I eat it right out of the jar but for convenience sake I make coconut bark: mix a little honey with some shredded coconut add lots of coconut oil, mix well, pour into a square plastic container & put in fridge to harden up, then cut into bite-sized squares to eat (I don't measure). Sometimes I add bits of dried fruit, nuts or coco powder. My son loves these.

As with anything else, eating too much will cause weight gain. I've heard eating two-four tablespoons a day won't cause any weight gain. Eating too much in one sitting may cause diarrhea because it's eliminating bad bacteria from your system (such as candida).
Don't worry about it raising your cholesterol; you probably already know it has medium-chain fatty acids which are absorbed quickly and readily by the body.

Yep, don't see a problem with it in moderation.

I used to sandwich that stuff between two pieces of dark chocolate; now that could be a problem if you're downing too much of that stuff =p; but oh so good!

I wouldn't worry about the amount you have per day except in terms of what you can afford, because coconut oil has so many benefits and unlike most foods, eating increasing amounts of it doesn't make you increasingly fat. " Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of MCTs that increase metabolic rates and lead to weight loss. MCTs promote what is called thermogenesis. Thermogenesis increases the body's metabolism, producing energy. People in the animal feed business have known this truth for quite some time. If you feed animals vegetable oils, they put on weight and produce more fatty meat. If you feed them coconut oil, they will be very lean." http://coconut-info.com/weight-loss.htm. Plus the more coconut oil you have the less hungry you'll be for foods higher in sugar that actually do cause weight gain. In terms of metabolism and weight gain this pretty much sums up all you need to know about coconut oil: "With medium-chain fatty triglycerides in coconut oil the process is different. They are quickly digested, so pancreatic enzymes are not needed. By the time they enter the intestinal tract they are completely broken down into fatty acids. Because of this, they are absorbed immediately into the portal vein, and sent directly to the liver. In the liver they are used as a source of fuel to produce energy. Therefore, they bypass the lipoprotein stage, and they don't circulate in the bloodstream to the degree that other fats do. Consequently, they do not supply the fat that collects in fat cells or the fat that collects in artery walls. They produce energy not body fat and not arterial plaque." http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article10013.htm

Hey, I eat more than 12 spoons of it every single day and I don't gain any weight. Enjoy the coconut oil, it's the best fat you could be eating.

I don't see a problem in eating straight out of the container except that it implys your not eating enough of your meals in the form of whole, real food. If your eating it between meals then consider; why am I not adequately sated from what I'm already eating. If your eating it instead of taking the time to prepare real meals that satisfy, then rearrange your life accordingly. If it's a matter of eating raw coconut oil or junkfood then continue what your doing.

Coconut oil is burned quickly by the body, so as long as your digestion system is handling it ok you should be fine. 2-4 tablespoons a day is what is usually suggested for weight loss and it sounds like you are in that range.

If you are interested in more information on coconut oil and weight loss, I would suggest reading Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig. It's not specifically paleo, but it's paleo-friendly.

i put a nice size tablespoon in a shake and went to the bathroom all night.

Had a large tablespoon today and am also having digestion problems. I ate a little the past three days. Today I loaded up that spoon and am now regretting it. I'll eat it again tomorrow, but a smaller amount, for sure!

From what I've read, eating coconut oil in large quantities might be something that you have to get used to. I generally eat a tablespoonful (more or less) straight every day while I'm cooking my breakfast. No intestinal issues, no weight gain. I do try to avoid consuming it at night, though, to prevent sleep issues.

My blood pressure has dropped 25 points In a month....I will only use coconut oil, it

Eating it straight out of the jar seems like a good way to add good fat to your diet if you're not getting it otherwise, but I just can't stand the taste. I've swished with it (oil pulling) and that is fine, but as soon as it gets near my throat, I gag. The taste is very bland and unpleasant. Even mixed in bulletproof tea - yuck. How do you all stand it? I'm using the Trader Joe's brand - maybe brand has something to do with it.

i just tried it today with a spoon and it's awesome. i can't believe it's taken me so many years to do this.

eat fat and grow thin....who knew barb

I eat it straight out of the jar every day and a fair bit. One way to make it taste better is to actually eat a bit of creamed coconut along with it. but then it becomes tempting to eat a whole block of the creamed coconut....

i tried it today for the first time with some honey and cinnamon, headed to the toilet about an hour and a half later. i will also try again but less next time.

Hi guys,

I went to bed with a whole load of coconut oil on my scalp and in my hair the other night and the following day I had diarrhea... I can't think what else would have caused this... do you think it was the coconut oil? Maybe I have some candida fungus somewhere so I reacted because of that? The reason I put it on my scalp is I have bad dandruff (psoriasis maybe) which I hear is a fungus... Any thoughts?

I don't like cooking with it either here is what I do. One teaspoon of cocoa powder, 1 heaping tea spoon coconut oil stir well, add almond milk and maple syrup...absolutely delicious, oh yes and heat in microwave. it is devine! Oh and some vanilla extract.

I don't like cooking with it either here is what I do. One teaspoon of cocoa powder, 1 heaping tea spoon coconut oil stir well, add almond milk and maple syrup...absolutely delicious, oh yes and heat in microwave. it is devine! Oh and some vanilla extract.