Coconut Oil, the healthy “fat”

Would you believe a fat that speeds up metabolism, helping weight loss, banishes infections and reduces heart disease and a whole lot more?

Before World War II, the use of coconut oil was popular for cooking and an ingredient for other food products. During the war, and long after, supplies of coconut oil was cut off, so manufacturers in the US developed alternatives sources of cooking oil – polyunsaturated oil. So much money had been poured into the production and promotion of these oils that they weren’t about to turn their back on them. These oils were soon promoted as being a healthy alternative to the more traditional “saturated fats” of butter and coconut oil. As happens time and time again, the mighty dollar and the all important profit win out. The poor nations who produce the coconut oil, simply couldn’t afford (and still can’t) to combat the publicity by the big multi-national companies.

The numerous health benefits of coconut oil are finally again becoming well-known.
Benefits like:

Reducing your risk of heart disease, reducing cholesterol,
Promoting weight loss when and if you need it
Supporting your immune system health
Reducing your risk of cancer and degenerative diseases
Supporting a healthy metabolism
Providing an immediate energy source for you
Helping to keep your skin healthy and prevent age-related damage
Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland
Preventing infections due to harmful bacteria, viruses, yeasts and other micro-organisms.
Coconut oil is a stable oil which is not damage by heat, like other oils. Unsaturated oils are prone to damage when heated and it is these that are primarily involved in heart disease, not the saturated fats. In countries where they have a coconut-based diet they rarely have heart disease.

The unique health benefits of coconut oil are directly related to its chemical structure, or more precisely, the length of its fatty acid chains.
Vegetable or seeds oils have long chain fatty acids, which are
are difficult for the body to break down -- they must be packaged with lipoproteins or carrier proteins and require special enzymes for digestion;
put more strain on the pancreas, the liver and the entire digestive system
are predominantly stored in the body as fat.
can be deposited within arteries in lipid forms such as cholesterol.
Coconut oil has medium-chain fatty acids which are healthier, because:

they are smaller. They permeate cell membranes easily, and do not require lipoproteins or special enzymes to be utilized effectively by your body.
are easily digested, thus putting less strain on your digestive system. This is especially important for those of you with digestive or metabolic problems.
are sent directly to your liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat.
in coconut oil can actually stimulate your body's metabolism, leading to weight loss.
One of the best benefits of coconut oil lies in its ability to stimulate your metabolism. In the l940s, farmers attempted to use cheap coconut oil for fattening their animals, but they found that it made them lean, active and hungry. Animals which ate just a little pure unsaturated oil were fat, and animals which ate a lot of coconut oil were lean. Interesting!

So, by changing the fats in your diet from the unsaturated long-chain fatty acids found in vegetable or seed oils to the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil, you may find yourself gradually losing those unnecessary kilos with little or no effort.

Coconut oil has often been compared to carbohydrates in its ability to be "burned" for energy. However, since insulin is not involved in the process of digesting the coconut oil, you won't get those carb-related spikes in your blood sugar level. This is especially good news for those of you with diabetes or other blood sugar issues.

Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid. Good news for those with a sluggish thyroid preventing them from losing weight.

There are other advantages to boosting your metabolic rate. The healing process accelerates. Cell regeneration increases to replace old, worn-out or damaged cells. And your immune system functions better overall.

Coconut milk contains the same compound that is in breast milk, lauric acid.
Lauric acid transforms when consumed into a substance called monolaurin, the actual compound responsible for fighting numerous types of infections. A lot of research has been done on the ability of lauric acid to fight dangerous micro-organisms, such as viruses, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, parasites and moulds. Researchers found that this medium-chain fatty acid derivative actually disrupts the lipid (or fatty) membranes of the offending organisms.

Numerous studies have also indicated that many viruses are inactivated by medium-chain fats -- viruses like influenza, measles, HIV, herpes and cytomegalovirus.
Bacteria like strep and staph, gonorrhoea, helicobacter pylori, salmonella and clostridium botulinum. Also other "badies" like the yeast Candida, and the ringworm fungus.

The medium chain fats in coconut oil are so nutritious that they have been used in baby formulas, and in hospitals to feed the critically ill, those on tube feeding, and those with digestive problems.

