Good God, this is a GOOD breakfast

Too much anxiety, too much sadness on TV lately. I am looking for some comfort food that will not kill my waist line!

I like the taste of Coconut Oil. I love the smell of it! So, what is Coconut oil?

I use it in my hot cereal. For example, this breakfast dish has the following ingredients:

1.       Organic Oatmeal, golden raisins, chia and flax seed, shredded coconut and coconut oil.

This is very tasty! So, let’s look at the facts:

Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil, like all saturated fats, should be limited to 7%-10% of calories because it can increase risk for heart disease.  (Considering 40 cal in 1 tea spoon, more likely it is all you should take with each 400 cal meal.)

In comparison:

It is recommended up to  30% of calories from Unsaturated fats  like olive oil , that is known to  increase HDL , or good cholesterol, and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol). Thus, up to 3 tea spoon per 400 cal meal.

Most saturated fats are solid at room temperature, found in animal products (such as meat, dairy, poultry with skin, and beef fat) and contain cholesterol. Unlike animal fats, tropical oils -- palm, palm kernel, and coconut oils -- are saturated fats that are called oils but depending on room temperature can be solid, semi-solid, or liquid, and do not contain cholesterol.

Like all fats, coconut oil is a blend of fatty acids. Coconut oil contains an unusual blend fatty acids that offer health benefits. Coconut oil is better than butter and trans fats but not as good as liquid vegetable oils, though. Fats are an important part of a healthy diet, but the trick is to eat enough fat, not too much, and choose the best fats as often as possible.

Chia:

Chia seeds are an unprocessed, whole-grain food that can be absorbed by the body as seeds (unlike flaxseeds). One tablespoon contains:

70 calories, 2 grams of protein, 5 grams fat, 6 grams carbohydrates and 5 grams of fiber, plus vitamins and minerals.  Also, the antioxidant level in chia seeds is higher than any whole food, even blueberries.

While there's little evidence for the weight loss benefits of chia, it can be a nutritious addition to your diet.

I love this chia seed drink, for example: SYNERGY Black Chia Kombucha. Some places sell it for $5, but I get it in our local Hearvest Health Food Store for $3.39. It really worth the price. Next time you see it, pick it up and try it for your “snaking” between meals.

Flax:

Ground flaxseed, in general, is a great first choice, before flax seed oil or whole seed. Buy it ground or grind it yourself. Flaxseed, when eaten whole, is more likely to pass through the intestinal tract undigested, which means your body doesn't get all the healthful components. If you want to grind flaxseed yourself, those little electric coffee grinders seem to work best. Recent studies have suggested that flaxseed may have a protective effect against cancer. Because plant omega-3s may also play a role in maintaining the heart’s natural rhythm, they may be useful in treating arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and heart failure. The plant omega-3 has been shown to decrease inflammatory reactions in humans.

Try dressing up your morning hot oatmeal with these treats and let me know what you think.....