Digest Number 649

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In a message dated 11/10/02 8:07:38 AM Eastern Standard Time,

Ammachi writes:

 

 

>

> Message: 5

> Sat, 09 Nov 2002 18:26:47 +0000

> "Vallath Nandakumar" <vallathn

> Coconut oil

>

>

> Coconut oil as a cooking medium is primarily used in Kerala,

> and not that much in other parts of India. Even in Kerala,

> however, it has been replaced to some extent by palm oil (from

> the oil palm, and reputedly not good for the body), and by

> safflower oil, etc. Even if food is not cooked in coconut oil,

> a few spoons are often drizzled onto curries etc.

>

> The coconuts are sun-dried and crushed

> to yield the oil. Some brands such as Keragem have good reputation,

> I believe, but the nameless varieties are prone to adulteration.

>

> The Naturopathy folks believe that heating causes coconut oil

> to become unhealthy, and so they use unheated coconut and

> coconut oil.

>

> Besides for cooking, coconut oil is used for massage and hair care.

> The oil that is marked 'not for internal consumption' probably has

> inedible additives.

>

> I don't know how to make this relevant to the Ammachi list, except to say

> that it is the Divine Mother who takes the shape of coconut oil

> as well as cholesterol!

>

> Vallath Nandakumar

> vallathn

>

 

Thank you, Vallath. It is certainly relevant as far as I am concerned! I am

a little confused about some points. What is palm oil? I thought coconuts

come from palm trees? So, palm oil comes from what exactly? You say it is

bad for health, but can you say why, since coconut oil is as saturated as

possible; how could anything be "worse"? The article on coconut oil which

was linked was interesting. It makes the argument that coconut oil is good

for you. Whatever the truth is it has had zero impact though, and I am not

sure what to make of it.

 

>From what you say, coconut oil is best if expeller-pressed, not processed in

the "standard" heat-treated manner. And without additives of whatever kind.

It should be cheap, given it's just coconuts for God's sake, but it is pretty

expensive in the U.S. You are right about only used in Kerala. Having been

only there, I thought all of India used it, but, that's why they call Kerala,

The Land of Coconuts. There used to be a site about coconuts, but it was

taken down, due to lack of interest and there were too many nuts ; )