Virgin Coconut Oil

32 ounces of premium virgin coconut oil, packaged in a glass jar.

Although coconut oil's reputation suffered a great deal in the 80's and 90's due to its high saturated fatty acid content and the widely promoted belief that saturated fatty acids are harmful to health, today, leading scientists, nutritionists, and physicians agree that saturated fatty acids are needed for optimal health, and that eating coconut oil can help your health in several ways.

Coconut oil may speed up your metabolism and increase your energy levels.

It’s true that about 92 percent of the fatty acids in coconut oil are saturated. What many doctors have overlooked for years is that over two-thirds of these saturated fatty acids are medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). MCFAs are different from other varieties of saturated fatty acids in that as soon as they enter your bloodstream, they are taken to your liver where they are converted to energy. While other dietary fats and even excess carbohydrates can be stored as fat in your cells, the MCFAs found in coconut oil provide an almost immediate source of energy and may actually speed up your metabolism.

Because of its potential ability to speed up metabolism, coconut oil is a good food choice for people with sluggish thyroid glands, as well as for people who find it difficult to shed unwanted weight.

Coconut oil is the healthiest cooking oil that you can use.

The high percentage of saturated fatty acids found in coconut oil makes it extremely stable when exposed to heat. Unlike almost all other vegetable oils, coconut oil contains virtually no trans fats, and is highly resistant to free radical formation when used for cooking at any temperature. No other oil comes close to being as safe and healthy for cooking as coconut oil.

Coconut oil may soothe digestive problems.

Many people who have suffered with inflammatory conditions of the intestines, like Crohn's disease, have successfully used coconut oil for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. Coconut oil's ability to help improve the balance of microorganisms in the intestines is likely another reason why people who suffer with digestive disorders benefit from using it on a regular basis.

Coconut oil is an effective, all-natural moisturizer for your skin.

In addition to its potential healing properties for your internal health, coconut oil is an exceptional skin moisturizer. It doesn’t contain any of the carcinogenic chemicals that are found in many commercial moisturizers. Also, coconut oil is easily absorbed into your skin, where it can help to prevent free radical damage, wrinkling, and sagging. It may even be able to restore strength to your underlying connective tissue.

Here is a summary of what coconut oil may do for your health:

• Improve your energy

• Reduce your risk of developing heart disease

• Reduce your risk of developing cancer

• Improve your ability to digest foods and absorb nutrients

• Promote weight loss and maintenance of your ideal weight

• Help prevent bacterial, yeast, fungal, and viral infections

• Support and enhance your immune system

• Help regulate your blood sugar and prevent or control diabetes

• Help prevent osteoporosis

• Help prevent premature aging and wrinkling of your skin

• Help keep your skin smooth and soft

• Help protect you against skin cancer and blemishes

Coconut oil does NOT do any of the following:

• Does NOT contribute to heart disease

• Does NOT contribute to a tendency to gain weight

• Does NOT increase blood cholesterol

• Does NOT promote platelet stickiness or blood clot formation

Not all brands of coconut oil are equal in quality and taste.

Since 2004, I have tried a number of brands and varieties of coconut oil - some from online sources, and some from local stores. Of all the brands that I've tried, the one that I have found to be the best in flavor, texture, aroma, and overall quality is a premium virgin coconut oil that is made in Vietnam. This is the brand of coconut oil that we now use in our household and provide through our Web site.

Our premium virgin coconut oil is produced with the least amount of processing possible, which translates to optimal retention of fresh coconut flavor, naturally occuring vitamin E, healthy saturated fatty acids, and other health-promoting nutrients.

The best brands of coconut oil are made without fermentation and application of heat.

To make our premium virgin coconut oil, fresh coconut meat is grated and expeller pressed to produce fresh coconut milk, which is then centrifuged using a proprietary process to separate coconut oil from the other components of coconut milk. The resulting oil is extremely light in texture, and because there is never any application of heat, our premium virgin coconut oil retains the full flavor and aroma of fresh coconut.

Unlike many varieties of coconut oil that are produced in small batches in small villages, our premium virgin coconut oil is produced in a facility that is ISO and HACCP certified. Needless to say but I'll say it anyway: our premium virgin coconut oil is produced under strict hygienic conditions.

My favorite ways to use coconut oil...

Beyond using our premium virgin coconut oil as a cooking oil (we also use extra-virgin olive oil), my favorite way to use our coconut oil is to add a tablespoon to smoothies; I keep a jar of coconut oil on top of our refrigerator so that the heat from the refrigerator keeps the oil liquid and easy to add to our blender.

Because our coconut oil is so light, delicate, and delicious in flavor, I sometimes eat a few tablespoons right out of the jar for a quick boost of energy before a workout.

Here are the most freqently asked questions about our premium coconut oil:

How does our premium coconut oil differ from other coconut oils?

Our premium coconut oil is produced by applying a unique method of centrifuge-based extraction to fresh coconut milk; this method produces a "pharmaceutical" grade oil that doesn't require any application of heat or further processing, since its moisture content is so low. The end result is a truly unique coconut oil that is subtle in taste and aroma.

