Premium
Virgin Coconut Oil:
The Healthiest and Highest Quality Oil that I Can Recommend
It's no secret
that coconut oil is arguably the healthiest oil that you
can eat, cook with, and use as an all-natural moisturizer.
Although coconut
oil's reputation suffered a great deal in the 80's and 90's
due to its high saturated fatty acid content and the widely
promoted belief that saturated fatty acids are bad for health,
today, leading scientists, nutritionists, and doctors agree
that saturated fatty acids are needed for optimal health,
and that eating coconut oil can help your health in many
ways.
Coconut
oil may speed up your metabolism and increase your energy
levels.
It’s true
that about 92 percent of the fatty acids in coconut oil
are saturated. What many doctors have overlooked for years
is that over two-thirds of these saturated fatty acids are
medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). MCFAs are different from
other varieties of saturated fatty acids in that as soon
as they enter your bloodstream, they are taken to your liver
where they are converted to energy. While other dietary
fats and even excess carbohydrates can be stored as fat
in your cells, the MCFAs found in coconut oil provide an
almost immediate source of energy and may actually speed
up your metabolism.
Because of its
potential ability to speed up metabolism, coconut oil is
a good food choice for people with sluggish thyroid glands,
as well as for people who find it difficult to shed unwanted
weight.
Coconut
oil is the healthiest cooking oil that you can use.
The high percentage
of saturated fatty acids found in coconut oil makes it extremely
stable when exposed to heat. Unlike almost all other vegetable
oils, coconut oil contains virtually no trans fats, and
is highly resistant to free radical formation when used
for cooking at any temperature. No other oil comes close
to being as safe and healthy for cooking as coconut oil.
Coconut
oil may soothe digestive problems.
Many people who
have suffered with inflammatory conditions of the intestines,
like Crohn’s disease, have successfully used coconut
oil for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. Coconut
oil's ability to help improve the balance of microorganisms
in the intestines is likely another reason why people who
suffer with digestive disorders benefit from using it on
a regular basis.
Coconut
oil is an effective, all-natural moisturizer for your skin.
In addition to
its potential healing properties for your internal health,
coconut oil is an exceptional skin moisturizer. It doesn’t
contain any of the carcinogenic chemicals that are found
in many commercial moisturizers. Also, coconut oil is easily
absorbed into your skin, where it can help to prevent free
radical damage, wrinkling, and sagging. It may even be able
to restore strength to your underlying connective tissue.
Here
is a summary of what coconut oil may do for your health:
-
Improve your
energy
-
Reduce
your risk of developing heart disease
-
Reduce your
risk of developing cancer
-
Improve
your ability to digest foods and absorb nutrients
-
Promote weight
loss and maintenance of your ideal weight
-
Help
prevent bacterial, yeast, fungal, and viral infections
-
Support and
enhance your immune system
-
Help
regulate your blood sugar and prevent or control diabetes
-
Help prevent
osteoporosis
-
Help
prevent premature aging and wrinkling of your skin
-
Help keep
your skin smooth and soft
-
Help
protect you against skin cancer and blemishes
Coconut
oil does NOT do any of the following:
-
Does NOT
contribute to heart disease
-
Does
NOT contribute to a tendency to gain weight
-
Does NOT
increase blood cholesterol
-
Does
NOT promote platelet stickiness or blood clot formation
Not
all brands of coconut oil are equal in quality and taste.
Since 2004, I
have tried a number of brands and varieties of coconut oil
- some from online sources, and some from local stores.
Of all the brands that I've tried, the one that I have found
to be the best in flavor, texture, aroma, and overall quality
is a premium virgin coconut oil that is made in Indonesia.
This is the brand of coconut oil that we now use in our
household and provide through our Web site.
Our premium virgin
coconut oil is produced with the least amount of processing
possible, which translates to optimal retention of fresh
coconut flavor, naturally occuring vitamin E, healthy saturated
fatty acids, and other health-promoting nutrients.
The
best brands of coconut oil are made without fermentation
and application of heat.
To make our premium
virgin coconut oil, fresh coconut meat is grated and expeller
pressed to produce fresh coconut milk, which is then centrifuged
using a proprietary process to separate coconut oil from
the other components of coconut milk. The resulting oil
is extremely light in texture, and because there is never
any application of heat, our premium virgin coconut oil
retains the full flavor and aroma of fresh coconut.
