6 Benefits of Coconut Oil

BENEFITS COCONUT OIL that may change your perspective of6 6 6

It’s no secret that coconut oil has become very popular all over the world. With all its benefits and uses it can definitely be on the top of your next shopping list. Here are six benefits of coconut oil that may change your perspective.

1. High in saturated fats, your body automatically becomes healthier turning all LDL cholesterols in your body to HDL cholesterols. This means that any unhealthy and dangerous cholesterol found in your body gets converted to improve your health and reduce your cholesterol levels.

2.Coconut oil is easier to digest and passes through the body quickly. It turns into energy rather than fat because it passes through the liver. Whilst it is an easily digestible food it also adds great flavour and volume to most of your dishes that makes the body crave more.

3. It also treats UTIs and kidney infections. The components that make up coconut oil have antibacterial properties that help to speed up inflammation in the kidneys. The water of the coconut is also beneficial when trying to heal any kidney infections or UTIs.

4. The coconut oil improves energy making a day easier to handle.

As it does not get stored as fat and gets converted into energy, like most food, it helps you to live your day without feeling tired or fatigued. Your metabolism also increases to help you with digestion throughout the day.

5. Besides being consumed, coconut oil can also be applied on the skin.

Components that make up this oil helps to heal skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, burns and dandruff. Its hydrating feature cures any flaky or damaged skin that does not have moisture anymore.

6. Best of all, it is an oil that does not contain carbohydrates.

Most oils don’t actually contain carbohydrates but they often don’t settle well in the stomach if a lot is consumed. This oil, on the other hand, agrees with many of the body’s organs and helps them to fight off disease and infection whilst being digested.

So these are the six benefits of coconut oil that may change your perspective and views. All facts have been scientifically proven but it is always advisable to check with your doctor if you have any adverse effects. Before deciding to only consume coconut oil, keep in mind that to survive and to be healthy, your body needs to consume all types of food from the various food groups.

LEMON-GINGER

CHICKEN BREASTS

Chicken can be a bit boring, but there are so many ways of cooking it. One of them is this lemon-ginger chicken breasts recipe. You need three or four chicken breasts, depending on their size, aluminium foil and a roasting tray.

This dish can serve 3-4 people depending on how many chicken breasts you use.

INGREDIENTS

3 or 4 chicken breasts The juice of a lemon 1 inch piece of ginger 1 or 2 cloves of garlic A small bunch of parsley 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika 1 red onion Olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

METHOD

• Make pouches with the chicken breasts so that they can be stuffed easily. Lay them on pieces of foil on a roasting tray. • Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees

Celsius, 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or gas mark 6. • Put all the other ingredients, except the olive oil, into a blender and whizz to make a paste. • Spread the paste evenly on the chicken breasts and close them.

Drizzle them with the olive oil.

Cover tightly with the foil and bake for an hour. • Turn the oven down to 150 degrees

Celsius, 300 degrees Fahrenheit, or gas mark 2 and roast for a further half an hour. • Turn off the oven and leave to settle for 10 minutes. • You can serve the chicken breasts with pasta, rice, other grains and mashed potatoes, or a salad, depending on the season and how you feel.

This dish can be served hot or cold. If you like spicy food, you could add a teaspoon of red chilli powder to the blender, or some fresh rosemary and thyme. You could also add 2 chopped tomatoes and use fresh basil. There are so many variations, you need never get bored with this simple dish.

The beauty of this dish is that apart from lowering the temperature of the oven, you don’t need to check that the chicken breasts are OK. When you cook them in foil, all the flavours are retained and the chicken is succulent. If you want a more lemony flavour, you can rub lemon juice into the pouches you have made of the breasts.

Catering services available for 50 to 1000 persons

MELON SLUSHIES

These DIY melon slushies are the COOLEST summertime treat. They can be made in minutes and kids are crazy for them. They’re like MAGIC!

INGREDIENTS

WATERMELON-LIME

One 6 to 7 lb. watermelon Simple syrup Zest of 2 limes Juice of 4 limes (about 1/2 cup total)

HONEYDEW-GINGER-MINT

2 4-lb. honeydew melons Simple syrup 2 tbsp. fresh grated ginger 4 sprigs fresh mint

CANTALOUPE-BASIL

1 6-lb. cantaloupe Simple syrup 2 large sprigs fresh basil

DIRECTIONS

Remove the skin and seeds from the melon (pick one from above); cut into 2-inch pieces (you should be left with about 4 pounds total). Make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer (don’t stir) until the sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the flavorings (everything but the melon); let cool completely. Strain into a small bowl or measuring cup. In a blender, working in two batches, puree half the simple syrup mixture and half the melon until smooth. Strain into a metal loaf pan or square pan; repeat with remaining syrup and melon. Cover and freeze until set, about 8 hours. When ready to serve, using a fork, scrape the surface of the melon ice to create large flakes. Transfer to glasses, top with a splash of soda water, and serve with additional fruit, if desired.