Virgin Coconut Oil:
The Way Your Coconut Oil Should Be

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is coconut oil in its unrefined and uncorrupted state. It's the best type of coconut oil you can use.

But what does it really mean? Are all coconut oils fundamentally the same?

Characteristics

Virgin coconut oil is popularly defined as the naturally processed, chemical-free and additive-free product from fresh coconut meat or its derivatives (coconut milk and coconut milk residue). It has not undergone any further chemical processing after extraction.

It has a fresh coconut aroma ranging from mild to intense depending on the production process used. This scent-talk reminds me of my wife's home-made VCO. Our kitchen smells so good whenever she makes one.

Water white in color, it is the purest form of coconut oil. It has potent antioxidant properties to help your body fight off free radicals. Just one of the many benefits of VCO.

Long Shelf Life

Because it has not been subjected to atmospheric and hydrolytic oxidation, it has very low free fatty acid content and peroxide value. Pardon the technicalities... It just means unlike other dietary oils like soybean and canola oils, VCO can stay fresh for a very long time.

My relatives in the province make their own VCO from home. One day as they were doing a general cleaning of their house, they discovered a two-year old bottle of VCO. Lo and behold, it's still as fresh as the ones they made just weeks ago.

Production Methods

The following are some of the processes used for producing VCO:

• Fresh - Dry Process (Desiccated Coconut Route)
• Centrifuge Process
• Traditional Wet or Modified Kitchen Process
• Bawalan - Masa Process

The maturity of the coconut fruit is key. A fully mature coconut's meat or kernel has the highest oil content. One good indicator of maturity is the husk and shell of the nut should be brown in color.

Idealists or purists contend that even cold pressed coconut oils don't qualify as virgin coconut oil. Come to think of it, they may have a point.

Extra Virgin?

Does this type exist? I thought simply virgin is already as good as it gets, you might ask? Find out the truth about extra virgin coconut oil.

RBD

Refined, Bleached and Deodorized or RBD oil is typically produced using dried coconut meat or copra.

RBD oil can be just as clear as virgin organic coconut oil so you'll often won't be able to distinguish just by looking. Smell and taste to tell the difference.

RBD oils are basically bland while VCO has a mild to intense, fresh coconut aroma and taste.

Medium-Chain Fatty Acids

Virgin or organic unrefined coconut oil is predominantly medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). In fact, it is nature's richest source of MCFAs. Experts often use the terms coconut oil and MCFA interchangeably.

MCFA-rich VCO has powerful antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic and antiprotozoal properties. It can help prevent a wide range of diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, skin conditions and a lot more. You won't find this awesome antimicrobial benefit of coconut oil in other dietary fats.

Traditional Applications

As coconut oil continues to regain its reputation as the healthiest oil on earth, you will see an ever increasing number of virgin coconut oil brands. Don't settle for cheap, mass-produced types. Choose authentic virgin coconut oil, Your Drugstore in a Bottle.