Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil Contents

Once upon a time, coconut oil was used in a lot of different processed foods and for frying. Many of the tests about the health problems associated with using coconut oil actually had to do with hydrogenated coconut oil, however, or oil that had been altered from its original form.

As we know now, hydrogenated oils increase the risk of heart problems and raise cholesterol levels. But, unrefined organic coconut is actually a healthy oil.

Coconut oil does have saturated fat, but recent studies have shown that the kind of saturated fat it contains—known as medium-length triglycerides—doesn't have the same cholesterol-raising properties as other saturated fats. It also doesn't seem to contribute to heart disease like other saturated fats.

The main component of coconut oil, lauric acid, is what accounts for many of the health benefits people attribute to the use of coconut oil. The acid is said to be antibacterial and antifungal.

Benefits of Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has an extremely long shelf life. It can be stored at room temperature for as long as a year without going rancid. It's thought that this property causes coconut oil to act like an antioxidant in the body, helping people who regularly consume coconut oil to slow the aging process.

People who regularly eat a lot of coconut oil—such as those from the Philippines and other Asian nations, seem to have fewer heart-related health problems and also tend to look younger longer than people who eat other kinds of fat.

Many people who use coconut oil and study its benefits say there are many medical maladies that are much less common in people who regularly consume the oil, such as:

• Kidney problems
• High cholesterol
• Hypothyroidism
• Digestive problems
• Heart disease
• Colitis
• Ulcers
• Colon cancer
• Appendicitis

It is also said to help promote weight loss because of the medium-chain fatty acids, which do not circulate in the body in the same way as other fats, instead going straight to the liver where they can be converted into energy.

Coconut oil acts more like a carbohydrate in the body than it does a fat, making it a great choice for anyone who needs a metabolic boost.

Refined Versus Unrefined Oil

Refined oils have impurities filtered out of them. Although this makes it sound like you would always want to buy a refined oil, there are a lot of benefits to using unrefined organic coconut oil.

Unrefined oils have more nutrients than refined oils, and may provide more of the health benefits mentioned above than their unrefined counterparts do. These oils are left completely in their virgin state.

Unrefined oils tend to be more robust and have more flavor than the refined oils. An unrefined coconut oil is going to smell and taste a lot more like coconuts than a refined and non-organic oil will.

One potential problem with unrefined oils is that they have a lower smoke point than refined oils. That means when you cook with them, you can't use as high of heat or the oil will burn.

Removing the impurities raises the smoke point, meaning that you can use the oil at a higher temperature. You wouldn't use organic coconut oil to fry your organic chicken anyway, so that's not a huge concern.

Buying Organic Coconut Oil

You should be able to find organic unrefined coconut oil at your local organic foods store, or you can buy it online. Some major brands you should be able to find include Spectrum Organics and NOW.