Coconut Oil is like the Rodney Dangerfield of oils – "It Gets No Respect!" For years we have been told that Coconut Oil is high in saturated fat and should be avoided. However, it turns out that Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is not only safe to eat, it can actually provide a large number of health benefits. Confused? So were we, so we did some research…
Coconut Oil is the oil that comes from coconuts. Pretty straight forward –huh? Unfortunately, after that fact, things start to get a little more complicated. Coconut Oil is a saturated fat, which we have heard for years is pure evil and responsible for high cholesterol and heart disease. It now turns out that not all saturated fats are the same and in fact some saturated fats may actually have health benefits! Yes, saturated fats that are made from medium chain fatty acids, such as Lauric Acid, can increase HDL (the good cholesterol) and actually improve heart health. Guess what type of saturated fat is in Organic Virgin Coconut? Yep, healthy medium chain fatty acids such as Lauric Acid.
So Organic Coconut Oil is Good For Me?
Yes, IF it is Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed, Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil! Let's back up a little and explain. Do you know what happens when you use heat, chemical solvents and/or bleach to get the Coconut Oil out of coconuts? You end up with some nasty refined Coconut Oil that no longer has any nutritional benefits and may be dangerous.
On the flip side, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is made from the first pressing of the coconuts – so it is the more pure and nutritional intact Coconut Oil. If that Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is then processed without heat and the use of chemicals – you end up with something called Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed, Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil. It is this Coconut Oil that is rich in Lauric Acid and has numerous health benefits!
What Health Benefits Does Organic, Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed, Unrefined Coconut Oil Have?
Here are some of the potential health benefits from including Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed, Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil in your diet:
- Help improve cholesterol levels*
- Boost immunity *
- Control glucose levels *
- Help increase nutrient absorption *
- May promote weight loss *
- May increase bone strength *
- Help relieve stress *
- Moisturize skin *
- Promote proper digestion (including help with IBS and Crohn's)*
Not bad for something that for years was called "unhealthy"!
The real key nutrient in the Coconut Oil is the Lauric Acid. Lauric Acid is found in breast milk and has numerous health benefits. The problem is, almost no foods in our diet contain Lauric Acid – except for Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil.
I Heard Coconut Oil Has Trans Fats – Is That True?
Extra Virgin, Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil does NOT contain trans fats. There are some very cheap Coconut Oils that are partially hydrogenated and anything that is hydrogenated will have trans fats and should be a avoided.
I Am Confused, How Do I Find a Coconut Oil That is Healthy?
Sorry, things do get confusing when trying to find the best Organic Coconut Oil. Luckily, we like sifting through science, studies, lab analysis and labels (I know, we are supplement geeks). We have found an Organic Coconut Oil that is pure, Extra Vigin, Cold Pressed and Unrefined – Perfect Coconut Oil.
In our next lesson, we go over why we feel the Perfect Coconut Oil is the Best Organic Coconut Oil on the market…
