What to do with cacao butter...

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Hi all,

I just bought some cacao butter, but I'm not sure what to do with it. I banana searched it but I got a bunch of results for coconut butter and cacao powder.
Bring on the recipes!

Thanks in advance,
Sarah

[Rawkinlocs]

Here ya go!...http://www.alissacohen.com/shop/product.php?productid=51&cat=5&page=1

From what I've read here, it is a great replacement for coconut oil or coconut butter in chocolate recipes because things taste more chocolatey and not so coconutty. I just put in an order for some from Alissa's site (she JUST got it in) and I can't wait to try it out!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Awesome, thanks for the quick reply!

*Runs off to the kitchen*

[trinity082482]

Here ya go!...http://www.alissacohen.com/shop/product.php?productid=51&cat=5&page=1

From what I've read here, it is a great replacement for coconut oil or coconut butter in chocolate recipes because things taste more chocolatey and not so coconutty. I just put in an order for some from Alissa's site (she JUST got it in) and I can't wait to try it out!


I hear coconut oil and coconut butter is really bad for you too :( I didnt know. I heard this on the show " The View" :rolleyes:

[fairygirl]

Trinity, what exactly did they say on The View? was it a doctor who said it was bad?
i sure hope thats not the case because ive heard so many thi ngs about it. My understanding is that coconut oil/butter is bad for the body if it is hydrogenated (heated).

[Rawkinlocs]

Firstly, as I've always said, you can and will find both negative and positive things about anything you research. Those same people who said coconut oil is bad will probably also say an all raw food diet it unhealthy as well...so, who's report will you believe?

Having said that, I believe it is refined coconut oil that they may have been referring to (I didn't see the show as I don't watch the View) but I found this that might shed a little light on it...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil

Health Research Controversy

During the 1980's, The American Heart Association issued statements indicating that coconut oil's high saturated fat content was detrimental to cardiovascular health and promoted heart disease [citation needed]. A research study at the Heart Research Institute in Sydney, Australia used coconut oil and safflower oil (high in polyunsaturated fat) in two otherwise identical meals for the study's participants [3]. The study found the following:

“...three hours after eating the coconut oil meal, the lining of the arteries was hindered from expanding to increase blood flow. After six hours, the anti-inflammatory qualities of the good cholesterol were reduced.

“...the safflower oil meal seemed to improve those anti-inflammatory qualities. Also, fewer inflammatory agents were found in the arteries than before the meal.”

The above study involved only 14 subjects, and it is unclear how the coconut oil used for the study was processed. The conclusion that coconut oil is unhealthy is consistent with prior concerns raised by the AHA.

The study has been criticised as misleading. The participants in the study consumed refined coconut oil, which is regarded by some as dangerous because of the added chemicals to make the oil colorless and odorless. In contrast to the study done by the AHA, a more recent modern study [[1]] showed coconut oil reducing LDL and improving HDL.

Furthermore, a study done by the Lazaro Hospital showed that coconut oil reduced the viral load on HIV patients. 15 participants were involved in the study and 7 of them showed substantial improvement after consuming coconut oil daily for six months. [[2]] However, the study could have produced better results if the participants consumed more coconut oil.

Participants in the study who consumed more coconut oil lowered their viral loads quicker than those who consumed less coconut oil. Furthermore, there have been instances where people have consumed as much as 1 cup of coconut oil a day and have lowered their viral loads to undetectable amounts.