Saturday, December 3, 2011

Healthy alternatives- from coconuts

Since going dairy free and refined sugar free and gluten-free, finding alternatives always seem to end up to the good ole coconut:) Here are a few of the products I now use. 

Spectrum, Organic All Vegetable Shortening, Butter Flavor


They've taken their organic shortening to a whole new level with the addition of an all natural butter flavor that will make your cookies and pie crusts tastier than ever. They craft our shortening from sustainably harvested organic palm oil sourced from dozens of small family farmers in Colombia. Spectrum Organic Shortening with Butter Flavor is a better choice than mass market shortening brands because it’s never hydrogenated which means it has 0g trans fat. The first dish I made with it was my Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole, and it turned out wonderfully! I look forward to using it to make Christmas desserts.

Ingredients
Mechanically pressed organic palm oil, natural butter flavor (non-dairy), annatto and turmeric for color.

Organic Raw Coconut Crystals (sugar alternative)

Organic Raw Coconut Flour  
(wheat flour alternative...may mix with other gluten free alternatives using xanthan gum to mimic gluten)


Organic Raw Coconut Aminos (soy sauce alternative)

Organic Raw Coconut Nectar (syrup alternative)



Organic Raw Coconut Oil (other oil alternative)
Great for cooking and for your skin! Purchased from ESP - http://earthshiftproducts.com/

Uses: For cooking, in place of any oils; for baking and making smoothies; in the shower as a shaving gel and a deep conditioner for your hair; after showers as a lotion.

Earth Shift Products Raw Centrifuge Coconut Oil is organic and extracted by centrifuge creating the purest oil available anywhere. Coconut Oil is a colorless to pale brownish yellow oil that has a melting point ranging from 73°F to 78°F. It has been described as the "Healthiest Oil on Earth." Coconut oil is composed mainly of medium-chain-fatty-acids (MCFA) with 86.5% saturated fatty acids, 5.8% monounsaturated fatty acids, and 1.8% polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is the world's ONLY low-calorie fat! Of the saturated fatty acids, coconut oil is primarily 44.6% lauric acid, 16.8% myristic acid, and 8.2% palmitic acid. In comparison to most oils, coconut oil has a long shelf life of up to three years, which is due to its natural ability to not be affected by fluctuating temperature and oxidation. Among the most stable of all oils, coconut oil is slow to oxidize and thus resistant to rancidity.

Earth Shift Products Raw Centrifuge Virgin Coconut Oil comes from fresh coconuts that do not undergo a refining process. Most virgin coconut oils on the market go through one of two processes to extract the oil from the coconut. Earth Shift Products Raw Centrifuge Virgin Coconut Oil is unique from other virgin coconut oils because it does not go through either the "quick drying" or "wet-milling" processes. Instead, we use centrifugal extraction to derive the oil from the coconut. This method of extraction requires no heat at all and produces oil that is absolutely amazing!

Since our coconut supplier owns the USDA Certified Organic coconut plantation, we are able to provide coconuts that are harvested at the perfect age. The coconuts are delivered on the same day to the processing plant, which is located inside the coconut plantation. The coconuts are then de-husked and grated, and the fresh coconut meat is cold-pressed and filtered. This process preserves the live enzymes, lauric acid, and all the other immune system building nutrients. Except for picking and opening the nut, there is little human handling in our process. Stainless steel mechanical equipment is used in order to provide a sanitary controlled environment in the processing plant. The coconut oil is strained and immediately bottled. No chemicals or preservatives are added. You only get pure unadulterated Virgin Coconut Oil.

  • Earth Shift Products Coconut Oil is organic and extracted by centrifuge creating the purest oil available anywhere.
  • It is composed mainly of medium-chain-fatty-acids (MCFA) with 86.5% saturated fatty acids, 5.8% monounsaturated fatty acids, and 1.8% polyunsaturated fatty acids.
  • Composed primarily 44.6% lauric acid, which is used by the body to make disease-fighting fatty acids.
  • Coconut oil is slow to oxidize, and thus resistant to rancidity.
  • Uses: For cooking, in place of any oils; for baking and making smoothies; in the shower as a shaving gel and a deep conditioner for your hair; after showers as a lotion.

Coconut Secrets for Optimal Health

If you're anything like me, you prefer the basic facts highlighted for you in bullet point fashion ~ everything important you need to know about the naturally occurring health benefits of coconut tree products. So, I'll get right to it!

  • Helps Prevent Obesity by speeding up metabolism, providing an immediate source of energy with fewer calories than other fats.  People who consistently use coconut products, report a stronger ability to go without eating for several hours with no affects of hypoglycemia. 

  • Improves Heart Health by providing healthy short chain and medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) that are essential to good hcoconut budealth.  Close to 98% of all fatty acids consumed are composed of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA), which are very different from MCFA that have no negative effect on cholesterol ratios and help to lower the risk of atherosclerosis and protect against heart disease.  Studies have shown that populations in Polynesia and Sri Lanka, where coconuts are a dietary staple, do not suffer from high serum cholesterol or heart disease.  Unlike other fats, the unique properties of coconut also contain a large amount of lauric acid, which is the predominant fatty acid found in mother's milk.

  • High in Dietary Fiber rivaling other fiber sources such as psyllium, wheat bran, oat bran, and rice bran.  Coconut supplies an impressive 61% dietary fiber!   Foods contain two types of carbohydrates - digestible and non-digestible.  Digestible carbohydrates (soluble fiber) consists of starch and sugar and promote calories. Non-digestible carbohydrates (insoluble fiber) contains NO calories.  Since the body cannot digest the dietary fiber in coconut, no calories are derived from it and it has no effect on blood sugar. 

  • Low Glycemic Index (GI) measures how fast available carbohydrates in food raise blood sugar levels.  Coconut fiber slows down the release of glucose, therefore requiring less insulin to utilize the glucose and transport it into the cell where it is converted into energy.  Coconut also assists in relieving stress on the pancreas and enzyme systems of the body, in turn, reducing the risks associated with Diabetes.  Coconut Nectar and Crystals have a very low GI of only 35 (compared to honey with a GI of 55-83, and sugar with a GI of 65-100.)

  • Reduces Sweet Cravings and improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.  The healthy fat in coconut slowsdown any rise in blood sugar and helps to reduce hypoglycemic cravings. 

  • Improves Digestion and many of the symptoms and inflammatory conditions associatedwith digestive and bowel disorders, by supporting absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids while also providing beneficial dietary fiber.

  • Quick Energy Boost that provides a super nutritious source of extra energy.  Coconut is utilized by the body to actually produce energy, rather than to store it as body fat.  It supports improved endurance during physical and athletic performance. As well, it promotes healthy thyroid function and helps to relieve the symptoms of chronic fatigue.

  • In addition, coconut contains No Trans-Fats, is Gluten-Free, Non-Toxic, Hypoallergenic, and also contains Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antifungal, and Anti-parasitic healing properties.  Coconut helps to aid and support overall Immune System functions.