Coconut Oil

Species name: Cocos Nucifera. The coconut palm is a member of the palm family Arecaceae. It is the only species belonging to the genus Cocos (Cocos nucifera L).

The coconut palm is grown in most tropical areas worldwide. The tree is tall and slender with no branches and can grow nearly 100 feet tall. Its long leaves grow in a pinnate (feather-like) pattern, producing small, pale yellow flowers. Cultivated in over 80 countries, the coconut tree is most valued for its edible fruit, which provides three different coconut products; meat, milk, and oil. A large tree usually produces about 30 fruits a year. The young buds of an adult plant can also be eaten and are a delicacy known as heart of palm.

  • Coconut oil is extracted from the meat of the coconut fruit. Despite the name, it is solid at room temperature due to the saturated fat present in the oil. Coconut oil has long been used by Asian and Pacific Islander societies as a traditional medicinal treatment for many ailments. Pure coconut oil is solid at room temperature (about 75 degrees) and has a long shelf life. Coconut oil smells and tastes delicious and is used in various applications.
  • Coconut meat is the coconut palm tree's nut (or fruit). The coconut has a thick and fibrous husk used as a plant-growing medium. The inner nut is hard and brown, with a layer of white meat, and contains fat, fiber, and many nutritious minerals.
  • Coconut water is a nutritious and hydrating liquid from the coconut seed's center. It is low in calories and contains many beneficial minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.

Types of Coconut Oil

There are multiple variations of coconut oil available:

  • Unrefined coconut oil is made from the mechanical pressing of fresh, raw coconut. It usually retains some coconut scent and flavor, though this will vary by extraction methods as well as the quality of the oil.
  • Refined coconut oil is made from dried coconut, known as copra. It is odorless and tasteless and is often used in cooking because of its neutral flavor and high smoke point.
  • Fractionated coconut oil is produced by hydrolysis and steam distillation. Fractionated coconut oil is also called MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides). The oil is lighter and healthier than refined or unrefined coconut oil because it doesn't contain long-chain triglycerides. It is liquid at room temperature, tasteless and odorless.

Most of the coconut oil you will find in stores is refined, but there are unrefined oils labeled virgin or extra-virgin. These oils are white when solid at room temperature, become colorless, and melt to liquid form.

Unrefined oils should smell and taste like coconut, but not overwhelmingly so. If the oil smells strongly of roasted coconut, it has been heated and may have lost some nutrients. Refined oils should be odorless and tasteless. Whether you buy unrefined or refined, look for non-hydrogenated oils. Be careful that you have true coconut oil and not coconut fragrance oil, which is artificial and a completely different product.

If stored out of the fridge and away from direct sunlight, coconut oil will last up to two years. It is solid at temperatures below 75° Fahrenheit. It liquefies and spreads quickly on the skin or in the mouth.

Fractionated or Refined coconut oil is an excellent product carrier for essential oil blends. Fractionated coconut oil is further purified and called light coconut oil. Refined Coconut oil has no scent and is typically used as a carrier oil with aromatherapy or massage oils.

Home Remedies and Natural Cures with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is good for you inside and out. There are many natural ways to incorporate this healthy, good-tasting oil into your everyday routine.

Natural Antibiotic / Germicide / Antifungal

Antibiotics have long been modern medicine's answer to fighting infections and diseases. Nobody would argue the value of antibiotics in fighting infection; however, prolonged or excessive use of antibiotics can create health problems when common bacteria mutate and become resistant to antibiotics.

Essential components of virgin coconut oil make it a natural antibiotic because of its essential elements, like monolaurin.

Incorporating virgin coconut oil into the diet supplies your body with a natural antiseptic that strengthens immune systems, making it easier to resist harmful viruses and microorganisms.

Virgin coconut oil can prevent diseases because of its abundant lauric acid. Lauric acid is the miracle element in coconut oil. This element makes coconut oil so beneficial for its multiple uses and consumption. Lauric acid is found in human breast milk. Lauric acid is the element that protects infants from infections and diseases by building the immune system.

