Let me just tell you a little story...It involves the reason why earlier I said Jarrod's brother Shaun told me I was brainwashed.
Background: I LOVE Shaun...he's one of a kind and I am very thankful to call him my brother-in-law. He brings color to conversations and a smile to my face. He and his super cute little
hippy girlfriend Karly who works at
mama jeans are a perfect match. They even bought me a mothers day card which was very sweet. They are fresh, earthy and funny to watch. They are very into natural healing and coconuts. Karly said at dinner once, "Coconut is a cure all"
Disclaimer: I have nothing against coconuts and I don't think they are bad for you and I also do believe there are some extremely beneficial factors in coconuts. I also have nothing against organic foods or natural healing.
The story: On mother's day Jarrod's cousin Brittany who is on a diet and has lost over 60 pounds (Why to go Brit!) declined when Shaun offered her a piece of coconut. She said she couldn't have it. He made a big stink and said, "She says she can't have coconut" and proceeds to say that coconut doesn't have any fat in it. I usually keep my mouth shut because it's not worth it and Jarrod doesn't want me to make a scene. However, I wanted to stick up for Brit. I said,
Umm yes, coconut has a LOT of fat...saturated fat at that.
Opps...I started it. He tells me I'm brainwashed.
I'M brain washed? Ha. Let me tell you, before the coconut conversation Shaun was telling his mother that microwaves are killing us and poisoning our food and that he eats ants for protein because ants are full of protein. How big is an ant? Anyways, back to the story, he said that coconuts are helping his diabetes which I'm not saying it isn't. I just think if your going to toot the coconut's horn you need to know the basic facts of a coconut. Yes, Shaun it has fat. All I was saying yesterday is that coconut has fat (Jarrod is so going to kill me for this post). For all of you out there, here is some basic information about a coconut Click
here. Let me highlight on some of the information:
About 90% of the fat found in coconut meat is saturated, a proportion exceeding that of foods such as lard, butter, and tallow.
Click here for information and saturated fat. Again: Let me highlight on some information:
Examples of foods containing a high proportion of saturated fat include dairy products (especially cream and cheese but also butter and ghee); animal fats such as suet, tallow, lard and fatty meat; coconut oil, cottonseed oil, palm kernel oil, chocolate, and some prepared foods.[1]
Serum saturated fatty acid is generally higher in smokers, alcohol drinkers and obese people.[2]
What is Saturated Fat?
Saturated fat is a solid fat mainly found in animal foods. Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol.
Saturated Fat requirements
There is no RDA for saturated fat, nor is there a Tolerable Upper Intake Level. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Science recommends keeping saturated fat as low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that not more than 10 percent of total calories should be from saturated fat.
What happens when Saturated Fat intake is too high?
A high intake of saturated fat has been shown to raise blood cholesterol, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Excess saturated increases LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood. It also may contribute to weight gain by providing excess calories.
What happens when Saturated Fat intake is too low?
A diet low in saturated fat is desirable.
Which foods are high in Saturated Fat?
Saturated fat is found in full-fat dairy products, like cheese, whole milk, cream, butter, and ice cream, fatty cuts of meat and fish, the skin and fat of chicken and turkey, lard, palm oil, and coconut oil.
From
CalorieKing.com
the Nutrition Facts of a coconut
serving size: 1 cup of shredded coconut
Calories 283 (1184 kJ)
% Daily Value 1
Total Fat 26.8g 41%
Sat. Fat 23.8g 119%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 16mg 1%
Total Carbs. 12.2g 4%
Dietary Fiber 7.2g 29%
Sugars 5g
Protein 2.7g
Calcium 11.2mg
Potassium 284.8mg
Listen, I'm not saying that I know everything about coconuts or about saturated fat. However, I do know that coconuts have saturated fat and that movie theater popcorn is made with coconut oil. :) I love Shaun. Jarrod please don't be mad. :)
