The one oil that should always be in your kitchen

For many years, people in kitchens everywhere have always had a bottle of sunflower oil on hand to cook with. I'm not sure how or why that became THE oil to use. I'm sure someone, somewhere realised it was cheap to make and easy to sell as a "health food" and make a profit on. For a long time it was the only oil people used. These days you can find many different types of oil when you walk down the oil aisle. It's difficult to know which ones you should be using.

We've all been told, for years, that we should rather use oils that are liquid at room temperature, such as vegetable oils, and avoid oils that are solid at room temperature, such as butter and lard. We've also been told to avoid full cream ANYTHING and to cut as much fat as we can out of our diets... If you know anything at all about my blog,  you know just what I think about THAT theory...

There are actually a few liquid oils that are pretty good for you, and I'll go into those in another post, but right now, let's get to that all-important oil that should always be in your kitchen. (Drum roll please!)

Coconut oil is one of those oils that is solid at room temperature. It consists of about 92% saturated fats. For that reason, it has been vilified and ostracised for years as a primary contributor to heart disease, along with all other saturated fats. In fact, up until the last decade, westerners wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Fortunately, though, people started questioning that and today, it is one of the most sought after oils and has been completely redeemed. What amazes me is that, the theory of it being bad for you, is not based on any real facts. One only has to look at the non-existence of heart disease on tropical islands like the Seychelles to work out that coconuts are NOT a cause of heart disease. We actually went to the Seychelles for our honeymoon. Believe me, coconut is EVERYWHERE there. They give it to you with all your meals, they cook only with coconut oil and copious amounts of coconut milk, coconut is given as a bar snack instead of the usual peanuts, you can buy coconut oil on just about every street corner. They eat A LOT of it and yet heart disease is not a problem there. Why? Because coconut oil actually prevents heart disease!

Here are some of the many benefits of coconut oil:

• It helps normalise blood lipids and protects against damage to the liver by alcohol and other toxins
• It helps prevents kidney and gall bladder diseases
• It's associated with improved blood sugar and insulin control and the prevention and management of diabetes. 
• It has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and helps to boost the immune system.
• It is thought to help strengthen mineral absorption such as calcium and magnesium, which is important for healthy teeth and bones
• It can help improve the condition and appearance of the scalp, hair and skin when ingested or applied topically
• It has been very beneficial for HIV and cancer patients as it reduces their viral susceptibility
• It is used by athletes, bodybuilders and those just trying to lose extra body fat. The reason for that is that coconut oil contains less calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy, and it doesn't lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. It helps boost energy and endurance, and actually enhances the performance of athletes
• Studies have shown that it can help treat and even prevent Alzheimer's disease (since Alzheimer's is in GLM's family, I have her on at least 2 tablespoons of coconut oil a day!)

One of the ingredients in coconut oil that makes it so beneficial in the fight against heart disease is lauric acid which helps in actively preventing various heart problems like high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats found in coconut oil are not harmful at all. They actually help to reduce damage to the arteries which lowers the risk of a heart attack. Lauric acid is extremely helpful in dealing with viruses and bacteria that cause diseases such as herpes, influenza and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria as well and has been used extensively in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system. In fact, I wrote a whole post on the benefits of oil-pulling using coconut oil, which is an Ayurvedic treatment.

So, which is the best coconut oil to buy? Do I really need to say it;) Organic is ALWAYS the way to go. Why? Oil is one of the few processed food products that I will encourage you to buy. There is NO OTHER WAY to make oil. Oil doesn't exist naturally. You can't hold a bucket under a coconut and wait for oil to drip out of it. The coconut has to be treated in a certain way for the oil to be produced. The idea is to choose the oil that has been the LEAST processed. There are many different grades of coconut oil and the trick is to choose the right grade. According to the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community Standards for virgin coconut oil, coconut oil can only be sold as virgin coconut oil when it is “obtained from the fresh and mature kernel of coconut by mechanical or natural means with or without the application of heat, which does not lead to alteration of the oil.”

That's the trick. You don't want the oil to lose any of its nutrients during the extraction process or it really won't be doing you any good at all and then, what's the point? Some coconut oils are deodorized, some are refined, some have sodium hydroxide added to remove impurities and prolong shelf life, some are even put through hydrogenation and some are bleached. It's the same as choosing white, refined rice, or organic brown rice. The less something is processed, the better it is for you.

In the case of coconut oil, it's always best to go with organic, and even better if it's organic virgin coconut oil as this type is not  heat treated, is in no way refined, and contains all the natural goodness that gives coconut oil all it's beneficial properties PLUS the coconuts are organic which makes them even more potent. Don't waste your money buying any other type of coconut oil, seriously. Incidentally, there is NO such thing as extra virgin coconut oil so don't let manufacturers fool you. Virgin coconut oil is more than sufficient.

