What is Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil comes from the coconut fruit. It is 100% fat. This oil has not a trace of fibre or cholesterol with only traces of vitamins, minerals and plant sterols. Sterols are chemical structures that mimic blood cholesterol and aid in reducing the rate of cholesterol absorption in the body. Virgin coconut oil uses fresh meat, while refined oil uses dried coconut meat, also called copra. If you are into all natural goods, you have likely heard about the benefits of coconut oil. Indeed, this oil has great benefits for your hair, skin, body, and overall health.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF COCONUT OIL?
Just how far back can we find the earliest mention of this oil in our history? Some data suggest that as far back as 4000 years. Indeed, in many tropical countries, the oil has been a dietary staple for centuries. Some even call it the “oil of life.” For more information about the coconut, kindly refer to our post about THE Business of Coconut Farming.
WHERE IS COCONUT OIL PRODUCED IN THE WORLD?
The world production for coconut oil has been on a steady increase over the last decade. The oil has great characteristics and health benefits, and as such is in great demand. More than 70% of the global production of this oil comes from Indonesia and the Philippines. Indeed, the Philippines is the top exporter of this natural oil; constituting 42% of all exports worldwide. According to Statista, in 2020-2021, global production of this oil is estimated to an amount of 3.44 million metric tons.
HOW DO YOU MAKE COCONUT OIL?
For the ‘wet mill’ method, pick your desired coconut (preferably matured and brown) and split it open. Use a spoon and empty the meat (flesh) of the coconut into a bowl. Cut the coconut flesh into smaller sizes and place into a blender. Blend well until shredded, adding little water to help when necessary. Using a cheesecloth, filter the content into a jar. repeating the squeezing process until all the mixture has been filtered. Leave the jar in a cool dry place for at least 24 hours to which you would notice a separation between the coconut milk and oil. Scoop the layer of curd that will appear at the top of the jar and discard it, leaving behind pure virgin coconut oil.
The cold press method follows a similar method just as the wet mill method. Load your size-able cut coconut chunks that have been dried over 24 hours prior into a juicer. The content produced by the juicer would remove the cream and oil from the fibre. Do this until you are done with your dried-up coconut chunks. Place the oil you collected into a jar and store in a warm place. After 24 hours, you will notice the oil has risen to the top. Gently scoop the oil into another container once the oil has completely separated from the cream.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH COCONUT OIL?
The applications of this miraculous oil are almost limitless. From using this in your kitchen for preparing your delicious meals to incorporating it into your beauty regime, these are a few things you can do with this wonderful oil. You can use it for hair a hair mask (or even face mask), deep conditioning, lip balm and scrub. Some beauty specialists even advocate using the oil as a lotion to hydrate your body and even use as a body scrub.
Aside from moisturizing your skin, this oil mixed with other skin care products helps relieve skin irritation, eczema and provide protection from UV Rays. With antibacterial properties, the oil made from coconuts can aid in the treatment of infections such as Clostridium difficile (aka C. diff) which is the root cause for severe diarrhea. It can also help with weight loss and slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Other uses:
- Clean and whiten teeth
- Moisturize skin and nails
- Makeup remover
- Cooking (frying, sautéing, etc.)
- Energy boost
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL?
For many good reasons, this oil is incredibly popular though it did not always have the best reputation. Did you know that this oil can help improve brain function, dental health and increase metabolism. Did you know that oil pulling, or the act of swishing coconut oil in your mouth, can significantly reduce inflammation and plaque? In fact, using coconut oil reduces bacteria just as effectively as mouthwash.
In short, coconut oil is a great addition to your everyday routine. The immense benefits associated with this oil far outweigh any cons. Love all natural products? Be sure to check out our shop. We have coconut oil and other great products, right here at blaxtar.net.
