We are most definitely a country dependent on oil, but what if I told you black gold isn't the only thing people are making money off of? The food industry is another insatiable menace that likes to exploit the physical or nutritional dreams of folks, often without considering the damage it could do the environment or the digestive system. One food which has emerged as a cure for everything is coconut oil. People love it. Even I use it every now and then, not just for eating. It makes me smell nice. It even makes for a good bra. What should you use it for? Let's find out. But first, catch a whiff of these pits.
That's right, breathe deep. Back to business: There have been many foods that have been labeled as "superfoods," by the Dr. of Oz and by helpless content creators for clickbait websites. Superfoods are foods that are so good for you, you will never die if you eat all of them on the reg. I feel like the definition of superfood has been compromised, however. I've always assumed when a new superfood is declared, someone is being paid to spout that noise. Many lists of superfoods now contain foods that are pretty mediocre in terms of nutrition. The last superfood list I checked included bran flakes and whole-wheat english muffins on it. Those foods are super cheap, but that is the extent of their extraordinary status. Avocados and spinach are better examples of superfoods. They are both incredibly nutritious and one of them is super expensive. Coconut oil has been labeled as a superfood by some, but it is a subject of controversy for people who have nothing better to do (dat me).
Coconut oil is all fat and no joke. The coconut fat is nearly all saturated fat, which is the fat that is not good for us. Or is it? According to a meta-analyses of 21 studies, presumably studies about drinking cheese, there was no evidence linking dietary fat consumption with an increased risk of heart disease. Before you dive into coconut oil though, at least shake it's hand first and get to know it. Those in favor of coconut oil's nutritional profile explain that coconut oil is healthy because it contains certain fatty acids called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). These ain't your grandma's fatty acids, kids. MCTs are apparently better for you than longer-chain triglycerides because the liver burns through more quickly and they're used as a more ready source of energy. I'm leaving a lot out, but there's a word limit I'm contending with. The main people who will tell you to eat coconut oil are nutritionally woke, and are quite possibly ketogenic dieters. These are the people who will follow the whole-chicken-a-day diet; the pros who will tell you to eat foods like cheese, bacon, butter, and lard. But the healthy, non-hydrogenated lard and dairy products from happy, grass-fed cows, which are more expensive than dairy products from grain- or skittle-fed cows. And God forbid you eat a parsnip. The ketogenic diet is a topic for another day, just know it's still a controversial diet because it includes a lot of foods that we've been told aren't so healthy, and it restricts foods that are delicious.
Like children's TV programming, coconut oil is worshiped on the Internet. I've seen it all. Pinterest moms be like coconut oil helps weight loss, it reduces inflammation, helps your hormones do crap correctly, some websites are even bold enough to claim it prevents Alzheimer's. I keep seeing that these benefits are proven, but I never see a link to science-looking papers or someone I trust (tricked ya, I trust no one). Either I never find the link to the studies because my computer crashes from all the Thrive Market ads before I find the links, or there is no evidence provided, which reinforces my thinking that people are getting paid by Big Coco to spew the new view on the used-to-be-bad-for-you fatty nut.
Coconut oil may sound like a miracle, but if you want to incorporate it into your diet, I would suggest adding it gradually. The first time I had coconut oil, I was eating at least a tablespoon every day. When day 3 hit, I had the worst nausea I have ever had in my life and I was confined to the little writer's room for hours. Almost missed a quiz, too. Smh. It might be a good idea to eat a teaspoon every other day and then increase gradually depending on if your vomiting or not. I personally don't seek out the taste, but a little bit of coco is a nice change of pace every now and then. Also, this might sound obvious, but if you don't like the taste of something please don't force yourself to eat it, no matter how healthy a computer says it is. Kale is pretty healthy, but it tastes like pesticides, so eat a better leaf instead. Watercress much?
If there's room in your pantry for coconut oil, understand that like most things, there is always a cost we would rather not think about. Would you sleep soundly if you knew drastic measures were being taken to get you that coconut oil you love so much? According to this article that I swear was already in an episode of "The Simpsons," monkeys are being enslaved in Thailand to retrieve coconuts from trees. Even if this is fake news and monkeys aren't working in harsh conditions, they are still not being paid for their labor. Not to mention the dangerous efficiency by which the monkeys work, their dexterous fingers whipping through coconuts as the shells rapidly plummet to zones where hard hats are not provided.
I like the coconut because many wonderful recipes and dishes are created by using coconut oil or coconut milk as ingredients. Coconut oil also has a pleasing aroma, which is why I use it as an ingredient in my homemade deodorant. I make my own so I don't have to keep giving money to Big Rant. I've also tried this thing called oil pulling, which is the process of taking some oil, coco or otherwise, and swishing it around in your mouth for 10-20 minutes. I start my day feeling like an ass, but this ass has whitened teeth afterward. I eat the stuff every now and then (coconut oil, not ass), but I could definitely live without it in terms of flavor and monkey appreciation. But don't let my opinions stop you. Buy as much coconut product as you want. More than you need, in fact! Hard not to. Walmart sells it in tubs. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go cash a check from, uh, not the President of Indonesia.