Coconut oil also happens to be the best oil to cook with. It is not heat sensitive and doesn't oxidise easily so it's perfect for frying anything. You can use it in place of butter when baking, or even on a slice of bread. 

That's it, in a coconut shell;) Dischem sells organic virgin coconut oil and it has a lovely taste, in my opinion! 

Give it a try!

What is oil pulling and why should we do it?

I first discovered oil pulling while googling remedies for sensitive teeth. As you all know, I don't use conventional medicines if it can possibly be avoided. So far I've been able to do it quite easily for a year now. I spend my spare time researching alternate options to stay healthy, and so I discovered oil pulling.

Did you know that oil is one of the best substances to clean your teeth and gums? A lot of uber-healthy people who choose to live their lives as naturally as possible, use oil instead of toothpaste. I know, you're thinking about the lack of minty freshness right? I thought the same thing! There is a lot to be said for minty-fresh breath. In fact, I have a RIDICULOUSLY bad aversion to bad breath. That includes onion breath, garlic breath and the dreaded halitosis. I find it hard to keep a straight face when faced with any of those and that also makes me paranoid about my own breath! Given that I get a lot of people in my personal space at shows, I take extra special care that I am chewing on a gum, and that I've eaten no garlic or onion. (I can't eat either thanks to my IBS but sometimes they slip in without me being aware!) Unfortunately, others don't take the same precautions! But back to the oil!

Oil pulling is an ancient  Ayurvedic practice. It's been around for many, many years but is largely unknown to the western world. The east is a wealth of alternate remedies and I find them all so fascinating.

If you really think about it, your mouth is rather a filthy place! It's where most germs first gather before they head into our systems and cause havoc. You'd think the acid in your stomach would kill them all off but, given how we still get sick, it's clearly not the case with all germs. The flu virus enters your nose or mouth and heads straight to your lungs so there's little to no defense there. This is where oil pulling can help.

Oil pulling has been known to cure and prevent everything from the common cold to diabetes, heart disease and skin problems, to name a few. It goes without saying that it also does wonders for your teeth. If they're feeling over-sensitive or achy, if you have a few mouth ulcers or if you bit your cheek, or you have gingivitis, oil pulling will sort it out. I know because I suffer from mouth ulcers whenever the seasons change, or I used to! Oil pulling has solved that problem for me. It also keeps your teeth really clean, it helps remove plaque and it freshens breath simply because the bad breath bacteria get nuked!

The idea with oil pulling is to literally "pull" oil between your teeth and all through your mouth. Any germs that are in your mouth, and are touched by the oil, will get drawn into it and die. The tricky part with oil pulling is that you need to do it for about 15-20 minutes at a time! The first time I read that, I thought, "Eeeeuuww! No way! Not gonna happen." Now that I look back, I can't imagine why I had such an issue with it. The pros far outweigh the cons and it's like second nature to me now.

So, what do you need to do this? Well, just a tablespoon of decent quality oil. To be honest, I think it will work with any oil, but as I tend to avoid all chemicals, I go with organic oil. The one that works the best for me is organic coconut oil and the reason is, because it tastes the best! Dischem sells it too:)

Sesame oil is highly recommended and also tastes better than most. If you are going to have it in your mouth for 20 minutes, you had best go with the oil that tastes the best to you. 20 minutes can sometimes feel like an eternity, especially if you are using plain old sunflower oil! That gag reflex will probably set in.

How do you actually do it? Here is my little routine:

• Always do it first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach (because you WILL probably gag the first few times)
• Put a tablespoon of oil in your mouth (coconut oil goes hard if the weather is cool. I used to melt it but now I just chew it until it melts. I'd suggest melting it initially. I definitely gagged the first time I tried chewing the coconut oil!!)
• Slowly swirl the oil around your mouth. Don't do it fast or your jaw will get tired. If your jaw feels tired or aches, you're going to fast. Move it around your mouth in a slow, swishing action, from side to side, making sure you get it through all the gaps between your teeth, your palate, your gums, even the back of your mouth (don't gargle with it though. Just tilt your head back slightly to reach the back) 
• Try not to swallow it. It is full of bacteria and not something you want in your system
• Try it for as long as you can with 20 minutes being your limit. Start off slow and work your way up to 20 minutes
• Preferably spit the oil in a drain or toilet as it is full of germs. It should go a milky white colour by the time you spit it out. Run some hot water down the drain to wash it away or it will build up.
• Straight after you spit it out, have a mug of warm salty water on standby (just half a teaspoon of salt will do)
• Rinse your mouth with the salt water and gargle with it to make sure you remove all of the oil residue and then you're good to go!

