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- #10 Apolo Ohno: virgin coconut oil for dinner
- #9 Jillian Michaels: virgin coconut oil for cooking
- #8 Miranda Kerr: virgin coconut oil in tea
- #7 Kourtney Kardashian: virgin coconut oil for hair
- #6 CJ Wilson: coconut oil for game day meals
- #5 Gwyneth Paltrow: virgin coconut oil to moisturize after an Epsom Salts bath
- #4 Gisele Bundchen: virgin coconut oil for an organic skincare line
- #3 Dr. Oz: coconut oil for speeding metabolism and weight loss
- #2 Angelina Jolie: virgin coconut oil for breakfast
- #1 Jennifer Aniston: coconut oil for weight loss and boosting metabolism
Virgin coconut oil is making a strong comeback. After decades of derision and active avoidance by those who mistakenly believed it would clog their arteries and give them heart disease, unrefined, pure virgin coconut oil is finally getting its day in the sun.
The research of Dr. Weston A. Price in the early part of the last century as documented in his groundbreaking book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration provides a scientific basis for this change of heart. Dr. Price noted through his careful, first-hand analysis of Traditional Diets from all over the world that the people of the South Sea Islands who consumed large amounts of virgin coconut oil in their diet actually suffered the lowest amount of heart disease!
In fact, heart disease was virtually nonexistent in this virgin coconut oil loving culture. These people also exhibited strong resistance to disease, easy fertility, strong and beautifully straight teeth, and vitality well into old age. In addition, the women were renowned for their youthful beauty and luminous skin no matter what their age.
Always quick to adopt a trend that holds promise for improvement and maintenance of physical beauty and health, celebrities are digging the benefits of virgin coconut oil too.
Below is the top ten list of famous personalities that use virgin coconut oil regularly by including it as part of their health and wellness regimen:
#10 Apolo Ohno: virgin coconut oil for dinner
This Olympic Gold Medalist and winner of Dancing with the Stars uses coconut oil to help him prepare for competition. According to the New York Times, the speed skating champion says his routine is to eat a dinner of steamed broccoli and brown rice topped with coconut oil to provide extra energy the night before a big race.
Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) are the wonderful fat available in copious amounts in virgin coconut oil that is used immediately by the body for energy that Mr. Ohno has learned to use to his advantage.
#9 Jillian Michaels: virgin coconut oil for cooking
Personal trainer and fitness guru Jillian Michaels extols virgin coconut oil as an aid to the immune system.
In her book Master Your Metabolism, Ms. Michaels includes a recipe for a stirfry that lists 1 TBL of virgin coconut oil as a key ingredient along with several other fresh and whole foods.
#8 Miranda Kerr: virgin coconut oil in tea
Supermodel Miranda Kerr who is married to actor Orlando Bloom and recently became a new Mom says eating lots of coconut oil is her beauty secret and that she has been consuming it since she was 14. Of her favorite virgin coconut oil, Miranda states:
“I will not go a day without coconut oil. I personally take four tablespoons per day, either on my salads, in my cooking or in my cups of green tea.”
#7 Kourtney Kardashian: virgin coconut oil for hair
The reality show star includes the best quality virgin coconut oil as part of a hair mask to keep her locks shiny and gorgeous. According to StyleBistro.com, Kourtney’s recipe includes a once a month treatment of avocado, mayonnaise, egg, olive oil, castor oil and coconut oil.
#6 CJ Wilson: coconut oil for game day meals
The popular pitcher for the Texas Rangers consumes coconut oil as it is the preferred cooking oil of his personal chef Aaron Elliot. Elliot even prefers virgin coconut oil to olive oil when preparing meals for the baseball star and this includes meals prepared for Wilson on game days.
Wilson’s “game day omelet” consists of three eggs with spinach, mushrooms, bell pepper and onion. The veggies are sauteed in coconut oil prior to adding the eggs.
#5 Gwyneth Paltrow: virgin coconut oil to moisturize after an Epsom Salts bath
Oscar-winning actress and Mom to Apple and Moses, Gwyneth Paltrow claims to regularly use virgin coconut oil to moisturize her skin after a bath of cleansing and detoxifying Epsom salts.
