Virgin Coconut Oil: Tropical Bombshell!

The coconut is the fruit of the Cocos nucifera, a large palm cultivated in tropical coastal regions. Coconut oil is pressed from the coconut fruit. Intrinsic qualities Unrefined 'virgin' coconut oil is roughly 96 percent saturated fat. It is also a rare dietary source of lauric acid, an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-yeast, anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting fatty acid found in breast milk. Being a tropical oil, it likes warm conditions and is not easily hurt by heat. The combo of saturated fat and tropical provenance makes virgin coconut oil highly stable compared to other unrefined oils. Monounsaturated oils (e.g. olive, avocado and macadamia oils) and especially polyunsaturated oils (e.g. seed, bean and most nut oils) oxidise with comparative ease and form cell-busting free radicals. Unrefined coconut oil does not. According to one theory, the saturated fat in virgin coconut oil acts as an antioxidant, stopping the small amount of unsaturated fat in the oil from turnin' badass. Unrefined coconut oil can tolerate a year or two on the counter without going rancid. It is one of the healthiest oils to cook with because it remains stable as the temperature climbs. It has a higher smoke point than other unrefined oils (350°F/177°C). Vegetables stir-fried in coconut oil turn hot, crisp and vibrant. Cakes made with it remain fresher. Coconut oil is solid in cold climates. Plonking the jar in a saucepan of hot water liquifies it. Nasty v nice coconut oil Caution: all these goodies apply to unrefined 'virgin' coconut oil, not the cheap stuff. It might seem nuts to pay rubies for oil you can buy for shells at the market but nasty, ultra-cheap coconut oil comes from copra, the dried meat (or kernel) of the coconut, and its goodness has been RBD'd (refined, bleached and deodorised) away. It is usually (partially) hydrogenated, too, a process that turns potentially healthy fats into vicious trans fats that can cause heart problems and other health issues. Nice coconut oil is unrefined 'virgin' coconut oil (see here for an explanation of unrefined, virgin, etc.), organic and fair trade. The best oils are made by small communities in the Pacific using very old, safe methods. The oil presses should be cleaned with hot water, not benzene or other toxic solvents, as these can end up in the oil. (If your oil smells chemical, that is most likely why.) Ask the Hopsackers to help you choose a good brand. But it's saturated… For years lumped together with dripping and lard as hostile to the heart, the nutritional and healing qualities of unrefined coconut oil have finally been recognised. We need small amounts of saturated fat to add structure to our cell membranes and help us absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Moreover, the saturated fat in virgin coconut oil is composed mainly of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are metabolised directly by the liver to produce energy, so they do not contribute to sub-dermal duvets. MCTs confer other benefits too, especially in relation to ameliorating symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (see the Benefits of virgin coconut oil and Further reading sections below). Virgin coconut oil is one of the few dietary sources of MCTs. Benefits of virgin coconut oil Thank you to Sayer Ji, contributing writer for Wake Up World, who compiled and referenced the following list: '13 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties of Coconut Oil'. Rather than repeating his work here, please follow the link for some well-known and lesser known benefits of unrefined coconut oil. Potential warning There is some concern about coconut oil raising cholesterol. Although one study (referenced in Benefits link above) found it raised HDL ('good') cholesterol in women, it is best not to use any oil to excess, including unrefined coconut oil. The fatty on skin Baddies The skin is a carrier, not a barrier, so inferior creams and oils can sink right in and wreak havoc. Conventional processing strips polyunsaturated plant oils (often found in skin creams) of their natural antioxidants. Thus degraded, they are highly prone to generating free radicals, which damage the connective tissues that keep skin young and firm. Such oils can also intensify the effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays. Sunspots (liver spots) are caused by the oxidation of polyunsaturated fats and protein. Result: wrinkles, brown blotches, sagging skin and other delights. Goodies Moisturising with unrefined coconut oil instead may help slow ageing and even repair some damage. Coconut oil is not prone to oxidation. It sinks in, too, but keeps tissues strong and supple. It feels almost dry on the skin, as long as you don't apply too much. Little and often is good. It also reflects the light, which looks beautiful. Coconut oil is a protector. Combined with an antioxidant-rich diet, it helps shield skin from sun damage and nourishes your hide after a hard day at the beach. It makes a super massage balm au naturel, or laced with essential oils. It also protects skin against inflammation and infection and may help remove scars over time. Finally, unrefined coconut oil loves to play at your dressing table. She will remove make-up, cleanse and moisturise your skin, condition your hair (either by scrunching a tiny amount through damp hair or applying a hot oil treatment) and turn herself into a luscious lip balm. All in all, quite a bombshell! Further reading 'What if there was a cure for Alzheimer's disease and no one knew?' A case study by Dr Mary Newport, 22 July 2008 PF Louis, 'Just one dose of coconut oil can tremendously boost brain function and cognitive performance', Natural News, 6 April 2013 Weston A. Price Foundation coconut oil articles Guide to Fats 6: Saturated Fats (Hopsack: Health Advice for Life, 11 April 2012) Guide to Fats 7: Trans Fats and Problem Oils (Hopsack: Health Advice for Life, 11 April 2012) Hey, Monkey Face! (Hopsack: In the 'Sack with Rhoda, 7 August 2010)

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