UPDATE: In my 02 JULY 2005 post Up and Down, Up and Down, I wrote about using coconut oil to treat my mold allergy itch; with success. I'm back to tell you more about the specifics of Coconut Oil and the brand I recommend.
A BIT ABOUT COCONUT OIL
What is coconut oil?
Well, first off, it's from coconuts. That much everyone is pretty well aware of. But not all coconut oil is alike. Like many products on the market today, there are premium quality coconut oil and coconut oil you should just plain avoid.
What can you use coconut oil for?
Prior to World War II coconut oil was used as a primary cooking oil; second only to olive oil. The war cut off access to coconuts - since the Philippines is the primary source. So, cooking is one use. Coconut oil is also a healthy food; used as a spread on bread or along side other foods. Coconut oil is a natural skin softener; lotion. Coconut oil is high in antioxidants and is therefore a healing salve as well. So, coconut oil has many uses.
Isn't coconut oil bad for you - to ingest: unhealthy fat content?
Actually coconut oil is quite healthy. Coconut oil is not hydrogenated, thus has no trans fats. Coconut oil produced in the time honored tradition of slow, gravity separation of oils and coconut water, are high in antioxidants. The notion of coconut oil being unhealthy, is a marketing propaganda, used to bolster sales of corn, soy and other mass produced oils.
Is coconut oil an effective 'healing oil'?
Coconut oil is not a medicine and should not be considered as such. However, the high levels of antioxidants, natural lubrication, levels of lauric acid, absence of trans fats, means the oil itself does not 'bring to the body' any unnatural entities to deal with. Thus it is healthy. And good health assists the body's natural healing properties.
Solid at temperatures below 76ยบ F, why?
This is the natural property of coconut oil. Also good to remember that when coconut oil is ingested it, the temperature it is subjected to in the body is well above its emulsifying level and is therefore highly digestible.
WHAT BRAND WORKS BEST?
I've tried a number of brands of coconut oil, but nothing works as well as the brand Tropical Traditions. Other brands provide adequate lubrication, offer skin softening and are in general 'OK' products - but none are equal across all criteria to Tropical Traditions.
Tropical Traditions may be difficult to find in your local brick-and-mortar store, but it is available ONLINE without any difficulty. Tropical Traditions Coconut oil is sold under 4 different labeled types:
Here are a few basic points to know to make your choice of Coconut Oil:
Organic:
You want to be sure the coconut oil comes from native coconut palms and is grown under true organic principles. No pesticides, insecticides or chemical fertilizers are used in the production of the coconut.
Virgin Coconut Oil:
Only achieved by using fresh coconut meat or what is called non-copra. Chemicals and high heating are not used in further refining, since the natural, pure coconut oil is very stable with a shelf life of several years. Virgin coconut oil has the full, natural scent and taste of coconut. VCO remains solid below 75°F.
There are currently two main processes of manufacturing Virgin Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil that is separated by use of mechanical extraction. No chemicals solvents used. Not hydrogenated. No trans fatty acids. It is tasteless (no coconut odor or taste) and remains solid below 76° F. Expeller-Pressed coconut oil is works, but not as good a Virgin Coconut oil.
RBD (Refined-Bleached-Deodorized) **AVOID**
Most commercial grade coconut oils are made from copra. Copra is basically the dried kernel (meat) of the coconut. Standard copra starting material is not suitable for consumption and must be purified, that is refined. The way copra is dried is not sanitary. The standard end product made from copra is RBD coconut oil. RBD stands for refined, bleached, and deodorized. High heat is used to deodorize the oil, and the oil is typically filtered through (bleaching) clays to remove impurities. Sodium hydroxide is generally used to remove free fatty acids and prolong shelf life. This is the most common way to mass-produce coconut oil. RBD oil is also sometimes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated. Hydrogenated oils contain trans fatty acids.
PERSONAL NOTE:
I have used several brands, as stated earlier, of coconut oil to treat my body rash; a form of eczema; and it has helped immensely. Coconut oil relieves the itching and soothes the skin. It also helps to restore moisture. The relief does not last as long as some medications. Therefore, reapplication is required more often. But there are not 'side-effects' from the use of coconut oil either. I will take the annoyance of having to attend to application, over side-effects, any day.
I would highly recommend anyone with skin rashes, due to allergic reactions to consider using coconut oil.
A BIT ABOUT COCONUT OIL
What is coconut oil?
Well, first off, it's from coconuts. That much everyone is pretty well aware of. But not all coconut oil is alike. Like many products on the market today, there are premium quality coconut oil and coconut oil you should just plain avoid.