According to her website goop.com:
“I love Epsom salt baths to detox, revive muscles and de-puff skin. While in the bath, I use an exfoliating mitt which stimulates skin and leaves it soft and bump-free. After the bath, I slather my skin with extra-virgin organic coconut oil.”
#4 Gisele Bundchen: virgin coconut oil for an organic skincare line
This Brazilian supermodel and wife of quarterback Tom Brady has her own organic skincare line, Sejaa pure skincare, that includes coconut oil as the main ingredient.
The supermodel who reportedly earns more than her Superbowl winning husband, infuriated dermatologists by calling sunscreen “poison” and refusing to include any sun blocking chemicals in any products within her skincare line instead opting for the humble virgin coconut oil.
#3 Dr. Oz: coconut oil for speeding metabolism and weight loss
That’s right, a celebrity MD is even endorsing virgin coconut oil! Dr. Oz recently ran a two-part series on his popular show called Coconut Oil Superpowers.
He extols the use of virgin coconut oil as a tool for weight loss by speeding up metabolism.
#2 Angelina Jolie: virgin coconut oil for breakfast
According to the UK Daily Mail, Angelina Jolie includes virgin coconut oil as part of her breakfast routine.
A source for Grazia magazine said:
“Angelina has been known to start her day with little more than a spoonful of coconut oil and a handful of cereal.”
It’s no wonder Ms. Jolie likes including virgin coconut oil to start her day.
According to Sally Fallon Morell and Dr. Mary Enig, authors of the book Eat Fat Lose Fat, a bit of virgin coconut oil before a meal can really assist with healthy weight maintenance by helping people feel full and not overeat.
#1 Jennifer Aniston: coconut oil for weight loss and boosting metabolism
Jennifer Aniston apparently was a devotee of the Coconut Diet for a period of time and was even spotted with a shopping cart full of coconut oil.
The Coconut Diet is low carb and includes plenty of coconut in all its forms to speed metabolism and weight loss.
Perhaps Jennifer saw Dr. Oz’s show on coconut oil increasing metabolism and weight loss and this convinced her to try this amazing, traditional oil?
Where to buy the best quality, most unrefined virgin coconut oil
You can be sure that celebrities using virgin coconut oil want only the best possible brand available.
Click here to visit my Resources page for vendors I buy from myself who sell only the best quality, most unrefined virgin coconut oil at prices that are highly competitive.
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I have been using Tropical Traditions Gold Label therapeutically but it does have a pretty strong flavor and as Sarah mentioned it’s not the best for cooking. The other day I was at Costco and picked up a container of Carrington Farms coconut oil. It is certified organic unrefined, cold pressed, extra virgin. It has a milder flavor than the Tropical Traditions. Actually quite good (well pleasant, not overpowering) right off the spoon. Since it is still extra virgin I wouldn’t use it for high heat but it is much more economical than the TT plus I can get it locally. So far the biggest critique I have is that it is packaged in plastic not glass.
The only coconut oil I have been able to find (from a reputable company) which comes in glass is the Wilderness Family Naturals centrifuged stuff. 64 oz jar, unrefined. I LOVE IT! It’s so nice and smooth and has a wonderful sort of non-flavor. It might be VERY slightly coconutty but nothing like the Nutiva. I liked Nutiva but not for cooking, eating from a spoon, or in my warmed beverages; only for baking and oiling pans,etc.
If you are having trouble eating the stuff you have, try mixing it with butter in your butter dish and then spreading it on warm veggies, or toast or whatever. The butter will help tame the coconut flavor, not to mention you’re eating two things that are very good for you!
I hope this centrifuged oil is going to continue to be carried by WFN because it is so very nice. I also use it on my skin sometimes, and a very small little dot in my palm mixed with a drop of lavender oil for my long hair as a detangler, which also conditions my hair beautifully and makes it shine without looking greasy. My hair is quite long and thick and tends to frizz on the ends sometimes, but the coconut oil really helps control it.
