. When will the relentless and ignorant vilifying of saturated fat in the mainstream media end?

I have found coconut oil to be the ideal personal lubricant.

The introduction of the seed and grain oils- and the vilifying of the saturated fats - are not the only dietary changes to be introduced during the past 60 years, but the replacement of the traditional fats with the refined (degraded) faux saturates certainly was one of the main ones.

The good fats arrive with antioxidants and fat soluble vitamins. The refined fats do not.  So, even before factoring in the damage that the trans fats cause in our bodies, using these oils can lead to a deficiency in the fat soluble vitamins. So we hunger for more fats,because we need the vitamins etc that SHOULD be in them.

The other refined foods also contribute to this nutritional deficiency - they too are fractionalised foods.

We find that coconut oil works well in curries, and you get turmeric along with that healthy coconut oil. We put dried coconut or coconut milk in the curry to compliment the oil's flavor. There is a good book on the reasons coconut oil is a "miracle" and it has recipes like curried shrimp salad and salmon in coconut csauce --go check out an excerpt and look at the recipes: http://amzn.to/bom54p

I sense a bit of Political testosterone here - must be close to election time...heh heh...

Relax Dr. jimni - ALL Politicians are run by big business if you haven't figured that out by now - The Party doesn't matter...Big Bizz runs the Planet...Just Fololow the $$$ if you STILL don't get it...

I noticed that whenever I rub coconut oil (organic, extra virgin, cold pressed) on my body after my morning shower, my two kittens race up to me and start licking at my feet. They love the smell and taste. So I googled "coconut oil and cats" and found that apparently it can be healthy for your pets too. So now I give the kittens a few drops every now and then. It keeps them lean, healthy and free of fleas, and gives their fur a nice sheen.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when it comes to nutrition, it's my understanding that one size doesn't fit all. Foods that are highly beneficial for some, (according to our ancestry, blood type, metabolic type, etc.) could be toxic for others. As you're no doubt aware, those whose ancestors ate according to the Mediterranean diet make the same claims about olive oil as you're making about coconut oil. My Eastern European ancestors never saw a coconut. How do I know which choices to make?

It is true, South Sea Islanders thrive on coconut oil. However, if coconut oil were the primary fat eaten by people living in cold climates, it would make them sick and eventually kill them. It would also be detrimental to the health of a South Sea Islander if the primary fat eaten was Omega 3 fatty acids from cold-water fish. The Eskimos and Inuit Indians of the cold Northern climates of Canada and Alaska thrive on highly unsaturated Omega 3 fatty acids from cold-water fish and animals. The further North one lives and the colder the climate, the more unsaturated the fat eaten has to be in order to maintain health. The further South one lives, the more saturated the fat has to be in the diet in order to maintain health. In other climates, such as around the Mediterranean Sea for example, people thrive on olive oil which contains monounsaturated oleic and stearic Omega 9 fatty acids. We Americans in the lower 48 and Hawaii live in variable climates. Those living in the North will surely want their primary fat eaten during the Winter to be Omega 3s. Those living in Hawaii, Southern California, Florida and South Texas during the Winter need to eat less Omega 3 fatty acids and more Omega 9s. Some coconut oil for all of us would be beneficial for all the reasons Dr. Mercola stated in his article. But let's not forget the importance of other fats in the diet that must be determined by the time of year and what the temperature is outside.      

Being on a diet I no longer can eat chocolate coconut candy. Here is a little receipe  that taste as good as the real thing. It is ed   COCOA CRACK

2 tsp. Coconut oil, 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 packet of Stevia or Truvia. Put in a small dish and microwave for 20 sec.  Now mix together and put in freezer for 15-20 min.  If you want you can add a little almond butter in the center.   A tasty candy like treat.  jeannette/.w palm beach,fla

Coconut oil as an aid for Alzheimers treatment

An excellent article appeared in the October,2010 newsletter from the Alliance for Natural Health,USA.  Dr. Mary Newport, MD, a pediatric doctor was frustrated by the choices she had in the treatment of her husband, who had the early symptoms of Alzheimers Disease.  The article is fascinating, recounting the improvements in her husband's condition using coconut oil.  In this case MCT is the "magic" ingredient.  The article also appeared in the Stop Aging Now newsletter earlier this month.  

dr jimni makes a good remark about calling anyone a fool being very rude. He then continues to say (very rudely in his own words) that anybody who voted Obama deserves that same characteristic. I will not say to dr jimni that 'you are a fool, but you certainly express yourself like one'!

