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 Kosher-certified 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?
Coconut oil and coconut butter are
the same thing. Generally, when it's in liquid form, it's called coconut oil,
and when it's solid, it's called coconut butter. The temperature at which coconut
oil transitions between liquid and solid states is about 76°F.
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:
"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