Thank you for the idea of mixing with butter D. I’ll give it a try. The Tropical Traditions comes in glass too, unless you order one of their pails of it. It is a very good product as well so if Wilderness ever discontinues the centrifuged oil you may want to give the Gold Label a try. It’s not centrifuged but from my understanding it is allowed to separate from the coconut milk naturally, like cream from milk. Then filtered off. But like I said it does have more flavor, not bad like burned, just coconut oil. I’ve gotten coconut meat and flour from Wilderness so the next time I do I may have to try their oil too and see if it’s easier for me to get down!
Hi! Does anyone have any good tips on getting coconut oil down? I actually like coconut but when I try and take a tablespoon of VCO down I have such a bad gag reflex! I can’t do it!
I use refined coconut oil in cooking and bake with raw virgin coconut oil but can’t find a way to get more oil down as a supplement. I’ve tried putting it on toast with PB which is ok and someone at Whole Foods said they put a glob on a triscuit and that gets it down so I need to try that.
Any creative ideas??? Thanks!
I can so relate Hayden! The easiest way I have found for me so far is to keep it hard, refrigerate if it’s really warm and swallow it in chunks with a big glass of cool water just like a capsule. I’d be interested in others methods as well.
I know not everyone drinks coffe, but coconut oil is GREAT mixed into coffe/milk. I have tried it in green tea, and it’s like drinking an oil slick. For some reason (maybe the steamed milk?) coconut oil mixes very well with cappucinos/lattes!
sorry- coffee!
When I put it smoothie, I kind of like the “little crunches.”. But I’ve been putting it in my hot tea and having less trouble getting it down. Even gold label I can’t eat straight.
SoCalGT, Melissa and Kim – thanks for the tips! I too have tried it in tea and it IS like an oil slick and makes me gag! LOL. I’m not a big coffee drinker but that is good to know.
SoCalGT – I think I might try your trick….I can swallow pills easily so that would be just like swallowing pills – great idea! If anyone else thinks of more creative ways to get more of it down, let me know!
Hayden, if you have molasses and ginger on hand, mix those into your coconut oil. It tastes like a gingersnap, and molasses is full of beneficial vitamins and minerals.
I find that a strong, tangy tea works best to drink the oil in — lemon-ginger or tangerine-spice are my favorites. Stir vigorously JUST before you drink — as you are drinking, really — so you don’t get that “oil slick” thing.
I have some difficulty with my children, particularly my daughter, who complains about coconut oil on her sandwich as a substitute for butter, so I have to use creative ways around that.
Although it was a bit by accident, I developed a coconut oil butter, from raw virgin coconut oil, egg, egg whites, salt, Dijon mustard and a few other things. It tastes great and I spread big thick layers on the children’s sandwiches with no complaints. It is pretty delicious, I made myself sick the first day as I ate about 6 tablespoons of it!!
If you follow the link you can see the recipe
Well, I’m glad that more people are realizing the benefits of using coconut oil, but I have never looked to celebrities to give me a reason to do something. They follow trends, good and bad, just like the rest of us.
Sue I don’t think anybody here is telling you to look to celebrities for a reason to do something. Sarah has many times spoken about the benefits of coconut oil. She is just pointing out that the information on the benefits is getting out and overcoming the slandering coconut oil has gotten in the past. It can only be helpful to us who do use it.
I have a huge bucket of Wilderness Family Naturals expeller pressed oil that I love. Can you get the same benefits or do you have to use virgin?
Expeller is wonderful!! VCO is higher in MCTs and has a lower smokepoint and is what is used therapeutically so keep both on hand which is what I do. I use the expeller for higher heat cooking and the VCO for light sautes and therapeutically (skin, wake me up in a cup of herbal tea etc).
Sarah, I know you recommend the expeller pressed coconut oil for popping corn, but I really love the flavor of the unrefined for this. Would using the unrefined for occassional batches of popcorn be harmful?
This is a great way to influence people to use coconut oil. If people see celebrities and the so-called beautiful people incorporating coconut oil into their routine, perhaps it would make them more likely to give it a try themselves. Thanks for sharing, I couldnt live without my VCO!