Back to coconut oil: I have been using it in my protein shake for a few months and without having a sound basis to prove anything, I actually think that it has solved some itchy dry skin problems of mine. I now understand why that might be and I am happy for all the other potentially positive effects listed by Dr Mercola.

Just a few helpful hints for some of the previous letters and questions.

Coconut oil is best unrefined, cold pressed and extracted from fresh coconuts NOT copra. Copra is coconuts that are smoked to partially dry the coconut meat. Oil extracted from this HAS to be refined to remove the smell, taste and brown colour. This refining is done at high temperatures and with solvents - which then have to be extracted from the oil. ALL this is detrimental to the finished product and is not good to be ingesting.

Coconut oil extracted from fresh coconut meat only needs straining to exclude any small particles of husk etc and will taste and smell of fresh coconut. There will be no refining neccessary. This oil will keep for years with no deterioration.

Coconut oil is not from the coconut milk/water. Canned coconut milk/cream generally is the water with some coconut oil added and also very finely ground coconut meat to thicken it and make it go further - therefore cheaper. Dessicated coconut has generally had all the oil extracted from it. Remembeer years ago when coconut would go rancid quite quickly - well now the extraction methods are better and No oil is left in before packing and selling.

Coconut oil versus Palm oil.

Coconut oil is from coconuts, from coconut palms. Tall slender palms with bunches of nuts at the top.

Palm oil palms are thick stemmed and chunky looking with bunches of small elongated seeds/nuts about 1-2 inches long which are lower to the ground. The fronds are bushy looking and get cut off close to the trunk to keep them clear of the seeds - it helps for harvesting. The natural oil from them is a dark brick red. It is also a tremendous oil if you can find it for sale, similar to the coconut oil but even better from the health angle. The oil is not generally available but unfortunately if you can find it, it is generally deodorised and decoloured to make it acceptable for adding to processed foods - because it is cheap.

Hope this helps.

I absolutely love coconut oil.

I cook with it...use it in my smoothies...eat it out of the jar. I dissolves in your mouth in seconds. No oily after taste. Yumm

Could anyone tell me how palm kernel oil stacks up against coconut oil? My son is allergic to coconut so I don't use coconut oil to cook with.

I was in Kerala in South India and they have the highest heart disease in the world. I love coconut oil and use it all the time but I have questions about the heart disease/high coconut oil use in Kerala. I found this article www.kerala.gov.in/keralacallmay04/p15-17.pdf . Does anyone know anything about this topic?

Thanks,

Maureen

When I use coconut oil on my face, I get acne.

You know what kills me about some of these cooks on the food channel? They're tell people, "you gotta get your self a good oil and get it to the smoking stage..." But none of them are educating people what's a "good oil" or how damaging the "smoking stage" is. Except for Giada and her olive oil, most of the food TV people push canola oil. Then people wonder why they feel so sick after eating their own cooking...

I love EV Coconut oil since it's also antibacterial. The cats love it too. When they get skin problems, I rub it in, instead of some expensive chemical from the pet store. Remember to take a teaspoon with magnesium to help absorb it since it's fat soluable.

I am allergic to coconut oil, eating it, or on my skin.  What oil would be as helpful for me if I cannot use this oil?

This is great news about lauric acid and the body converting it to monolaurin! Now that this is discovered it will be helpful if the pharma industry does not try to isolate it, genetically engineer it, patent it, and charge high prices for it! Long live nature's pharmacopeia :-) !!!

But not any coconut oil will do. Only the one Mercola sells is any good.