Coconut oil is exceptionally helpful for pregnant women, nursing mothers, the elderly, those with digestive problems or metabolic diseases like diabetes, athletes, those who are fighting infectious or chronic degenerative diseases, those with thyroid disease, and those of you who just want to prevent disease.

Here are a few things you can do with coconut oil:
• Whenever you fry, stir-fry or sauté veggies, eggs, poultry, fish or whatever, use coconut oil for a healthy light flavour
• Toss some coconut oil into your smoothies or juiced drinks for a burst of lauric acid
• Make your own mayonnaise with coconut oil
• Use it on your salads for a tropical flair

Coconut oil is not just for cooking & eating, it’s good for the skin too!
Coconut oil is ideal for skin care. It prevents the formation of destructive free radicals, and can prevent your skin from developing skin blemishes caused by aging and overexposure to sunlight. It is ideal to use as a massage oil or in place of other lotions and creams.

So please, before you cook with oil again, don't pass up this way to improve your health by making one simple change in your diet.

Sleep Naturally

Tossing and turning all night? The clock is ticking over; minute after minute, hour after hour, but you just can't sleep. The only thing worse, is the feeling of being totally zonked the next day. Insomnia is a problem that affects most people at some time during their lives. It has many different causes and many different ways of being expressed. For some, it may be a case of a few restless nights or a lifetime of poor sleep. Sleep is an important part of our lives allowing us to regain strength, heal and grow. So when it is disturbed for any reason it can seriously affect our lives.

There is a large variation in the amount of sleep needed. Some only need a few hours sleep, while others may need up to 10 hours to feel refreshed. Insomnia is the condition where a person feels as if they are not getting adequate sleep on a regular basis. Their sleep is non-refreshing and their ability to function normally on a daily basis is affected.

Sleep patterns are different with different people, as too is the patterns for insomniacs. Some may fall asleep easily, but wake during the night and not be able to return to sleep. Others may lay awake for hours before being able to drift off to sleep. Some people wake hundreds of times during the night, without realising it. It has been found through electrical monitoring of insomniacs, while they sleep, that they don not change sleep stages very often. Normal sleep requires many stages and insomniacs may not reach the deep sleep known as 'REM'.

If you are suffering from sleep problems, it could be related to many different causes. A whole lifestyle check needs to be done. Are you eating right? Heavy meals in the evening can certainly affect sleep. Are you getting enough exercise and fresh air? One of the biggest issues with sleep problems is stress. What is happening in your life that is playing on your mind?

Have a look through the following suggestions; there may be something that will help you.  Most importantly, try not to be worried about not sleeping. Go to bed with the thoughts of a good nights rest, relax and sleep well

Suggestions to help you improve your sleep

* Try to get some regular exercise and fresh air.
* Allow time to relax before going to bed.
* Take up some form of meditation; if you find this difficult a class may help. Deep breathing techniques can also be helpful.
* Try reading before bedtime. Stick to something light and easy, maybe even boring, don’t read anything too exciting. Watching a stimulating television program should also be avoided. * Develop a regular bedtime relaxation routine. Try keeping your bedtime and getting up time regular.
* Relaxing in a warm bath or even a warm shower can be helpful.
* Make sure your bed and pillow are comfortable for you, not too hard or soft.
* If light or noise is a problem, use earplugs or eye-mask.
* Make sure you are warm enough, but not too hot and that the room is well ventilated.
* Try a warm drink before bed, such as a warm milk or chamomile tea.
* Keep a pen and paper beside your bed. If you have a lot of things on your mind, write them all down, if they are preventing you from sleeping. Similarly if you wake up and start to think about something, write it down and then you can forget it, until a more suitable time.
* Listen to relaxation music while preparing yourself for sleep.

* Put the clock out of sight, it doesn’t help to have a constant reminder of how long you’ve been awake.
* When you go to bed try some relaxation techniques. Relax your muscles individually and imagine yourself in a peaceful setting.

* Don’t take any stimulants in the evening. These include tea, coffee, cola and chocolate drinks, smoking and alcohol.

* It is best not to eat too close to going to bed and allow at least three ours to digest your evening meal before going to bed.

* If you are having difficulty sleeping, get up and do something