I remember my Dad used to use coconut oil when he was sunbathing in the back garden, on the rare occasions when he wasn't down the pit.
It was in a jar and it looked tike the inside of a Bounty Bar but when you rubbed it on your skin it turned to liquid.
So, it's been around for ages.
What have you read about the benefits of it, hammerman?
I cook with coconut oil from time to time and you use it just like olive oil. It doesn't taste very strong so is suitable for most things. The only difficulty is that it is solid at room temperature so I buy it in a tub rather than a bottle which makes it easier. Also, it should not be heated too hot - like olive oil. I use it especially when I'm making thai dishes like satay as this is more authentic and it tastes nices. Hope this helps.