Coconut Oil?

[NoGMO!]

is it okay to substitute canola oil instead of coconut oil?
(for sweets that is)

[Revvell]

I'm not sure what you mean by o.k. Healthwise? Texture/thicknesswise?

Again, canola is another controversial subject. Might I suggest you google "canola oil" and see if you wish to chance that? Why not Olive? Hemp or Shea?

Revvell

[NoGMO!]

I'm not sure what you mean by o.k. Healthwise? Texture/thicknesswise?

Again, canola is another controversial subject. Might I suggest you google "canola oil" and see if you wish to chance that? Why not Olive? Hemp or Shea?

Revvell
Revvell -
well I just got a couple of decadent recipes off of the From Sad To RAW site ("carob/cocoa bark" & "coconut haystacks"). I want to try one out. They both call for 3/4 to 1 cup of coconut oil. I thought organic cold pressed canola oil might be better for you than coconut oil- I read this somewhere once - sorry I forgot where - it's been a long time ago - so I was wondering if the recipes would still taste good with the canola oil as a substitute. would hemp or shea be better for this? - I've never tried them - and olive oil seems wrong for these recipes? :confused:

... so what's the canola oil contraversy is all about? I haven't heard... I will see if I can google up the story? thanks for the tip. ;)

[RawTruth]

I thought organic cold pressed canola oil might be better for you than coconut oil- I read this somewhere once - sorry I forgot where - it's been a long time ago - Heavens, no. Coconut oil is fabulous for you. Maybe what you read is old information (you do say it was a long time ago) and, undoubtedly, it was referring to heated, processed, denatured coconut oil. Not the raw coconut oil that's available to us. It has wonderful properties, including being antifungal. You don't want to substitute anything for it.

Here is an article on coconut oil from Dr. Mercola's site. It is actually adapted from a very dry, scientific article by a Dr. Peat, so it take a lot of close, dedicated reading to get to the facts. However, if you scroll down to the bottomm, you'll see his comments summarizing (and mentioning canola oil):

http://www.mercola.com/2001/mar/24/coconut_oil.htm

Be sure to let us know how those treats turn out!

[Vanessa]

I agree- coconut oil is the best for you. There is so much literature written on it. For starters, check out www.tropicaltraditions.com. This is where I get my Virgin Coconut Oil.
I use it internally and externally- makes a great moisturizer and is great for the skin. It's the beauty secret of the tropics!

[NoGMO!]

Thanks soooo much for letting me know all about canola oil - wow - I had no idea. - so anyway...
I went to my local Whole Foods for coconut oil... they have only one brand available - Spectrum - but they only have the "refined" version NOT the "unrefined" (until next shipment) - isn't refined bad? is it Raw? hmmm? I'm lost on this one... some help please

[Vanessa]

Only the Virgin coconut oil is raw. Refined coconut oil is more neutral tasting (some people don't like that coconut oil taste and use the refined instead).
You should really read about it at www.tropicaltraditions.com. Their main coconut oil is virgin, but they also have a refined coconut oil now and they explain the whole process. Read it and then decide for yourself what is best.
I mainly use virgin, but in some recipes that call for coconut oil, I don't necessarily want that coconut flavor, so then I would use the refined instead (only for taste issues). Heathwise, virgin is the best.

[vegangelist]

tropical traditions expeller pressed seems to be less "refined" than many others. i, too, dislike the coconut flavor in many things. So, I have both.

kristi

[RawTruth]

I use Virgin Oil De Coco-Creme which I buy at my local raw food store. He (the store owner) also has a bunch of books on coconut oil and all its wonderful properties.

However, this same brand is sold right here in Alissa's products section. I'd suggest that, if you're planning on buying some, getting it from her so we can demonstrate our appreciation for her providing such a wonderful forum for us to use.

Watcha think?

[NoGMO!]

wow! i finally located the extra virgin coconut oil... at Central Mkt. - it was hiding in the vitamin department as opposed to the general food stuff dept... :rolleyes:
made a few macaroons / super-duper yum!!! I've never used this oil before - you were right! it is MUCH better than canola oil --- so what are some other TOP CHOICE RAW OILS ... care to share? -I heard shea?? and hemp?? - (of course I'm on to olive oil already and I've tried flax now and again - it can take some getting used to at first)

[asil]

Ha! I noticed that too -- CM hides its good coco oil in the vitamins and only has Spectrum in the oils section. So does Whole Foods. Odd, eh?

[Revvell]

I've begun doing research on Shea butter and it's variations as I'm looking to purchase in quantity for resale. It comes from various parts of Africa and such places and is extracted from the shea nut. It's used by the people in those countries for cooking and for protection from the sun.

Here, it mostly comes very refined, de-odorized, "cosmetic-grade". The samples I have are a lovely yellow and have a nutty scent. I've used the refined on half my body and the non-denatured on the other half. I felt a burning sensation on the denatured half although I didn't literally burn. (seems that's not happening since being raw).

Bo, who is not raw,(other than when he's home and eats here) has tried some of my various oils and such on a skin condition he's had since he was a kid. Black soap, tea tree oil and coconut oil seem to work the best. The shea is great for various other things. I love it as a moisturer and sun "block". Oh! I did use virgin coconut oil on Bo ~ he burned. Not had a chance to try the shea.

Someone noted that they wouldn't put anything on their body which they can't eat. Made SOOO much sense!

Revvell

[rawelkie]

I also like to use Udo's choice ultimate oil blend.I think it has a buttery smooth taste.

[RawTruth]

I only use olive oil, though I noticed raw brazil nut oil tonight at my local raw market. I dunno, though. Most recipes call for olive, and occasionally flax or hemp. I think I can substitute olive oil for the few recipes that list a different oil. More than that, though, I don't know that I want to invest in more ingredients when I'm planning to continue simplifying and preparing "gourmet" only occasionally for myself or guests. Also, none of the oils are cheap, and I wouldn't want them going rancid.

Revvell, I used to use shea butter for dry skin; it's the best. The speciality shops at the mall are cleaning up on those. I'm really interested in knowing the results of your experimenting.

[NoGMO!]

(quote)
Someone noted that they wouldn't put anything on their body which they can't eat. Made SOOO much sense!

Revvell
----------------------

Revvell - thanks I didn't know that shea wasn't usually used for eating. oh brother! :o I'm learning so much!

By the way, and this question goes to anyone, what about grapeseed oil... anybody? is it raw?? and hemp oil... does it taste good??

I guess that when an oil label says "Virgin", "Extra Virgin" or "Unrefined"... that, as a general rule, translates to mean "Raw". Yes??? If I missed the answer to this question in the above suggested coconut oil websites I apologize. So please correct me if I am wrong on this. thanks.

[willow]

I know this is an old thread, but I found it searching to find out more about coconut butter and coconut oil. Are they the same thing? How do you know if it is raw or not? Will it say raw? Are all coconut butters and oil edible? thanks for any info.

[Revvell]

There's lots of information here on coconut oils. Of course, they are looking to see their own (which I purchase) yet.... just fyi, it's a good site imo.

http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm

R.

[RawTruth]

Alissa sells great coconut oil on this site, also. It's the same as I buy locally.

[exurb]

hey, "no-GMO," virtually ALL non organic canola is genetically modified. Good ole Monsanto round-up ready canola.

I have read information about wrongful information being out there that says its good for you (even some suggestion of bribery, corruption in that), and have read stuff that says it's bad for you. I avoid all canola, even the organic stuff that says it's expeller pressed, etc.

[RawTruth]

Canola oil = not raw -- so, there you go.