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Coconut Oil Benefits & Uses

For years, coconut oils have been thought to be unhealthy, dangerous fats to consume, even though coconut oil is a staple in the diets of many cultures and in some cases the only cooking oil available. Many studies have been done throughout the years which seemingly confirmed the dangers of coconut oil, but what is not commonly known is that these studies were primarily based on highly-refined, chemically-altered oils. Most of the commonly used manufacturing oils in today's prepackaged foods are fully or partially hydrogenated , which means the oil is heated to very high temperature (450-600 degrees F) and, in the presence of a metal catalyst, hydrogen is bubbled through it, which creates a chemical bond between the hydrogen molecules and the fats in the oil. This process causes trans-fats to form, thickening the oil and making it more "stable," or in essence lengthening the shelf life of the oil while also expanding its volume. For food manufacturers this is wonderful, because through a very simple, reasonably inexpensive process their oil becomes thicker, creamier, longer-lasting, and due to the increase in volume, also cheaper to produce.

So, why is that a bad thing? In recent years, many studies have shown a direct link between consumption of minuscule amounts of trans-fats and the increased incidence of diseases like coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, N.A.S.H. (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or fatty liver disease), and obesity, just to name a few. Trans-fats have also been theorized to increase the risks of certain types of cancer, many blood and tissue disorders, and even the appearance of cellulite.

We have struggled for many years to find solutions to the trans-fat dilemma. One of our major solutions was to incorporate as much Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil into our diet as possible to avoid the trans-fat laden cooking oils being sold today. Olive oil is a healthy alternative to corn, canola or soybean oil because it does not contain trans-fats or cholesterol, so it may help limit your risk of some of the diseases listed above.

One of the more recent and far-reaching discoveries we have made is in the use of coconut oil. These are not the hydrogenated, refined coconut oils widely marketed as shortening, but the pure virgin and expeller-pressed varieties available from places like the Philippines, where coconut oil is a staple and used for nearly everything. Pure coconut oil is a healthy fat, which contains natural antioxidants and other elements which could prove to have more far-reaching beneficial effects than we know. In most parts of the U.S., for most of the year coconut oil is a translucent solid, pure white in color, with a creamy consistency. However, during the warmer months and in the more southern regions coconut oil becomes a clear liquid oil. We have found coconut oil, especially the organic virgin variety, to be especially useful. Coconut oil can be used in many recipes to replace our augment shortening or butter, can replace oils used for frying or sauteing, and add flavor to certain dishes. See our recipes on Our Favorite Organic Recipes Page for more information on using coconut oil in cooking and baking.

There are many types of coconut oil, but here we will only focus on three, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil, and Coconut Cream Concentrate (which is not truly an oil but useful nonetheless, as you will see). The first, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, is the purest of the lot. To produce it, fresh coconut meat is pressed and ground and then allowed to ferment for a day or so. Then the water is removed and the pure coconut oil packaged. This uses minimal processing, thus it retains as much coconut flavor and scent as possible, and as many healthy constituents as well.

Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil is a slightly more processed form of oil, but still very healthy and just as useful. This oil is extracted from the fresh coconut much like virgin oil, but a more mechanical process is used, increasing the yield and thus lowering the price. Most expeller-pressed oils are put through a refining process, many using chemicals such as hexane, but all of the oils we carry are pure and never chemically treated in any way. The Tropical Traditions Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil is put through a steam deodorizing process which virtually eliminates the coconut smell and taste, so for anyone who does not like coconut flavor, this is the oil for you. It is also good if you do not want coconut flavor to interfere with the flavor of what you are making.

The third type, Coconut Cream Concentrate, is perhaps our favorite. This product is only about 70% coconut oil, with the rest being pure coconut meat, so it has a slightly creamier and thicker consistency and a much sweeter, more pronounced coconut flavor. Coconut cream is a wonderful addition to many baked goods, stir-fried meals, or even just to melt on top of a warm biscuit or piece of toast. Browning it also produces a thicker consistency, with a scent reminiscent of fresh popcorn and a taste not unlike peanut butter with a hint of toasted coconut. We discovered this accidentally when baking, for instead of using a double boiler to melt the coconut cream we did it directly in a pan, which browns it. Rather than throw it away, we used it in the muffin recipe without any problems. Since then, we have browned it intentionally for use as a healthy, delicious spread for anything from sandwiches to pancake topping.

Our main goal at Blue Heron Organics & Natural Products is to help make the world a safer, healthier place by helping you choose better products for your health and for the environment. You can make a difference with just a few minor changes to your lifestyle, and we believe you will feel better and realize you are not sacrificing anything. We hope this gives you inspiration and helps you on your way to better health.

If you have any questions or need any help choosing a product or using a product, Email Us and we will be glad to help you.