Coconut Oil
The benefits of coconut oil are becoming more widely well known, leading to an increase in its popularity. As the demand for coconut oil increases, many retailers are looking for ways to drive down the price in order to sell more of the product.The end result is that good quality virgin coconut oil is becoming difficult to find.
Cheaper versions of the oil are commonplace on supermarket shelves. They are often low quality, and lack the health benefits of genuine virgin coconut oil. The harsh reality is that the coconut oil you purchase to help with Fido’s allergies or ear infections may actually be doing more harm than good.
There are two major types of coconut oil available to buy - "virgin" coconut oil and "RBD" coconut oil. Virgin coconut oil (unrefined) is processed naturally and retains its coconut flavor and smell. RBD (refined, bleached, and deodorized) coconut oil often comes from inferior or sun-dried coconuts (copra), and has therefore been chemically processed to remove impurities. This also removes its natural flavor and smell.
Because virgin coconut oil is processed naturally, it retains the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients possible - making it the very best choice for the health-conscious shopper.
Genuine virgin coconut oil has many health benefits for pets and humans. These include the power to boost the immune system, support brain health, aid the digestive system, and fight infection.
The problem with cheap or fake coconut oils - whether labeled as "virgin" or "RBD" - is that they're often very low in healthy nutrients, usually as the result of being made from coconuts that aren’t fresh, or from old copra. Low quality coconut oil may also contain heavy metals such as arsenic, copper, iron and lead.
Moisture and impurities in coconut oil varies greatly from brand to brand – from as low as .01% for an excellent virgin coconut oil, to as high as .2% + for unrefined coconut oil, and even higher for partially refined oil. The MCTs in coconut oil - specifically the Lauric Acid component - varies greatly as well, some lower than 40% and some as high as 56%.
Just as with olive oil, many coconut oil products are deceptively labeled. The packaging of the oil may use words such as "virgin", “extra-virgin”, "natural", or "pure", but the contents could be far from it.
Common quality issues include coconut oil that has been blended with cheaper oils such as vegetable oil or palm oil, RBD coconut oil, improperly filtered oil, and coconut oil made with low-grade coconuts.
So, what do you need to know to make sure you choose a virgin coconut oil that's safe, natural, and packed full of the wonderful health benefits that make it a true "superfood"?
What to Look out For
Choose an oil packaged in glassPlastic packaging is a sign of a low quality oil. The best quality virgin coconut oil is packaged in glass. The reason for this is that plastic can affect the taste of coconut oil and cause toxins to leach into the product. Plastic packaging may also be improperly sealed, making the product prone to spoiling. Glass is the best option as it seals in the healthy nutrients in the coconut oil and keeps the product fresh.
Check the taste and smell
Genuine virgin coconut oil has a fresh, “sweet”, distinct coconut aroma, and a mild coconut flavor. It should taste fresh, never rancid, or “sharp.” Avoid oils with a burned or roasted smell or flavor, as it's a sign that the oil has been processed using heat - and has lost some of its healthy nutrients. If the oil has a “waxy”, oily scent along with a barely discernible coconut aroma it’s a sign that it may have been mixed with an RBD coconut oil or vegetable oil. As we mentioned before, RBD coconut oil has no smell or taste because of the way it's processed.
Look for an oil that's cold-pressed
True cold-pressed coconut oil has NEVER been heated during manufacturing. This process is more difficult, and yields less oil, but the end product is far superior to low quality coconut oil. Be particularly careful when choosing a cold-pressed coconut oil. The labelling on some products may claim the oil is cold-pressed, but often heat has been used in earlier stages of the manufacturing process. Which brings us to our final point ...
You Get What You Pay For
The low price of the coconut oil should tip you off. Unfortunately, consumers looking to purchase "bargain" or inexpensive coconut oil are supporting deceptive practices.Stores continue to buy low price oils because they sell, and consumers have become addicted to the lower prices. This has serious effects on the market of high quality, authentic virgin coconut oil that is naturally more expensive.
