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Characteristics
Virgin coconut oil or VCO 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 fantastic 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. Unlike other vegetable oils like soybean and canola, it 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. It's still as fresh as the ones they made just days 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 have an excellent point.
Extra Virgin?
Is this type even better? I thought simply virgin is already as good as it gets, you ask? Find out the truth about extra virgin coconut oil.
RBD
A large number of mass-produced coconut oils use copra, which is dried coconut meat and typically used to produce RBD oil. RBD stands for Refined, Bleached and Deodorized.
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.
Refined, bleached and deodorized oils are basically bland while VCO has a mild to intense, fresh coconut aroma AND taste. RBD oils no longer contain inherent antioxidant attributes essential in helping your body control free-radical destruction.
Medium-Chain Fatty Acids
Virgin or organic unrefined coconut oil is rich in health-giving nutrients and is predominantly made of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). It is nature's richest source of MCFAs. In fact, many experts use the terms CNO and MCFA interchangeably.
Beware of so-called VCOs that don't have the characteristics above. You could be getting significantly lower amounts of MCFAs from extremely low-quality varieties. Do a quick aroma test. This usually gives away copycats quickly.
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. This antimicrobial benefit of coconut oil is truly awesome.
Traditional Applications
Coconut oil hair and skin uses have been in existence for thousands of years. It is used as an everyday hair conditioner and body lotion. In fact, many people in the provinces here in the Philippines still use it exclusively in their daily skin and hair care regimen.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, The Drugstore in a Bottle.
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