I thought grapeseed oil, with its high temeprature of burning, is also good for cooking. I have read that it is better than all the other vegetable oils (canola, corn, safflower, sunflower, etc.). Does anyone know if this is the case? Thanks.

While reading this I was expecting this to be leading up to another product the good Dr. was selling, lol.

Coconut oil is a great product, make sure to use Virgin oil, and Ive seen it work well as a moisturizer.

I LOVE coconut oil, I use it on me/in me and have for years! I put coconut milk/oil in my smoothie, with a spoonful of dried organic coconut, chia seeds, some ground almonds, a banana, some froz organic blueberries, banana, mangos and any other fruit I might have.  When I do eat a free range egg, I cook it in coconut oil.   I totally agree with all the research Dr. Mercola wrote and......the smell and texture is refreshing to say the least.  My main oils are extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil.

Does anyone know if one would derive the same health benefits from eating organic unsweetened coconut chips (All natural dried organic coconut with nothing added) as from eating coconut oil?A 1 ounce serving has 18g of fat like coconut oil, but also has 5g of fiber plus some iron. Here's where I buy coconut chips:  nuts.com/.../organic.html  Thanks for any feedback on this!

I am an avid reader of Dr Mercola's newsletter and I have been trying to get some info on the coconut oil that Dr Mercola sells on his site. Twice I have sent e-mails to Dr Mercola's "customer service" department asking about the packaging that his coconut oil comes in, which is a plastic container. I am aware that BPA's are leached from plastic containers into the food/liquid that it is holding, and also that Dr Mercola strongly advises doing everything possible to avoid BPA's (throw out all plastic containers, only eat out of glass containers, no canned foods, etc.) and I merely wanted to find out from his so-called "customer service" department if the container that Dr Mercola's coconut oil comes in is BPA free, or what their response is to my legitimate question.

So, now I am posting this question here as Dr M's customer service people seem to just ignore my question which makes me suspicious of any claims or products on this site. Not to mention the fact that ignoring your customers legitimate questions regarding products that you sell is just really lame and I want an answer to two questions now!

I understood that Coconut oil has a very high level of Omega 6 fats (a major case of inflammation) and little or no Omega 3 fats at all..  If this isn't correct please let me know.

The Truth About the Nutritional Benefits of Eggs To begin we have been told by medical experts for years to refrain from eating too many eggs per week. Born from this edict we now separate the yolk from the whole egg and serve the egg white as a separate entity in a sandwich and even leave out the yolk www.associatedcontent.com/article/8341715/the_truth_about_the_nutritio..

what do you think about GROUND NUT OIL AND SUNFLOWER OIL? We heard that ground nut oil is dangerous as it increases bad cholestrol. is that true?

do you mean virgin coconut oil?

Coconut oil is the best tasting oil I've found! It works well with almost any type of cooking

Sounds great....where can I buy it?

test

Do you mean Virgin coconut oil?

Cuz not all coconut are good for health,

such as, the old coconut

Well here are the oils that I currently use:

For drizzling and cold use I currently use:

Cold pressed Avocado oil

Cold pressed Rapeseed oil (Canola)

Cold pressed Virgin Olive Oil

For cooking and frying

Rapeseed oil

Sunflower oil

Olive oil

So it looks like I need to get some refined coconut oil for cooking (less taste of coconut?) and some unrefined or virgin coconut oil to add to the cupboard.

It appears to me that there is no such thing as a healthy oil to cook with.

Any comments on Avocado oil?

I too was fooled about coconut oil and not being healthy, but 25 years ago I kept seeing studies revealing that coconut oil is not only a staple of many cultures but it had healing properties.  Now using it for over 20 years, I recommend it as one of many choices of healthy oils to my patients.

Health and Nutritional Benefits From Coconut Oil and Its Advantages Over Competing Oils, Enig, Mary, G., Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation, Spring 1996;20(1):3-5.

Effects of Dietary Coconut Oil on the Biochemical and Anthropometric Profiles of Women Presenting Abdominal Obesity," Assuncao ML, Ferreira HS, et al, Lipids, 2009 May 13.