Unlike many varieties
of coconut oil that are produced in small batches in small
villages, our premium virgin coconut oil is produced in
a facility that is ISO and HACCP certified. Needless to
say but I'll say it anyway: our premium virgin coconut oil
is produced under strict hygienic conditions.
My
favorite ways to use coconut oil...
Beyond using
our premium virgin coconut oil as a cooking oil (we also
use extra-virgin olive oil), my favorite way to use our
coconut oil is to add a tablespoon to smoothies; I keep
a jar of coconut oil on top of our refrigerator so that
the heat from the refrigerator keeps the oil liquid and
easy to add to our blender.
Because our coconut
oil is so light, delicate, and delicious in flavor, I sometimes
eat a few tablespoons right out of the jar for a quick boost
of energy before a workout.
Here
are the most freqently asked questions about our premium
coconut oil:
What's
the difference between coconut oil and coconut butter?
Some producers
use "coconut oil" and "coconut butter"
interchangeably. Generally, these producers call it coconut
oil when it's in liquid form, and coconut butter when it's
in solid form. The temperature at which coconut oil transitions
between liquid and solid states is about 76°F.
Some producers
actually grind whole coconut meat until it resembles an
butter, even at temperatures above 76°F. Coconut butter
that is made in this fashion is a fine alternative to coconut
oil for a variety of purposes, such as eating straight from
the jar, adding to smoothies, and spreading on bread or
crackers. Coconut oil is generally the better choice for
skin and hair moisturizing, cooking with, and creating any
recipes that are more liquid than solid, such as salad dressings.
How does
our premium coconut oil differ from other coconut oils?
Our premium coconut
oil is produced by applying a unique method of centrifuge-based
extraction to fresh coconut milk; this method produces a
"pharmaceutical" grade oil that doesn't require
any application of heat or further processing, since its
moisture content is so low. The end result is a truly unique
coconut oil that is subtle in taste and aroma.
Some brands of
coconut oil are refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD).
RBD oil is produced from dried coconut meat (copra). The
drying process is what necessitates drying, bleaching, and
deodorizing, as it's not suitable for eating without these
processes. RBD oil has a yellow tinge, thick texture, and
very little flavor and aroma - it's the type of oil that
was used for many years for popping corn and making commerically
baked goods. Despite being exposed to bleach, high temperatures,
and chemical solvents, RBD oil is still called "natural"
by the food industry in Western countries - here, "natural"
simply means that it has not been hydrogenated, and that
it melts at around 76° F.
The method used
to create our premium coconut oil is considered to be one
of three production methods that produce "cold pressed"
coconut oil. The other two production methods are:
- Direct Expeller
- This type of oil is made by grinding and then pressing
dried coconut meat. Because there is some moisture in
the dried coconut meat, the liquid that comes out from
pressing is about 90% coconut oil and 10% water - this
mixture is allowed to sit so that the coconut oil will
separate from the water. Typically, some heat is applied
to remove remaining water, and the result is an oil that
has a light to medium texture.
- Traditional
Hand-Pressed (Homemade) - This type of oil is produced
by grinding and pressing fresh coconut meat to produce
coconut milk. The milk is allowed to ferment for about
2 days, causing the oil to separate from the water and
solids. The oil is then typically boiled to remove remaining
moisture, resulting in coconut oil that is medium to thick
in texture.
As mentioned
above, I've tried just about every major type of coconut
oil on the market, and nothing compares in flavor, aroma,
and texture of our cold-pressed, premium coconut oil.
Is our
oil the same type of oil as that from the Phillippines?
Not at all. Our
premium coconut oil is separated from fresh coconut milk
without the use of heat or fermentation. Coconut oil that
is from the Phillippines is typically made using the traditional
hand-pressed (homemade) technique described in the previous
answer.
What
is the shelf life of our coconut oil?
The shelf life
of our premium coconut oil is at least 3 years.
Does
our coconut oil need to be refrigerated?
No, our coconut
oil does not need to be refrigerated. It can be left out
at room temperature. At 76° F and above, coconut oil
is liquid, and below this temperature, it is solid.
Can our
coconut oil be used for cooking and baking?
Yes, our premium
coconut oil is ideal for cooking and baking. Because of
its stability when exopsed to heat, it's arguably the healthiest
oil that you can use to cook and bake with.
