Coconut oil is tropical oil, also referred to as “coconut butter”. Coconut oil was first developed commercially in the South Seas and South Asia in the 1860s. Today, the Philippines is the world’s major exporter.
Coconut oil has many household and personal uses, including important health-giving properties. It contains lauric acid, a main active ingredient for fighting microbes and infection in the body.
Types of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is available in different forms as refined oil, hydrogenated oil, fractioned oil, and virgin oil. Only the latter is recommended for its health giving properties. The virgin oil is derived from fresh coconuts in one of the following ways:
- Quick-drying the fresh coconut, which is then used to press out the oil
- "Wet-milling" - extraction without first drying. The oil is processed from coconut milk
Physical Properties of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil consists of 90% saturated fat. The saturated fatty acid itself contains 44.6% lauric acid. Lauric acid is a white, powdery solid believed to have important anti-microbial properties.
Coconut oil is solid at ambient temperature but has a low melting point at 25°C (76°F). It is among the most stable of all oils, slow to oxidize and thus resistant to rancidity, lasting up to two years due to its high saturated fat content. In order to extend shelf life, coconut oil is best stored in its solid form.
Coconut Oil’s Main Uses
Coconut oil is useful for many personal, health, household and industrial purposes. Some of the main uses are listed below:
- Dietary supplement
- Spread on bread, cooking oil
- Skin moisturiser, massage oil, baby oil
- Base ingredient for organic cosmetics, hair oil
- Soap and shampoo, toothpaste
- Control for head lice and nit
- Health food for pets
- Bio fuel (substitute for diesel)
Why Coconut Oil now in Favor?
During World War II, the once-plentiful supply of coconut oil was effectively cut off from many nations. Manufacturers began to develop alternative sources of cooking oils, and this was the beginning era of the polyunsaturated vegetable oils industry.
After the war, public opinion had turned totally against saturated fats like butter and coconut oil - probably swayed by money concerns of a highly invested industry. Saturated fats were incorrectly blamed for raising cholesterol, and cholesterol was erroneously viewed as responsible for the steep rise in heart disease.
It is now known that transfatty acids found in most vegetable oils are not the healthy substances once believed. These fats are currently considered to be one of the major culprits resulting in modern diseases and obesity.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
Virgin Coconut Oil is widely reported in the literature and on the Internet to have tremendous health benefits in the following:
- Improving digestion and encouraging weight loss
- Increasing metabolism and energy levels
- Helping sluggish thyroid
- Eradicating yeast infections
- Clearing up skin infections, pimples
- Killing viruses
Coconut oil is an important diet addition for everyone. It is safe to use and does not convert to fat in your body. In fact, coconut oil raises body metabolism so that more fat is burned, thus releasing more energy. People consuming coconut oil should experience more vitality. Moreover, coconut oil does not increase cholesterol but to the contrary, actually helps to lower it.
The Coconut Diet Forum
The Coconut Diet Forum is a very active discussion group, serving members to provide information on the properties of coconut oil and its health benefits. Registration is free and there are many categories such as weight loss, thyroid health, Candida, digestive health, skin health, and food recipes. Hundreds of testimonies are available for perusal.
Harry P. Schlanger - Hello, I started out as a physicist working for research organisations. Mostly in the area of heat transfer in solids and porous media. ...