Effects of High Levels of Dietary Oils on Autoimmune Response, Atkinson H., et al, Bioch Soc. T, 1995;23(2);S227.

I got severe gall stones & GB sludge from eating a bunch of coconut oil -- no mistake about it!

Saturated and monunsaturated fat hurt my MS... Can't have cashews, olive oil and coconut oil...I can have walnuts which are polyunsaturated.

Coconut oil hurt me. If I got it as a baby it may have done alot of damage since I could not speak to tell it hurt me. I have MS due to Celiac which I was born with. Coconut oil makes my MS kick in...how would it have hurt in in baby formula?

We, Indonesian, have many traditional foods & drinks that consist of coconut milk so that with coconut oil inside, and very rare we experience fatal disease such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke......until several decades ago, "modern" foods and drinks have entered to Indonesian markets......and the result....many Indonesian are now facing degenerative diseases.........We have to go back to follow our "old generation way of life"....my grand father was dead when he was 100 years old, may grand mother died at the age of 89. My father is now 76 and my mother now is 74, and they both are in a very good condition......Many more in the villages, people, who are not following modern life,are living nicely and healthy by consuming many coconut milk, coconut oil, and drnking coconut water......Best wishes...from Wisnu Gardjito (wisnugar@yahoo.com).

This is truly a very informative article on coconut oil. I believe it should immediately begin to replace hydrogenated oil in our foods. I have done a little bit of research on this.

Hydrogenated Oils, How Bad are They?

www.healthmad.com/Nutrition/Hydrogenated-Oils-How-Bad-are-They.20022

Does coconut oil alone contribute to the excellent health of those Pacific islanders or does their; I assume; consumption of fresh fish also contribute to that health? I also assume that Sunshine is also another plus factor.

Dr. Mercola, I was very surprised to see Safflower Oil on your list of AVOIDS!   I buy organic, non-GMO, high heat, natural expelled, safflower oil to cook with. Everything I've read up until your article says that safflower is a very beneficial oil (see below)..now I'm confused?  Anyone?

Safflower Oil Health Benefits

   * As safflower oil contains high amounts of polyunsaturated fats, it helps in creation of prostaglandins in the individual's body. These hormone like compounds aid in strengthening the cell membranes and also in the proper functioning of the body.

   * One of the best health benefits of safflower oil is that it is an effective way of eliminating the excess fat accumulated in the body, thus helps in losing weight. Brown fat is present in several areas of the body which is a major factor that aids in burning calories. The cis-linoleic acid present in safflower oil gets converted into gamma linolenic acid (GLA) that triggers the brown fat to burn calories. Therefore, people who are looking for ways to lose as well as maintain their weight should include safflower oil in their regular diet.

   * Another benefit of using safflower oil is that it helps in the reduction of the level of cholesterol in the blood which reduces the risk of heart diseases in the individual. Apart from this, safflower oil is also said to strengthen the immune system of the body which increases its ability to resist the appearance of certain infections as well as diseases.

   * Many doctors and dietitians recommend the use of safflower oil to obese people suffering from diabetes. Research has been conducted to find the benefits of safflower oil in older diabetic women who are overweight. These women were asked to take safflower oil supplements for a period of sixteen weeks, and the results that showed were entirely positive. It was not only observed that they lost excess fat, but there was also a significant decline in their blood sugar l

GDAY, After my yearly medical check up and a full blood test.my doctor said=BILL what ever you are doing keep on doing it= I am a  66 yold  and my blood is that of someone much younger?. I take EMU oil and minerals that is all.

Kindest health BILL

What are your views on Hempseed oil ? Regards Keith

   Dear Dr. Mecola,

                           I am taking 2x krill oil caps would a dose of cocoanut oil, be as good?  

                             I will certainly cook with cocoa-nut oil in future.

                               Thank you for your articals, I really enjoy them.......  Marg G.

I was curious about Peanut oil.  I like it and I know it has a  high smoking point like coconut oil does.  What do you think about this oil compared to coconut oil. I use both.

