On this beautiful hot day, I am consumed with thoughts of sandy beaches, clear lapping sea water and the symbol of all things exotic and blissful – palm trees!

What is the best thing to come from the palm tree? No not Bounty Bars... Coconuts!

I have expressed my love for the water that these beach beauty’s bubble up, but I have not yet mentioned what other hidden treasure resides inside...

Coconut oil deserves a valued spot in kitchen cupboards the world over. It is mentioned in nearly all of our nutrition consultations If everyone knew the benefits of cooking with coconut oil, I am pretty sure that all other cooking oils would need to pursue a new career path.

What you are about to read will change your kitchen antics forever...

The benefits of cooking with this nutty oil, span from speeding up the metabolism to reducing your risk of heart disease, from strengthening your immune system, to enhancing your sporting prowess.

Coconut oil consists of around 90% saturated fat. Before you stop reading this in disgust at the ‘F’ word use, please let me assure you that the fatty constitution of the coconut is really quite special. There floating in the exotic fatty tissue is lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid and if you’ve ever heard of the term ‘good fats,’ these little loves are wearing the t-shirt. The antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial actions of this super nut are all credited to these fats.

Lauric acid is converted in the body into a super healing hottie. It has been found to help fight virus and bacteria which are behind diseases such as herpes, influenza and even HIV. It has also been shown to help fight nasty bacteria including listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori.

Coconut oil could give you quite the change of heart... Lauric acid is credited for its heart-happy actions including its ability to help keep LDL cholesterol in check, blood pressure healthy and arteries clean and clear.

Coconut oil travels through the digestive tract, leaving behind a trail of anti-microbial magic which helps to prevent many dash- to- the- loo- in-panic moments, caused by various bacteria and parasite infections. Coconut oil also helps the absorption of important nutrients including vitamins, minerals and amino acids and is a saving grace to many an IBS sufferer.

Coconut oil is on the lips of nutritionists everywhere when discussing immunity. This wonder oil strengthens the immune system through its impressive cocktail of antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.

If we haven’t convinced you of the powers of the ‘nut then this next point might just do it... Coconut oil is shown to be very useful in healthy weight loss. It is easy to digest and makes your liver’s life easier as it is efficiently converted to energy, taking stress of your fat-burn organ and also preventing accumulation of fatty tissue. It also works towards a healthy functioning thyroid gland – which is responsible for many an agonising moment on the bathroom scales. By giving your metabolism a push in the right direction, coconut oil takes some stress off of the hard-worked pancreas – which results in a more efficient energy output. Those who live on the tropical coast and eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are rarely over-weight...

Coconut oil is the preferred cooking oil of athletes, models and sport stars everywhere. The reason behind this is that it contains fewer calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted to energy and it helps in the fight against fat build-up surrounding the heart and inside the arteries. Coconut oil helps to boost energy levels, enhance endurance levels and push the performance of athletes to their peak.

You can find coconut oil in any good supermarket and don’t worry – it doesn’t ruin your dinner with the signature taste of Bounty bar – it is completely taste-less, so can be used in all your culinary delights in the place of butter and oils.

And you can cancel your Superdrug dash too, because coconut oil is the perfect natural beauty tool. It is an excellent conditioner for the hair and scalp, as well as a skin perfecting super agent! A basic ingredient of many skin lotions and potions, coconut oil helps to melt away wrinkles and tones the the complexion to prevent age-induced sagging, as well as providing natural defences against dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections.

Phew!