[Auroras mom]

Originally Posted by NovelMama

Also, it's the only fat that does not change on a molecular level when it is heated, which is also good, though I can't remember why.

Well, no - it's not the only oil that doesn't change on a molecular level when heated. However, because it is saturated, like lard and butter, it is very stable at high temperatures. Polyunsaturated fats, such as many plant oils, are very unstable when heated and undergo reactions that change their structure and can create harmful byproducts. Monounsaturated fats are less prone to this problem.

Generally speaking, you should never cook with vegetable oils. Olive oil should be eaten raw on salads and such. Coconut oil is lower molecular weight than the oils in butter even, so it should be used only at lower temps when cooking.

Coconut oil is antifungal in nature, which is great for the body. It has also been found to help in thyroid function. Many folks swear by its healing properties.

As far as fear of saturated fats, it is pretty well established now I think that there is not a correlation between saturated fats and heart disease. There is a lot of info you can read on that, but in the alternative health communities at least, the causal link is considered to be a total fallacy.

My personal stance on it is that I prefer to eat a moderate amount of a variety of wholesome fats - from nuts, butter, fish, meat, eggs, yogurt, cheese, and sometimes coconut oil.