I do agree that coconut oil is very beneficial, but you need to get your facts straight.  Coconut oil is good for most infections, however, if you look at your history, you will note a discrepency.  The Polynisians and Hawiians(I think I spelled that correct) used coconut oil all the time, but they still died from a virus call Measels.  If you look at your history, you will find that about 50-60 percent of their population was wiped out by viruses and diseases that the Europeans brought to their islands.  Perhaps you are refering to coconut oil for being beneficial for Caucasains and Europeans in regard to viruses and other diseases.  Please verify your statement.

use good quality not so extra virgin olive oil in small bottles and tossed out as soon as smell changes or within 3-4 weeks of opening. store in the dark. use only uncooked as is from bottle.

we now know the extra virgin goes rancid too fast due to natural unfiltered chloryphyll.

coconut oil is great for cooking oil and as a butter substitute on a sweet potatoe.  fabulous coconut oil is available from many sources. reccommend glass bottles kept shut and in dark cabinet. try several, they do vary. shelf life is about 6 months up to a year. unopened the oil may store up to 2 years in the dark.

I am curious as to where grapeseed oil fits into all of this. That is what I have been using for cooking. I will start to use coconut oil but still would like to know if grapeseed oil is healthy.

Thank You

Antje

try it spread on toast instead of butter or peanut butter.  delicious!

coconut oil is delicious on toast instead of butter, or peanut butter.  gve it a try

I am sensitive to nuts and particularly coconut. I have to watch coconut oil hidden in foods. I have been told that unprocessed nuts would assimmilate into the body and not have sensitivity reactions. However, when I eat raw nuts I still get the same reaction. What is a good alternative to coconut oil to use in cooking? I also am skeptical of using it as a face cream as I don't want my body absorbing something that gives me a reaction--any suggestions?

Hi, We have been using Organic virgin coconut oil in our cooking for about 3 years now and we are only 1/2 way through the 20 litre bucket.  I also make soap from it occasionally but it never occurred to me to use it for massage oil on my clients or in skin care.... Something I will definitely be doing from now on. Butter is very expensive here (West Australia) right now and we are considering putting it on our sandwiches instead of butter - after all the Greeks use olive oil on their bread....

Thanks for the great article and reinforcing what we have been trying to tell people for years (and the extra health info you added, also).

Simone & Steve Tilley

Have been using coconut oil regularly for the past 2 yrs.  It's also good for parasites

which ail most people, whether you know it or not.  

I use it for frying eggs (they don't stick) which turn out wonderful and it also makes

great popcorn (to pop in).  Have replaced butter/oil in recipes for coconut oil even

though butter is not the bad guy.  Again, demonizing by the manufacturers of oils

such as corn, safflower, sunflower, canola, and soy.  They've been going after coconut

oil for yrs. and it's all about the bottom line for them.  

One thing I've noticed is that the soups that Whole Foods sells at their salad bar contain

canola oil.  Soy lecithin also seems to be a common ingredient in foods these days.

Will send a letter to Whole Foods corporate and I urge you to do the same.  The more

letters they receive, the better chance of removing this inferior oil from their soups

and prepared foods.  

Noticed at the oriental market I shop occasionally that they sell a large commercial-sized

jar of pickled ginger as in sushi ginger.  Noticed in the ingredients that they use aspartame!

Was told by the manager that most restaurants use this aspartame-sweetened ginger as

they sell to the restaurant trade.

Back to coconut oil.  I buy a large container of coconut lotion from Tropical Traditions.  

It lasts for months.  Use it along w/a dollop of shea butter for a body moisturizer and

I use the same combination along w/a small dime-sized amount of Aubrey's Honeysuckle

lotion for my face and neck.  Works as well, if not better, than an expensive skin cream I'd

been using for years from Germany, which was considered the best in its category per

Neuform, the European equivalent of the FDA, only much more strict.

I even put a few drops of coconut oil in my dog's dog food as I figure it's good for her too.

She loves licking the drops of coconut lotion that remain around the rim of the container.

Her coat is beautiful (mini-dachshund) and she doesn't have dry skin anymore.