What can you use coconut oil for?
Prior to World War II coconut oil was used as a primary cooking oil; second only to olive oil. The war cut off access to coconuts - since the Philippines is the primary source. So, cooking is one use. Coconut oil is also a healthy food; used as a spread on bread or along side other foods. Coconut oil is a natural skin softener; lotion. Coconut oil is high in antioxidants and is therefore a healing salve as well. So, coconut oil has many uses.
Isn't coconut oil bad for you - to ingest: unhealthy fat content?
Actually coconut oil is quite healthy. Coconut oil is not hydrogenated, thus has no trans fats. Coconut oil produced in the time honored tradition of slow, gravity separation of oils and coconut water, are high in antioxidants. The notion of coconut oil being unhealthy, is a marketing propaganda, used to bolster sales of corn, soy and other mass produced oils.
Is coconut oil an effective 'healing oil'?
Coconut oil is not a medicine and should not be considered as such. However, the high levels of antioxidants, natural lubrication, levels of lauric acid, absence of trans fats, means the oil itself does not 'bring to the body' any unnatural entities to deal with. Thus it is healthy. And good health assists the body's natural healing properties.
Solid at temperatures below 76ยบ F, why?
This is the natural property of coconut oil. Also good to remember that when coconut oil is ingested it, the temperature it is subjected to in the body is well above its emulsifying level and is therefore highly digestible.
WHAT BRAND WORKS BEST?
I've tried a number of brands of coconut oil, but nothing works as well as the brand Tropical Traditions. Other brands provide adequate lubrication, offer skin softening and are in general 'OK' products - but none are equal across all criteria to Tropical Traditions.
Tropical Traditions may be difficult to find in your local brick-and-mortar store, but it is available ONLINE without any difficulty. Tropical Traditions Coconut oil is sold under 4 different labeled types:
- Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil: Highest Quality
- Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil: Very Good Quality
- Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil: High Quality
- Non-Certified Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil: Better than most (bargain brand; not organic; chemical free)
Here are a few basic points to know to make your choice of Coconut Oil:
Organic:
You want to be sure the coconut oil comes from native coconut palms and is grown under true organic principles. No pesticides, insecticides or chemical fertilizers are used in the production of the coconut.
Virgin Coconut Oil:
Only achieved by using fresh coconut meat or what is called non-copra. Chemicals and high heating are not used in further refining, since the natural, pure coconut oil is very stable with a shelf life of several years. Virgin coconut oil has the full, natural scent and taste of coconut. VCO remains solid below 75°F.
There are currently two main processes of manufacturing Virgin Coconut Oil:
- Quick drying of fresh coconut meat which is then used to press out the oil. Using this method, the coconut meat is quick dried, and the oil is then pressed out via mechanical means.
- Wet-milling. With this method the oil is extracted from fresh coconut meat without drying first. "Coconut milk" is expressed first by pressing. The oil is then further separated from the water. Methods which can be used to separate the oil from the water include boiling, fermentation, refrigeration, enzymes and mechanical centrifuge.
Coconut oil that is separated by use of mechanical extraction. No chemicals solvents used. Not hydrogenated. No trans fatty acids. It is tasteless (no coconut odor or taste) and remains solid below 76° F. Expeller-Pressed coconut oil is works, but not as good a Virgin Coconut oil.
RBD (Refined-Bleached-Deodorized) **AVOID**
Most commercial grade coconut oils are made from copra. Copra is basically the dried kernel (meat) of the coconut. Standard copra starting material is not suitable for consumption and must be purified, that is refined. The way copra is dried is not sanitary. The standard end product made from copra is RBD coconut oil. RBD stands for refined, bleached, and deodorized. High heat is used to deodorize the oil, and the oil is typically filtered through (bleaching) clays to remove impurities. Sodium hydroxide is generally used to remove free fatty acids and prolong shelf life. This is the most common way to mass-produce coconut oil. RBD oil is also sometimes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated. Hydrogenated oils contain trans fatty acids.
PERSONAL NOTE:
I have used several brands, as stated earlier, of coconut oil to treat my body rash; a form of eczema; and it has helped immensely. Coconut oil relieves the itching and soothes the skin. It also helps to restore moisture. The relief does not last as long as some medications. Therefore, reapplication is required more often. But there are not 'side-effects' from the use of coconut oil either. I will take the annoyance of having to attend to application, over side-effects, any day.
I would highly recommend anyone with skin rashes, due to allergic reactions to consider using coconut oil.
However, I will caution anyone who may wish to try coconut oil... CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR to be sure you ARE NOT ALLERGIC TO COCONUT!!!
