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COCONUT OIL – A VERY BIG QUESTION (AND COOKIES!)

May 10, 2014 12 Comments

coco-spoon-in-cenre-light

A VERY BIG QUESTION

“What if there was a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, and no-one knew?”

That’s a very big – and very loaded – question. Particularly as the cure in question is one very simple food:  COCONUT OIL.  The internet is awash with stories of carers who have seen remarkable improvement in their dementic loved ones when they start feeding them a small dose of coconut oil each day.

An American doctor, Mary Newport, put her husband on a coconut oil regime in 2008 with startling results. The question above comes from her website and you can read more here: http://www.coconutketones.com/  When I read this website I cried because if I’d known about this in earlier, I might have been able to slow my mother’s decline into dementia. (Or not – the success rate seems to be about 50%)

The theory is that the fats found in coconut oil, known as MCTs (medium chain triglycerides)can  provide ‘fuel’  – ketones – for the brain. A healthy brain uses glucose for fuel, but an Alzheimer’s brain can’t – or can’t very well. However, even Alzheimer’s brains can utilise the ketones in coconut oil for fuel. And a well-fuelled brain works better.

But I don’t have Alzheimer’s, so why bother now?  Research into coconut oil and MCTs is ongoing. More evidence of their powers may be revealed. (Or may not, I know, I know).  In ‘Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar – Your Brain’s Silent Killers’ (a depressing title if ever there was one), Dr David Perlmutter suggests that coconut oil ‘is a superfood for the brain’ that reduces inflammation and stimulates the growth of new brain cells. A big claim for a coconut  but it’s taken a central place in my kitchen. It’s got to be raw, virgin coconut oil – none of that hydrogenated stuff. I buy it from the health food store. It’s not cheap – around £10 for 500g – but a little goes a long way.

Leaving aside all the Alzheimer’s research, it is anti-bacterial and may be beneficial for heart health, although a whole load more research needs to be done. And, most importantly, it is absolutely DEE-LISH, making fried foods – it’s perfect for pancakes – crisp and tasty. It has a sweetness without adding sugar. I used it to fry the onions and spices that are the base of a curry. And it’s a useful weapon on that vast familial battleground: THE HEALTHY SNACK. Like sentries, my children are constantly alert, while I use guerrilla tactics to surprise and defeat them. For them snack = treat; for me snack = opportunity to refuel/grab some great nutrition. But they actually like these:

COCONUT-ALMOND COOKIES – makes 10

(this recipe is loosely based on one in Gwyneth Paltrow’s first book, Notes From My Kitchen Table)

coconut-cookies-with-cuppa-and-bks

  • 100g whole almonds (not blanched, the ones with skins on)
  • 125g wholewheat flour –  I have used spelt and barley flours with great success
  • 60g coconut oil
  • 60ml maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp salt

 

Pre-heat the oven to 170C and line a baking tray with parchment.

METHOD:

Whizz  the almonds in a food processor – you want them to stay a bit rubbly, not turn into butter. Warm the coconut oil in the microwave so it liquifies. Mix all the ingredients together. Form into small patties using damp hand and flatten slightly as you place them on the baking tray. Bake for 20mins – they need to be slightly more golden and look dry on the outside.

 

Susan

 

 

  • Meal Types: Treats and Snacks
  • Conditions: Brain and Dementia
  • Ingredients: Almonds, Coconut Oil
« WHY I WON’T BE SWITCHING TO WHITE WINE THIS SUMMER
THE PERFECT ANTI-AGEING SUMMER SOUP – WHY AVOCADOS RULE »

Comments

  1. Peter abbs says

    May 20, 2014 at 4:26 am

    I think this is a great blog and seems very easy to negotiate. The images work well and the commentaries hit the right key, light but at the same time pointing to the prior research. I look forward to seeing the agenda develop. Congratulations!

    Reply
  2. Annabel says

    May 20, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    Thanks for your helpful and positive comments!! glad you’re enjoying the blog …

    Reply
  3. Ellen says

    May 23, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    I love your site – down to earth and educational. Keep it coming. Am going to make those coconut-almond cookies tonight!

    Reply
    • Annabel Abbs says

      May 23, 2014 at 3:49 pm

      Thanks Ellen – that’s really encouraging!

      Reply
  4. Angela says

    October 11, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    I have never used maple syrup before .Which are the best to buy?I Use coconut oil all the time especially as a moisturiser sun block for my hairless crested dog.Lot of research on this topic. He absolutely loves it an has his own jar.Which I allow him to lick from as a treat .I use it as an all over moisturiser .Lovely.Will be trying recipe once I have the maple syrup suggestion .

    Reply
    • Susan Saunders says

      October 12, 2015 at 7:34 am

      I just buy maple syrup from the supermarket – make sure it is pure maple syrup, not ‘maple-flavoured’ syrup. And I prefer ‘Medium’ to ‘Light’.

      Reply
  5. Andrea says

    January 15, 2020 at 11:50 am

    Great recipe thank you! For anyone looking for a gluten free version, I made mine with buckwheat flour and they worked perfectly. They are a little sweet for my taste so I will take the maple syrup down next time.

    Reply
    • Susan Saunders says

      January 17, 2020 at 9:44 am

      Thanks so much for the tips Andrea, so glad you liked them!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. HEALTHY FAST SNACKS FOR CHILDREN says:
    May 23, 2014 at 12:20 pm

    […] coconut oil (and see our post on the benefits of coconut oil […]

    Reply
  2. PERFECT VEGETABLES: THE KALE AND COCOA VEG SAUTE - Kale & cocoa says:
    October 5, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    […] for frying, you say? Yes it is. But I use coconut oil for extra brain boosting (read our post on coconut oil here) AND keep the fat content lower by adding water. So I start with a tablespoon of oil, get it nice […]

    Reply
  3. CHRISTMAS, CALORIES AND 'HEALTHY' CAKE! - Kale & Cocoa says:
    January 15, 2015 at 12:42 pm

    […] goodies), the coconut oil is a healthy fat which is so good for the brain (read our post on it here) and the nuts have protein to keep you feeling full for longer. It’s also ridiculously easy to […]

    Reply
  4. Have we got it all wrong on coconut oil? And chilli bean cornbread to feed a crowd - Kale & Cocoa says:
    June 30, 2017 at 8:38 am

    […] people, I hate to be wrong. In one of our very first posts on Kale & Cocoa I outed myself as a coconut oil fan. My reasons were simple: the fats found in coconut oil – medium chain triglycerides or MCTs […]

    Reply

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