This is great! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Coconut oil is wonderful! I’m glad to see more celebrities use it!
Sarah, I am currently enjoying my first shipment of nutiva virgin unrefined coconut oil. My family hates the taste. Do you think buying the Wilderness Family naturals Clean Supreme would be just as good for us? Would love input before I buy a large quantity. 🙂
I have the Nutiva brand here for the first time as well, and it does taste very strongly of coconuts. It’s not rancid, like some cheap nasty coconut oils I’ve tried, but it’s certainly not something I feel that I can use for cooking with, unless the recipe actually goes well with coconut flavors, like a curry. So now I just use the Nutiva brand in my cups of coffee or tea, or for making chocolate. Dr Bronner’s All-In-One coconut oil has a very mild taste and works better for adding to most food. It’s been a frustratingly expensive process for us to try different brands, but I’d say don’t give up! There are so many different flavors out there and many are mild and not offensive at all.
If you are going to use coconut oil for cooking, I would HIGHLY recommend expeller pressed coconut oil which has a higher smokepoint than virgin. VCO is good for lighter sautes (see chef’s use above).
Is there less benefits to the expeller pressed versus virgin?
thank you so much for all your help !
Actually for the taste of the coconut oil is depending on the process how they make it. every technique they use will affecting the taste as well. You should trying different product and I also producing virgin coconut oil which using fresh coconut and using fermentation method, so the taste of the oil is so light. please come to Bali and contact me and i would love to give you some sample of our product, and 50% of the profit i use to support 10 girls for their education.
Another great article! Thanks Sarah.
I love coconut …so it’s not a problem for me getting it down….I just eat it off the spoon. But the other day I mixed a good amount into my greek yogurt and honey and ohhhh my! It was sooooo very good! I use the Tropical Traditions Gold Label. I use expeller pressed for cooking though. Well and sometimes the gold label….:)
Tropical Traditions comes in glass. 🙂
Great article! Love coconut oil. However, I am a little concerned it will be subject at some point to a “fat tax” due to the Affordable Health Care Act. As you may have heard, Denmark eliminated its “fat tax” because of its affect on small business and because the Danes “shoulder one of the world’s highest tax burdens”. But Germany, Switzerland, and the U.K. have upheld the “fat tax” and are taxing butter, oil, cheese, sausage, and cream – foods with saturated fat levels above 2.3% at a rate of up to 9%. Sadly, because of the increase in taxes, people are purchasing lower quality food items to make up for the increase cost due to taxes. Hopefully, this won’t happen in America and the message on healthy, grass fed, butter, cream, and healthy coconut oil will get out. Thanks for the info!
Wow- that is really scary! If Obama care gets through it wouldn’t surprise me if we start seeing a push for regulating the american diet, and we all know it won’t be good!
and sadest is that taxing just puts more money in gov pockets for their greed. like cigerate tax. people just pay the price becuase they want it. it doesn’t stop them. just greedy gov!!!!!
Hi Elizabeth,
Unfortunately the information you give here is not accurate. I live in Germany (have most of my life) and what you write about foods containing saturated fats being taxed higher than other is absolutely not true! In fact all foods including butter, oil, cheese, sausage, cream etc. are taxed at a lower VAT than other goods. I have lived in the UK for a while and also there I have never heard about a tax like that.
You are right about Denmark – good they get rid of this ridicoulous tax again!
There is a proposal to introduce “fat tax” to discourage obesity in the UK. However, there are groups gathering signatures to stop this from happening.
Hi Johanne,
See my comments below – however, here is the direct quote from the WSJ “Nations including Switzerland, the U.K. and Germany have held up the tax, which applies to any food containing more than 2.3% saturated fat” There must have been some type of incorrect information given to the reporter. Thanks for your comments.
France as instituted a tax on products with palm old, nicknamed “Nutella Tax” and Malaysia is furious. Hope coconut oil is not next. There were two separate news stories yesterday “linking saturated fat with heart disease.”