Coconut Oil Natural Detox

     Coconut oil is an amazing way to detox your body inside and out.  At one time thought of as the villain, it's now known to be beneficial in many ways for the human body. Internally, it collects toxins and wastes and expels them from the body.  Externally it softens and moisturizes hair and skin.  It is largely comprised of medium-chain fatty acids, including the healthy fats, lauric acid, caprylic acid, and capric acid.  So even though it is considered a saturated fat, it is the fats with long-chain fatty acids that present many health problems when ingested.  Who would have thought one food could do so many good things?  It's important to know the different ways coconut oils are processed when selecting one for your own use.  Not all types of coconut oils are good for you.   

    The best coconut oil is certified organic virgin that is cold-pressed.  Certified organic virgin expeller pressed is nearly the same, but slightly more heat is produced from the pressure and friction during extraction. One process commonly used for expeller pressed coconut oil is similar to that of a masticating juicer.  The coconut oil is pressed out of fresh raw coconuts by a spinning auger that separates the oil from the coconut meat.  Another way of producing expeller pressed oil is with the use of a centrifuge which generates varying amounts of heat but uses no external heat. Cold-pressed coconut oil processing uses a pressing unit similar to a vice to squeeze the coconut oil out of the coconut meat.  All are considered high quality coconut oils and retain much of their nutrient value.  Don't be fooled by companies claiming to sell extra virgin coconut oil.  That term only applies to oils such as olive which go through two pressings, the first being the extra virgin and the second being virgin.  Extra virgin does not apply to coconut oil as it does not go through the same type of dual processing.

     Refined coconut oil has lost many of its health benefits.  This type of oil is produced from copra, coconut meat dried by smoke, sun, or kiln drying.  Sometimes the drying process takes place under unsanitary conditions unfit for human consumption and the coconut meat must then be purified.  It must go through a filtering process to remove impurities and particles.  It is common during this filtration process to add bleaching agents or other solvents such as hexane which produce a tasteless, colorless, and odorless product. Unfortunately, traces of these chemicals are left behind in the final product.  Food coloring such as yellow is then often added for more appeal to give it the look of butter.  It then is sometimes subjected to high heat temperatures to hydrogenate or partially hydrogenate the final product for longer shelf life and higher cooking temperatures thus creating trans fatty acids.

     The high quality virgin coconut oils have a slight coconut taste to them because they still retain most the original properties of a fresh raw coconut.  If you can't tolerate the taste of coconut, refined coconut oil is available, but you sacrifice the positive health benefits for negative ones.  Unrefined quality coconut oil has a smoke point of 350 degrees.  Refined coconut oil is sometimes used for higher temperature cooking such as deep frying.

HEALTH BENEFITS
 OF HIGH QUALITY COCONUT OIL

Heart-cleanses the cardiovascular system

Cholesterol-raises cholesterol, but only the good (HDL) and stabilizes the bad (LDL)

Liver-medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) sent directly to the liver for efficient burning of energy

Metabolism-boosts metabolic rates for weight loss and targets body fat, especially abdomen

Blood sugar-helps to stabilize blood sugar levels

Immune system-helps to resist bacteria and viruses and produces antioxidants to battle free radicals 
      

Digestion-helps to maintain proper gut flora by killing bad bacteria, viruses, fungi and even parasites

Thyroid-helps to maintain proper thyroid function which helps to maintain lower cholesterol levels

Cellulite-MCFAs help in the breakdown of cellulite

Hair-outperforms many salon conditioners when used as a hair conditioner

Skin-Moisturizes and nourishes the skin and helps prevent stretch marks by improving elasticity

Candida-fights against yeast, fungus and candida infections

Shaving lotion-gives a close shave and moisturizes at the same time

Bath-put a small amount in warm bath water for an all over moisturizer

Scrub-add some sea salt or sugar for an invigorating scrub 





     So pop up some organic popcorn and pour some melted coconut oil over it with a sprinkle of sea salt. (Heat it slowly on the stove or place the container in hot water.  Never microwave it or you will lose the healthful nutrients.)  It is so delicious!  Did you know that theaters used it on their popcorn years ago until the saturated fats scare came about.  It was thought for many years that all saturated fats were the same.  Try dipping some fish in egg whites and panko bead crumbs and fry it in coconut oil.  This works well with chicken for healthy homemade chicken nuggets.  Stir some in your oatmeal for a creamier oatmeal with a slightly coconut taste.  Use it in baked goods and as a spread on anything you would normally use butter for. Some people enjoy it plain right out of the jar.  Enjoy!  It's good for you!