Once digested, the fatty acid found in coconut oil is transformed into monolaurin, which benefits the body.

Coconut oil is an antiviral and antibacterial agent that can help cure various diseases. It destroys lipid-coated viruses such as flu and bacteria, including listeria monocytogenes, h-pylori (causes stomach ulcers), and protozoa such as giardia lamblia.

Coconut oil kills fungus and yeasts that cause ringworm, athlete's foot, candida, and jock itch.

Various studies have shown positive correlations between the consumption of virgin coconut oil in HIV patients and reduced viral loads, proving the antiviral and antibacterial properties associated with the consumption of fractionated coconut oil, which the body processes as monolaurin.

Gum and Mouth Health

Oil pulling is a home remedy to improve gum and tooth health. Coconut oil is good for reducing inflammation in the gums in the mouth when swished, sucked, and pulled through the teeth.

The oil-pulling suction in the mouth helps reduce bacteria and plaque between teeth and gums, reducing tooth decay, gingivitis, periodontitis, and halitosis. Coconut oil is also helpful in soothing dry cracked lips.

After swishing the oil in the mouth for a few minutes to reduce trapped bacteria and food particles, spit the oil in the trash or down the drain rather than swallow it. Don't spit unfractionated coconut oil in the sink, as it will quickly resolidify in the drain pipe and cause future plumbing problems.

Skin Health

Coconut oil is an excellent massage or aromatherapy carrier oil because it moisturizes and softens the skin. It also improves hair and scalp health and tones the skin, reducing wrinkles and sagging. Coconut oil can be used to treat dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions, and its antibacterial and antifungal properties make it a great oil to use on the feet.

Coconut oil is also perfect for natural perfumers who don't like using alcohol as a carrier. Coconut oil is solid at about 75 degrees and is liquid at warmer temperatures.

Refined coconut oil can be combined with light massage oils and easily sprayed through a pump sprayer as a massage oil. Because coconut oil is so light, it's absorbed quickly into the skin, making it an ideal massage oil.

  • Leaves skin silky without feeling oily.
  • Coconut oil is inexpensive.
  • It is soluble in essential oil and works well in soap making.
  • It works well as a single carrier or, if used with other, more costly carrier oils for budgetary reasons and to extend the product's shelf life.
  • Fractionated coconut oil is a colorless, odorless, Kosher food.
  • Coconut oil never goes rancid, so it has an infinite shelf life.

Coconut oil can be used in vapor therapy, consumed by spoonfuls, used in recipes, or eaten as a healthy, tasty snack. It also works well with almost any blend, in lotions, creams, and soap making.

Heart Health

Coconut oil is primarily composed of saturated fats, which comprise about 90% of the fats. However, the saturated fats in coconut oil differ from those in most other foods. While most saturated fats are Long Chain Fatty Acids, the fats in coconut oil are Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA). Medium Chain Fatty Acids are more easily absorbed by the body and through different pathways.

The most common fat in coconut oil is Lauric acid, which makes up 40–50% of the fats. Lauric acid benefits heart health by boosting HDL, the "good" cholesterol. The other saturated fats in coconut oil, which are also MCFAs, have different benefits, including antibacterial effects and increased metabolism. Coconut oil also has smaller amounts of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, and oleic acid, which also benefits heart health.

Weight Loss

Medium Chain Fatty Acids, like those found in coconut oil, have been shown to aid in weight loss by helping the body burn off excess calories, metabolize fat, and increase general metabolism.

Cooking with Coconut Oil

Because coconut oil has a smoke point of 350–400° Fahrenheit, it is an excellent choice for pan-frying, deep-frying, and roasting. It can also be substituted for butter and other oils in baking and used like butter on toast. You can use coconut oil to season your cast-iron skillets.

Side Effects of Coconut Oil

There are no known adverse side effects for people with no allergy to coconut.