My morning starts off by feeding our 6 cats, which takes about 20 minutes, so I oil pull while I do that to keep me distracted and I'm hardly even aware that I'm doing it anymore. The only time I notice is when I need to say something to GLM and this usually involves a lot of waving, hand gestures and eyebrow wriggling;) She's quite used to me now!

I definitely notice if I miss doing it for a day or two. My teeth are quite sensitive and, as I avoid fluoride at all costs due to it being so dangerous (another blog post about that coming soon!), I don't use any conventional toothpastes. Oil pulling is the best remedy for sensitive teeth, among other things. I feel bad if I start my day without it and I'm convinced I got flu because I was busy and skipped a couple of days!

So, there you have it! Some of you are probably convinced I've stepped off the sanity bus but I'm fine with that;) They say sanity is the playground of the unimaginative. I find I am able to do just about anything if I know it will be good for me, no matter how crazy it may seem. And I dare anyone to define "normal" to me. I'm a gay woman. I've had plenty people try to tell me what normal is;) To me, normal is following the crowd, doing everything everyone else does without thinking of the consequences; whether it's bad for you or your environment, or whether it's not. Knowledge is power and ignorance can be hazardous to your health.

Step out of the box and try something crazy, like oil pulling! You'll find the health benefits far outweigh the strange looks you may get from your nearest and dearest;)

Go on, eat that fat!

Winter seems like the worst time ever to try and overhaul your entire lifestyle, right? I disagree! And over the course of this post, I'll tell you why;)

If you were going to be following a "diet" where a meal consisted of 3 lettuce leaves, half a can of tuna and 5 almonds  then, yes, I'd say winter is a bad time to do that. In my opinion, ANYTIME is a bad time to do that! Winter is a time when all we want to do is hibernate, and EAT! You want soups and curries and stews and lots of hot, baked goods and snacky things and hot, sweet drinks. Sounds like a lot of things you can't eat if you are organic and healthy, doesn't it? Well, it's time we blew THAT mindset right out of the water!

Looks pretty fattening, right? WRONG!

I don't believe in diets. I don't believe in weighing your food and counting calories and depriving yourself of all the good things in life, just to lose a bit of body fat that will more than likely return the minute you start to eat "normally" again. Going organic and eating real food is not a diet, or a fad, or a quick fix to your fat loss issues. It's an entire mindset and lifestyle change. It's FOR LIFE. The fact that it has a sideline benefit of losing body fat is an added bonus, but it shouldn't be the only motivation or you probably will fall off the fruit box eventually.

I made a decision to start eating real, organic food about a year ago and it was just as winter started so I can vouch for winter being a good time to start the process;) I'd always considered myself to be very healthy up until then. As I mentioned in my first post, nutrition and health has always fascinated me. But, no matter how healthy I thought I was, my weight fluctuated and my stomach gave me grief a lot of the time. I was constantly on a learning curve and I loved learning but it was frustrating at times, knowing I wasn't quite getting it right!

WTF?!

Just over a year ago, a friend started mentioning organic and paleo eating to me. I knew nothing about all of that and so I decided to start researching it, as I do! I was astounded at how much information I found. It took me a few months to work my way through it and figure it all out for myself, but I began to realise just how wrong I had been for so long. There I was, dutifully cutting all the fat out of my diet, eating low fat this and fat free that, eating only egg whites, skinless chicken breasts, eating next to nothing, counting all my calories and I couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting it right.

Despite doing everything the "experts" told me to do, I still had to watch what I ate to avoid my body weight fluctuating too much and my stomach was still giving me grief despite me avoiding all the known aggravants.  I was also still catching every bug that came my way as well. I felt tired and unhealthy and permanently grumpy!

Blegh...

So basically, we have ascertained that I was NOT achieving my aim. It was time for a complete overhaul; a change in mindset and a change in lifestyle.

I'm not saying it was a fast process. I had spent the last 35 years of my life learning what to do and what not to do. Suddenly I felt like a child again because I had to start learning almost from scratch. 

Perhaps the hardest thing to get my head around was that I could eat fat! Now, most of us know that we need to eat some fat, like nuts and avocados and olive oil. But did you know your body also needs animal fat?

Altogether now... WHAAAAT?!