Some brands of coconut oil are refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD). RBD oil is produced from dried coconut meat (copra). The drying process is what necessitates drying, bleaching, and deodorizing, as it's not suitable for eating without these processes. RBD oil has a yellow tinge, thick texture, and very little flavor and aroma - it's the type of oil that was used for many years for popping corn and making commerically baked goods. Despite being exposed to bleach, high temperatures, and chemical solvents, RBD oil is still called "natural" by the food industry in Western countries - here, "natural" simply means that it has not been hydrogenated, and that it melts at around 76° F.

The method used to create our premium coconut oil is considered to be one of three production methods that produce "cold pressed" coconut oil. The other two production methods are:

1. Direct Expeller - This type of oil is made by grinding and then pressing dried coconut meat. Because there is some moisture in the dried coconut meat, the liquid that comes out from pressing is about 90% coconut oil and 10% water - this mixture is allowed to sit so that the coconut oil will separate from the water. Typically, some heat is applied to remove remaining water, and the result is an oil that has a light to medium texture.
2. Traditional Hand-Pressed (Homemade) - This type of oil is produced by grinding and pressing fresh coconut meat to produce coconut milk. The milk is allowed to ferment for about 2 days, causing the oil to separate from the water and solids. The oil is then typically boiled to remove remaining moisture, resulting in coconut oil that is medium to thick in texture.

As mentioned above, I've tried just about every major type of coconut oil on the market, and nothing compares in flavor, aroma, and texture of our cold-pressed, premium coconut oil.

Is our oil the same type of oil as that from the Phillippines?

Not at all. Our premium coconut oil is separated from fresh coconut milk without the use of heat or fermentation. Coconut oil that is from the Phillippines is typically made using the traditional hand-pressed (homemade) technique described in the previous answer.

What is the shelf life of our coconut oil?

The shelf life of our premium coconut oil is at least 3 years.

Does our coconut oil need to be refrigerated?

No, our coconut oil does not need to be refrigerated. It can be left out at room temperature. At 76° F and above, coconut oil is liquid, and below this temperature, it is solid.

Can our coconut oil be used for cooking and baking?

Yes, our premium coconut oil is ideal for cooking and baking. Because of its stability when exopsed to heat, it's arguably the healthiest oil that you can use to cook and bake with.

Where is our coconut oil produced?

Our premium coconut oil is produced in Vietnam. Among the "virgin" coconut oils, our oil is the only type that is produced under strict regulations.

The facility that produces our coconut oil certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It's also HACCP-certified - HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, a system that was designed to promote and ensure food safety.

What is "extra virgin" coconut oil?

The term "extra virgin" is likely inspired by the olive oil industry, and is meaninngless when it comes to coconut oil; it's marketing hype at its extra finest.

How many calories and grams of fat are there in a tablespoon of coconut oil?

One tablespoon of coconut oil contains approximately 112.5 calories and 13.05 grams of healthy fat. As mentioned above, the fat in coconut oil is mainly composed of medium chain saturated fatty acids, which are efficiently converted to energy. There are virtually no carbohydrates or protein in coconut oil.

Will eating coconut oil raise my cholesterol?

No. eating coconut oil won't appreciably raise or lower your blood cholesterol; it is essentially "cholesterol neutral."

Here's what people have said about our premium coconut oil:

"Yummy, yummy, yummy! I think I could eat this by itself. Soooo good. Your coconut oil has a wonderful buttery, coconut flavor. The taste is smooth, the texture silky. It is melt in your mouth delicious with no harshness or aftertaste. Previously I was using a raw, cold-pressed coconut oil from Fiji. And, although the Fiji oil is just as fragrant and pristine as your coconut oil, it was not as smooth, buttery or delicious."

"This is the best frying oil I have ever used. It is also an amazing moisturizer - no greasy, waxy, wet or oil feel, just instant softness. It is delicious!"

"It tasted great just by itself. Now I know what real coconut oil should taste like."

"The coconut oil is delicious. It was obvious after trying it is a high quality oil and my wife and I were both surprised at how light and tasty coconut oil is compared to even the best extra virgin olive oil."

"I just wanted to tell you how much I love your product. I also used other brands and hated them. Yours is wonderful. My daughter uses it for diaper cream on her babies. We both use it for total body moisturizer--I firmly believe it is keeping my skin looking much younger than it did. Also, I used to have rosacea, and it is completely gone for about 2 years now. My sister used it on her feet, and got rid of athletes foot. This is all besides using it totally for all my cooking and just plain eating it. Thanks for a wonderful product." - D.B.

"Your oil was the first type of coconut oil I ordered on line. It is absolutely delicious - I love to take a tablespoon of it and let it melt in my mouth. I put it in soups as it really improves the flavor. I also use it for stir frying. I assumed all coconut oil would taste just as good so I ordered a quart bottle from another company. Their coconut oil had such a different taste from your oil, if it had been the first that I had tasted I would have never bought coconut oil again. - M.H.

"Hi, I am from the Philippines where coconut trees are abundant. There are many companies here making and selling Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO). I bought and tasted many of them but it leaves rancidity in my mouth. I even made VCO myself but I'm not satisfied. The order I made from you arrived and I tasted it. It's really different from the ones available here. When I tasted it, it was so smooth and there was no taste of rancidity. It leaves a mild coconut meat flavor in my mouth. How did you do it?" - D.R., Philippines