   As little as one to two tablespoons daily can provide many of the health benefits described above.  Like everything else we ingest coconut oil should be consumed in moderation.  Three tablespoons daily is an acceptable amount, but you may want to discuss it with your medical practitioner before you begin, especially if you are taking prescription drugs or have health issues. Those who go on strictly coconut oil diets, fasts, cleanses, and detoxes, and consume large amounts of coconut oil do so at their own risk.

Pine Tree Pollen: Friend or Foe?

     Ahhh...springtime at last.  Mother nature's best show of all the seasons.  Days are longer.  Weather is warmer. Trees are blooming.  Flowers are blooming.   Time to shed those coats...and get out the antihistamines.  Yellow dust.  It's landing everywhere.  Everything is covered in it. Outside.  Inside.  On the furniture.  On the car.  In the car. In the air?  Nope.  Unless you're sitting in the middle of a field of daisies,  all that pollen you see is not the culprit of springtime allergies. It's pine tree pollen and really quite harmless if not even helpful.  It just happens that pine tree pollen is dominate in the spring season any time from March through May.

     The pollen from a pine tree is exceptionally large and heavy.  Though wind born, it quickly settles out of the air landing on everything nearby on calm days, and somewhat further away on windy days.  Even though pine trees produce enormous amounts of pollen, covering surfaces with yellow dust, it doesn't generally cause allergic symptoms.  There are two reasons for this.  The pollen doesn't linger in the air for inhalation as a respiratory irritant.  Also, pine tree pollen is not considered an allergen.  Oak, cedar, maples and elm trees as well as grass pollens, are the major allergen triggers in the spring.  People who might rarely be allergic to pine pollen are those with specific allergies to pine or those with severe reactions to bee stings.  The obvious pine pollen that we can see serves us well as an alert to other pollens lingering in the air as well as a reminder to keep windows closed during this time of the season.

     Pine trees have both male and female pine cones known as 'strobili'. Male pine cones, smaller than female cones, are long and thin.  Female pine cones are larger and rounder.  The familiar woody cone is the female cone containing ovules where seeds are produced when fertilized by pollen grains.  This seed or nut is famously known as the 'pine nut'.  Some refer to the caterpillar-like structure of the male cone as a flower or 'catkin'. These catkins contain many pollen sacs.  They only appear in the spring and once they release their pollen, begin to disintegrate.  The female pine cones are generally found in the upper branches in the crown of the tree above the male cones.  On a windy day, this release of pollen can be quite spectacular with dense, yellow smoke-like clouds of pollen rising from the trees and rolling across  a field or meadow.  Click the video below to see the pollen fall from the catkins.

     Pine trees have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries.  The needles are used to make tea, while the bark, seeds and pollen are eaten for health benefits as well.  Pine tree pollen contains powerful antioxidants and many vitamins.  It is purportedly used to regulate hormone imbalances, reduce cholesterol, improve metabolism, regulate prostate function, protect the cardiovascular system, strengthen the immune system, and even touted as a preventative for the common cold.

     Pine tree pollen can be purchased in powder, capsule, or tincture form.  Why not collect your own during pollen season.  Don't collect pollen from trees near areas that have been sprayed with chemical fertilizers or herbicides.  Remember to look for the male small, flaky catepillar-like catkins. You won't find any pollen in the female pine cones.  You may want to wear disposable gloves in case there is any sap still around.  Just tap them over a bag or container to collect the pollen on a dry, preferably not windy day.  Be sure not to take it all from one pine  tree, but from several different trees as it does serve as their method of reproduction.  And finally, dry it out on a tray on a hot sunny day or on a low heat in the oven or food dehydrator.  Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator or in the freezer and it will last for several months.  Just sprinkle a little on cereal or salad or mix it in a smoothie.  See if you notice any difference in how you feel.  Check with your health care practitioner for concerns about ingesting pine tree pollen.  Remember not to ingest pine tree pollen if you are one of the rare persons allergic to pine or bee stings.

HAPPY BREATHING!!!