Coconut Oil - It's quite good for you!

Recently, I began incorporating coconut oil into my diet on an everyday basis. The benefits of coconut oil are just too amazing to not use it.

During the onset of my sophomore year in college, I had a serious Crohn's flare. The symptoms began long before the flare ensued and were extremely painful. I did not eat. I did not sleep. I dropped weight rapidly. Many outsiders assumed I was anorexic. (What I would have given to simply eat a cracker!) I could not sit up straight due to the excessive amount of inflammation in my gut. I waddled around, rightfully earning the nickname "Penguin". I remember literally punching my mom's bed frame as I tried to fall asleep; the pain too cumbersome to mentally bear. Finally, I had surgery at Mt. Caramel in Columbus and took a quarter break from college.

This is a small glimpse of my story, but I want you to know why I'm passionate about it. Over the past 11 years, I've managed Crohn's disease to the best of my ability. Once I accepted Christ, I sought the Lord on how to care for my body. I know my life is in His hands. He has an allotted number of days for me. I believe this with my whole heart, and I trust Him. I can do nothing to add to the time He has set for me. Yet, I know He calls me to be a good steward of all things, including physical health. By nurturing my body, I'm better fit to serve and honor Him and hopefully prevent future flares. So here I am now in 2010 researching ways to actually heal my gut as much as possible. It may seem radical to some, but to me it's totally worth it. If I can use natural remedies to aid in better digestion, absorption, and immunity, you bet I'll take it! I've been able to reduce medication by 50% and hope to eventually stop taking it altogether. Will you hope with me?

I've read so much lately, but what I really desire to share with you is what I've learned about coconut oil. Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid, which means it's easily digested and absorbed. Many people who suffer from Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis claim that coconuts/coconut oil is a miracle remedy. While I'm not sure that this will actually cure my illness, I honestly believe it helps control symptoms including fatigue, weight loss, abdominal cramping, gas, frequent bowel movements, etc. This article lays out many benefits of using coconut oil. Coconut oil is healthy for us, and if you're human, you probably will benefit from using it on a regular basis. I incorporate it into my smoothies, and it is wonderful on pancakes or toast topped with some honey. I also use this recipe for homemade deodorant, and it is fantastic! Vitacost has great prices on coconut oil as well as other natural/organic products. If you're looking for a healthy boost to your diet, add some coconut oil. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!