Please help me understand these comments:

in the article it says

"•MCFAs are easily digested, thus putting less strain on your digestive system.

•MCFAs are sent directly to your liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat. "

So in putting less strain on your digestive system, aren't you now putting strain on your liver? Isn't this what your digestive system is designed for.. the breakdown of food? And if you not using this energy straight away won't it be stored as fat anyway?

Because from that logic, a simple sugar that breaks down immediately is preferable to not putting strain on digestion?

I am doing an exercise physiology course so although the terms and concepts are familiar in respect to exercise, the depth and relation to overall health and wellbeing is not presented in my course.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge :)

Would anyone comment about how their cholesterol level are affected by consuming coconut oil?

I love coconut oil but it does not make good mayonaise and olive oil has a very srong flavor fomayonaise.  What do you know about grapeseed oil and avocado oil.  I have run across information lauding the benefits of those oils.  do you know anything about those oils?

Is Dr M referring to Refined Coconut Oil or Unrefined Coconut Oil as the best oil for eating and heat stability for cooking?

what about Ghee and rapeseed oil?

If coconut oil is effective in killing gram negative bacteria, how do we know it is not killing off all the good gran negative bacteria in our intestines etc. Bacteroides are gram negative and some of the most important beneficial bacteria in our bodies.

Has Dr. Mercola or all you commentators never considered buying the R E A L  T H I N G ?

My-oh-my a FRESH coconut, crushed in the vice is heaven on earth, believe me.

And do you know the funny part? It is much cheaper than a chocolate bar.

Do not forget to buy the real fresh coconuts regularly. It is a treat and the price is ridiculous low.  

My favorite way to take coconut oil is in my tea. Add a little honey if desired. A great mid-afternoon pick-me-up instead of coffee(although it tastes great in coffee too). I am looking forward to trying the homemade chocolate recipe, since I am allergic to soy, and it is almost impossible to find store-bought chocolate without it. Thanks for posting it!

I take coconut oil as a supplement as well as coconut meat, but I have discontinued using coconut oil and olive oil in cooking as I have found that macadamia nut oil has a higher smoke point (this on baked potatoes and making popcorn, which is pretty much the bulk of higher temperature cooking that I've done recently as I'm keeping more to raw foods). I'm wondering how macadamia oil and sesame oil compare to coconut oil (I use them in salad dressings) as far as benefits and other issues with their consumption.

Lately I've been doing research for any alternative methods for treating my ezcema and have found that the unrefined coconut oil has made a difference on my skin.  I also have been adding two tablespoons to my morning green smoothie as a way to increase my intake of good oil. The oil is always ready for the blender after I scoop it out with a large spoon and place it in a warm spot in my kitchen while I get dressed.  I rarely cook but I do put some oil in a stainless-steal saute pan to slowly cook two eggs. I also use coconut oil to pop organic corn kernals.  It makes the best popcorn!!  I hope that the organic corn has not been genetically modified.  

NEVER EVER use coconut oil if you are ALREADY sick.

Last month, I was feeling ill, with a nasty case of strep throat.  In one day, I had 3 T of coconut oil, a massage, and a steam bath.

The following day, my BP was 177/90 and I had, for the very first time in my life, contracted pneumonia.

Don't detox nor do any anti virals like coconut nor garlic if you are ALREADY ILL; it will consume your body!

There is a *big* difference between refined coconut oil and unrefined organic virgin coconut oil. If you buy the Spectrum brand, the bottles look almost identical on the shelf and are often placed next to each other. I buy Nutiva brand's 54 oz size  inexpensively from Vitacost. You can also get it at Amazon for about the same price. It's way more expensive in the store.

For eating, I would recommend organic virgin unrefined coconut oil. For cooking....maybe the refined as it will do better with a higher heat.

It makes everything taste like coconut (of course).  I don't like that taste in a stir fry etc.  Any suggestions?

Can u get the same benefit from raw coco nut or the milk?

Can anyone suggest an oil to cook with OTHER THAN coconut oil for those of us who react negatively after digesting to coconut oil?

Refined olive oil???