After Seeing This List, All You’ll Want is Coconut

2011 by Ava

Coconut seems to have been a theme of this past week. A client asked why coconut oil is a healthier choice, and then I couldn’t stop drinking naturally sweetened coconut milk hot chocolate over Christmas weekend.

Pacific Islanders have used the coconut for a long time, and these native populations rarely show signs of degenerative disease, until being introduced to processed and sweetened food. The coconut provides them with good-quality fat while keeping their cholesterol low and their bodies in perfect shape. Coconut products are a great addition to many diets, and the oil is also useful to have in the bathroom cabinet.

We use many soap products these days, and even the softest soaps can irritate or remove the protective chemical barrier on the skin. This barrier is meant to protect us from certain germs that cause infections. Applying coconut oil softens and lubricates the skin, and reestablishes a protective antibacterial and antifungal layer. People find that some blemishes, dandruff, discolorations, wrinkles, liver spots, and growths go away with consistent coconut oil use. The oil also adds luster to your skin and hair when applied topically and ingested.

If you eat meat, cook it in coconut oil. One study compared the effects of coconut oil and animal fat on cholesterol. Diets that derived more total dietary fat from coconuts rather than animals, showed no adverse effects on cholesterol. The diets with more animal fats than coconut fats significantly increased cholesterol in the subjects. This shows that coconut oil can reduce the cholesterol-elevating effects of animal fat.

Eating coconut oil can help your health in so many other ways, and I’m sure there is something on this list that you are looking to support. Research and clinical observation has shown that coconut oil may help prevent, treat, or reduce symptoms of:

 

Heart disease

High blood pressure

Atherosclerosis

Stroke

Diabetes

Weak bones and teeth

Osteoporosis

Gum disease/gingivitis

Periodontal disease

Tooth decay

Overweight

Mononucleosis

Influenza

Hepatitis C

Measles

Herpes

AIDS

Pancreatitis

Malabsorption syndrome

Cystic fibrosis

Gallbladder disease

Crohn’s disease

Ulcerative colitis

Stomach ulcers

Hemorrhoids

Chronic inflammation

Breast cancer

Colon cancer

Premature aging

Degenerative disease

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Epileptic seizures

Kidney disease

Bladder infections

Liver disease

Pneumonia

Earache

Throat infections

Food poisoning

Urinary tract infection

Meningitis

Gonorrhea

Candida

Jock itch

Ringworm

Athlete’s foot

Thrush

Diaper rash

Tapeworms

Lice

Giardia

Skin infections

Psoriasis

Eczema

Dermatitis

Dryness, flaking, and dandruff

Wrinkles

Sagging skin

Age spots

   

Yes, it’s a LONG list! 

 

When you’re ready to purchase coconut oil, be sure to buy it in glass jars, since plastic does not protect oils from oxygen, and coconut oil causes some plastics to leech chemicals into the oil. I add coconut oils to smoothies, cook eggs in the oil, and I also like to swish and spit out a spoonful of the oil for dental health. 

One of my favorite books about coconut is The Coconut Oil Miracle (4th edition), by Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D.

 

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22 Ways to Soothe Gum Disease Naturally

2011 by Ava

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Immaculate Dental Health in the Swiss Alps

2011 by Ava

 

 

© 2011 Ava Waits

 

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Would You Like Future Articles and Recipes Emailed to You?

2011 by Ava

 

Simply type your email address in the box, and you will be gifted with a free subscription to Ava’s Ray of Sunshine, a weekly newsletter full of health tips, recipes, and articles.

 

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When Was The Last Time You Hugged Your Dental Hygienist?

2011 by Ava

Several months ago, I found a small discolored spot on a back tooth. It looked similar to a cavity that a past dentist had repaired, and I was quite bummed at the thought that I may soon need another filling. Since I’m discovering so many new possibilities through the world of healthy eating and nutrition, I felt compelled to take a risk in my health and use myself as a guinea pig. Instead of making an appointment right away, I did what some dentists would have frowned upon. I chose to not go in to have this dark spot evaluated. Instead, I wanted to take 4 months to use all that I had learned about food to see if I could remineralize this area of my tooth, and keep it from needing a filling.

 

Before I continue, please know that this article is not meant to give you a reason to avoid the dentist. When I was much younger, I shied away from the dentist for fear of needles. I put off an important appointment for a filling when I was 11 years old. Unfortunately, that neglect means that one of my teeth is full of patches and trauma. If I could go back in time, I would have been more proactive in my dental care, and done what needed to be done.

 

Over the past couple months, I’ve made large changes in how I eat, and I’ve been motivated mostly by this one tooth with the dark spot.

 

1. I’ve continued to take out foods that cause my body and gumline to be inflamed. This helps to keep the gum tissue healthy, since the gums are less likely to recede and expose sensitive areas of the teeth that can become prone to decay. Gluten and pasteurized cows dairy disappeared from my kitchen a couple years ago.

 

2. I now barely eat sugar. When I do, it’s often a few bites of something unbelievably good (like a plated dessert from The Bearded Lady Baking Company, a nearby, European-style nook of deliciousness). I only stick honey in my iced tea once a week, instead of every time I head to a café. Having high amounts of refined sugar in your diet causes the body to leach nutrients from the bones, teeth and tissues to process the sugar. The discolored tooth motivated me to get off refined sweeteners.

 

3. I now consume raw goats dairy, in the form of milk and cheese. It’s a helpful addition to strengthen teeth.

 

4. I focus on keeping my saliva alkaline by consuming vegetables regularly, and by using a dental remineralization powder. Alkaline saliva keeps the teeth from being eaten away by acids from junk food.

 

 

I went to a new dental office yesterday, to experience a more holistic  treatment. When the hygienist said that I might not need a filling on the tooth I was concerned about, I was thrilled. The dentist confirmed it, and I felt even more empowered. Cavities can repair, and you can halt decay! I’m happy that I chose to focus on my internal environment, and to upgrade what I eat. As I continue, I hope to never need a filling again.

 

I offer an entire program that’s focused on providing you with natural and dietary ways to strengthen your gums and teeth. If you’d like to learn more, and let me know about what’s going on in your own mouth, please contact me at info@ParisianPicnics.com.

 

© 2011 Ava Waits

 

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