Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Oil Review and Free Book Offer

Since Mom's health problems have escalated, we've been trying to find ways to eat even healthier but maintain good taste in our meals.  I had read a bit about Coconut Oil, but hadn't had a chance to try it until I was sent a jar by Tropical Traditions. One of the most interesting things I discovered is that it is a whole food, not just a cooking oil as I had previously thought. This was a major point for me as I am working on getting healthy ingredients into Mom's diet that she will actually eat and enjoy.

Upon doing further research, I've found that there are other brands out there, but Tropical Traditions was the first and original – and at the top for the right reasons. Founded by a couple - Brian and Marianita Shilhavy, this is truly a family business. Marianita is from the Philippines and was very familiar with the old ways of traditional hand-processing coconut oil versus the mechanical processes being used. When they returned to the area, Brian wanted to create a 100% natural and organic product for use in their own family. It evolved quickly from there into friends and family requesting it and then into a company they can be proud of.  Tropical Traditions has not only provided the public with outstanding products, but has also revitalized the rural area in the country as the ingredients are grown and processed by local residents. Know where your food comes from!

When I first received the jar of  Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, I was surprised by the appearance. It was solid, it was very pretty in the jar, and I wasn't completely sure how easy this was going to be to use it.

Test 1:  Chimichangas. I substituted the coconut for olive oil when I made chimichangas. I don't deep fry them anyway, but I do like to crisp up the tortilla a bit once it is stuffed. I spooned a bit of the solid coconut oil from the jar & plopped it into the frying pan.  As it heated up it smelled heavenly and melted almost immediately. They were quite tasty and I noticed a lighter texture and just a touch of sweetness to the shell.  He said he couldn't put his finger on what was different, but he liked it better than the last time I'd made them (a few weeks ago). A check in the win column for the Virgin Coconut Oil from us both.

Test 2:  This was a take on a recipe I found on their site:  http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com/coconut_oil_recipes.htm.  I've tweaked it a bit to fit Mr. MoonCat and I's palates, but another A+ experiment - Yummy!

Coconut Baked Potatoes
1 large baking potato
1 clove garlic
1 tsp Virgin Coconut Oil
Sea salt
Pepper
1 tsp fat-free sour cream
1 tsp chopped chives

In a 250 degree oven, melt the oil in a baking dish. Chop up the garlic. Cut the potato into thick slices and mix with the garlic in the baking dish. Stir well, covering the mixture with the melted coconut oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake for approximately 15 minutes and stir. Bake an additional 15 minutes or until potatoes are crispy. Remove from oven & top with fat-free sour cream and chives. YUMMMM  (This recipe is per person, multiply all ingredients by number of diners.)

Test 3:  The last example I'll share for now is one getting back to improving Mom's diet. She has a very poor appetite now and getting her to eat anything at all is very difficult. I have been making her a type of smoothie/shake from her diabetic protein drink that the doctor recommended. They are strawberry, chocolate, & vanilla flavors. I add different things to try to build up her strength. I freeze the protein drinks in  ice cube trays. I place the frozen cubes in the blender and then add a couple teaspoons of Virgin Coconut Oil along with a mashed banana and a teaspoon of flax seed. I blend it all together and voila! A healthy “treat” that the doctor approves of.

I'm looking forward to trying this oil next in my oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I continually tweak it as I find new ways to make it healthier. Once I complete that test, I'll let you know how it turns out. (Judging from my above experiments, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a good result..)

This oil seems to be beneficial on the outside as well as the inside. I have tried some coconut oil as a deep conditioner on my hair.  It left it soft and smelling fabulously tropical.  I also rubbed some on my elbows and found it to be very moisturizing. Many people have reported results such as shinier hair, more energy, dry skin reduction, and others including losing weight when adding coconut oil to a healthy diet and exercise regimen. There is a lot of research out there showing exactly how good this stuff is for you!

Free Book Offer
Tropical Traditions has a site full of natural and organic products. It is also packed with information, recipes, testimonials, and much more. A must-have resource and just plain useful information is "Virgin Coconut Oil" by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy. It is a valuable resource that shows how healthy coconut oil is and includes over 85 tasty recipes making it easy to incorporate coconut into your diet. You can receive a FREE copy with your first order if you are a new customer and you put my sponsor ID#5629275 in the “Referred by a Friend” field under the “How did you hear of us?” section when you make your first purchase. This is a $15.00 value, but worth far more in the loads of recipes and info! Those with additional questions about taking advantage of the referral program when creating their new account may email their question to the company using this link: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/customerservice.cfm

I hope you will take the time to learn some more about this all-around beneficial oil and Tropical Traditions. I'm really excited to have been able to introduce this company and product to my readers while also adding something so important to our household.  I am looking forward to checking out many of the other products they have to offer.

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Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own. 

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