For decades, saturated fat has been utterly vilified. It's supposed to be the cause of obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, it's been linked to cancer, it's a death sentence for diabetics and it's even been blamed for diabetes. It's pretty much to blame for EVERYTHING that humans have ever been afflicted with in the last 100 years. What's really interesting is that, in the last few decades, since scientists decided to blame all of these diseases on our saturated fat consumption, and told all of us to cut it out of our lives, all of those diseases have escalated to epic proportions. Even more interesting is that, while they were telling us to cut saturated fat out of our lives, they were telling us to start eating more grains, starches and vegetable oils. People started drinking skim milk and buying margarine by the truckload, instead of butter and yet they were still getting sick and gaining weight. It's no coincidence that heart disease has now become the number one killer, with cancer and diabetes running close seconds.

I'm going to blow your mind a bit now...

Saturated fat is NOT bad for you. In fact, it's ESSENTIAL for you. If you don't believe me, there is a lot of science behind it and if you are interested in the science, here is a great video that will give you all the stats. It's long and very thorough.

There is a BUT...

Unless you eat free range or organic saturated fat, you are not going to benefit from eating it. In fact, if you choose not to eat free range, it CAN be harmful. The reason why is because, animals that AREN'T allowed to range free and eat their natural food, are, quite literally, sick. These days, cattle are being fed huge piles of genetically modified grains because it's cheaper and it makes them grow big and fat so that they make the companies more money. They are also being injected with hormones to make them grow faster, and, because they are getting sick due to a shockingly bad diet, they are being pumped full of antibiotics. All of that bad stuff doesn't miraculously leave the cattle when they are slaughtered. So you end up with really poor quality meat full of hormones, antibiotics and disease from eating grain. Which means, if you have a grain intolerance, meat will not agree with you. Do I even need to spell out what the hormones and antibiotics are doing to you?

If the quality of your meat doesn't really bother you, how about what the poor cows go through? It's bad enough that their lives are going to be cut short so that we can have food on our table. Shouldn't we show our gratitude for such an amazing gift, by allowing them a happy, dignified short life? The same thing applies to every other animal who is kind enough to feed us.

Which life would YOU prefer? This?

Or this?

It's tough to get your head around isn't it? Eating fat... Boy did I struggle!

For christmas last year, I decided to roast a free range duck from Woolies and, because it was my first time ever, I had to turn to google to find out how to go about it! I had NO IDEA that a duck was so full of fat! Every method involved roasting it for many, many hours, poking it with a knife every few hours, to get rid of all the fat. By the time I was done, I had at least 1 cup full of duck fat, and a VERY small, skinny, crunchy duck. It didn't go very far on christmas day, needless to say!

2 months later, the cup of duck fat was still in my fridge... I knew I COULD eat it, but my mind just refused to allow it. I was SO brainwashed into believing it was bad for me. One day I finally broke through and I made myself a pot of popcorn using duck fat instead of oil. OH... MY... GREATNESS... It was the most delicious popcorn I have ever eaten! After that it wasn't hard to start cooking with it;)

These days I make my popcorn with raw farm butter or duck fat or even coconut oil, I cook things using all three as well. I (gasp) have butter on my banana bread! I drink a glass of full cream goat's milk every night (because I am lactose intolerant and can't digest cow's milk) I eat full cream goat's milk cheese, and full cream goat's milk yoghurt, DAILY. I eat egg yolks now too;) I never thought I'd see the day! I went about 15 years without eating butter and drinking milk! I honestly feel like I've died and gone to heaven;) And the interesting thing is, I have actually LOST body fat. I wasn't trying. That was just a side benefit of  going organic and free range AND eating fat again. I feel so energetic and healthy too; another side benefit.

So, back to why winter is a great time for a lifestyle change...

What could be better than a warm chicken curry full of delicious, healthy chicken fat, on a bed of brown rice, followed by a hot mug of organic hot chocolate sweetened with raw honey. (I'm not talking about the kind you get in a tin. I'm talking about a mug of organic hot milk with a chunk of dark chocolate melted into it. Have I got your attention now? How about a slice of warm banana bread smothered in a thick layer of butter? Still think you can't do this now?

That, my friends, is what eating real food is all about. It's about using all the real things that we were meant to eat, instead of going for the man-made, processed, canned and bottled rubbish that you find lining the shelves of all major grocery stores. The beauty of a lot of organic stuff is that it's actually not that hard to make yourself. So when they tell you how expensive it is, and how it's just "not do-able", don't believe it. I make my own yoghurt. It's so easy a child could do it. I make my own stock which I use to add flavour and goodness to all my stews, curries and soups. I grow my own vegetables. I save a fortune because I don't buy pre-packaged goods loaded with rubbish and, aside from saving money, our health has benefited.

This blog is going to be full of info to help you on your organic way, and it's going to include a lot of recipes and suggestions to save you money and make you healthier in the process. I get so excited just thinking about how much this will change your life for the better.

But that's enough for now. I'm off to make myself a mug of hot chocolate and eat a slice of my delicious homemade banana bread;)