Where
is our coconut oil produced?
Our premium coconut
oil is produced in Indonesia. Among the "virgin"
coconut oils, our oil is the only type that is produced
under strict regulations.
The facility
that produces our coconut oil certified by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO). It's also HACCP-certified
- HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control
Point, a system that was designed to promote and ensure
food safety. Our facility is also Kosher-certified.
What
is "extra virgin" coconut oil?
The term "extra
virgin" is likely inspired by the olive oil industry,
and is meaninngless when it comes to coconut oil; it's marketing
hype at its extra finest.
Is our
coconut oil organic?
Coconut farming
is organic by nature. Coconut growing and harvesting remains
the domain of farmers who operate with an average of about
3 hectares each, which means that the vast majority of farmers
do not use pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers.
Put another way,
we feel that paying for organic certification on our coconut
oil is unnecessary and would only serve to increase the
price.
Plus, organic
certification agencies do not distinguish between coconut
oil that is made using fresh coconut, and oil that is made
using dried coconut (copra). These agencies also allow for
use of chemical solvents under certification rules. So a
number of brands of coconut oil that are marketed as "organic"
coconut oil are made with copra and chemical solvents.
We do not pay
for organic certification on our oil, and our oil is always
made from fresh coconut meat, and without the use of chemicals
or heat.
How many
calories and grams of fat are there in a tablespoon of coconut
oil?
One tablespoon
of coconut oil contains approximately 112.5 calories and
13.05 grams of healthy fat. As mentioned above, the fat
in coconut oil is mainly composed of medium chain saturated
fatty acids, which are efficiently converted to energy.
There are virtually no carbohydrates or protein in coconut
oil.
Will
eating coconut oil raise my cholesterol?
No. eating coconut
oil won't appreciably raise or lower your blood cholesterol;
it is essentially "cholesterol neutral."
Here's
what people have said about our premium coconut oil:
"I never
use anything else for frying. It has a lovely fragance and
a very fine taste. I am very much impressed." - Anette
Westermann, Arhus, Denmark
"Yummy,
yummy, yummy! I think I could eat this by itself. Soooo
good. Your coconut oil has a wonderful buttery, coconut
flavor. The taste is smooth, the texture silky. It is melt
in your mouth delicious with no harshness or aftertaste.
Previously I was using a raw, cold-pressed coconut oil from
Fiji. And, although the Fiji oil is just as fragrant and
pristine as your coconut oil, it was not as smooth, buttery
or delicious."
"This is
the best frying oil I have ever used. It is also an amazing
moisturizer - no greasy, waxy, wet or oil feel, just instant
softness. It is delicious!"
"It tasted
great just by itself. Now I know what real coconut oil should
taste like."
"The coconut
oil is delicious. It was obvious after trying it is a high
quality oil and my wife and I were both surprised at how
light and tasty coconut oil is compared to even the best
extra virgin olive oil."
"I just
wanted to tell you how much I love your product. I also
used other brands and hated them. Yours is wonderful. My
daughter uses it for diaper cream on her babies. We both
use it for total body moisturizer--I firmly believe it is
keeping my skin looking much younger than it did. Also,
I used to have rosacea, and it is completely gone for about
2 years now. My sister used it on her feet, and got rid
of athletes foot. This is all besides using it totally for
all my cooking and just plain eating it. Thanks for a wonderful
product." - D.B.
"Your oil
was the first type of coconut oil I ordered on line. It
is absolutely delicious - I love to take a tablespoon of
it and let it melt in my mouth. I put it in soups as it
really improves the flavor. I also use it for stir frying.
I assumed all coconut oil would taste just as good so I
ordered a quart bottle from another company. Their coconut
oil had such a different taste from your oil, if it had
been the first that I had tasted I would have never bought
coconut oil again. - M.H.
"Hi, I
am from the Philippines where coconut trees are abundant.
There are many companies here making and selling Virgin
Coconut Oil (VCO). I bought and tasted many of them but
it leaves rancidity in my mouth. I even made VCO myself
but I'm not satisfied. The order I made from you arrived
and I tasted it. It's really different from the ones available
here. When I tasted it, it was so smooth and there was no
taste of rancidity. It leaves a mild coconut meat flavor
in my mouth. How did you do it?" - D.R., Philippines
