Coconut oil is extracted from the kernel of the mature fruit of the coconut palm and has a huge variety of uses and potential health benefits. As rice is for many Asian cultures, and maize for those of Central and South America, so is the coconut for many of the peoples of Oceania and parts of Asia. In Southern India, besides being valued as a food source, its healing properties have been used for centuries in traditional forms of medicine such as Ayurveda. Dispersed widely throughout coastal areas of the tropics and notable for its ability to propagate in sandy, highly saline soils, the coconut palm has been an indispensable resource in terms of food and materials for generations. In many places coconuts are a staple food crop and one of the few available sources of fat in the diets of the local inhabitants.
Unlike many other vegetable oils, coconut oil is relatively easy to produce and does not require the more elaborate methods of extraction, involving the use of various chemicals and heat, that are used in the production of most seed oils such as sunflower, safflower and soybean oils, to name a few. Virgin coconut oil can even be produced at home without the use of any specialized equipment.
Facts from anorganicwife.com
1. Coconut oil can be used for dandruff relief. Massage the oil into your scalp at least twice a week, let it set for 20 minutes, and rinse. This is really helpful for those dry winters!
2. If you rub coconut oil on a bruise, it will disappear faster.
3. Coconut oil has a longer shelf life than most oils. Unlike other oils, it won't go rancid for years.
4. Coconut oil is a great weight loss aid. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help take off weight; in addition, it increases metabolism, which burns more energy.
5. It's a great replacement for tradition lip balm. It's the most natural lip moisturizer on the market, and it feels great!
6. Coconut oil can be applied all over your body. It's a wonderful moisturizer that makes your skin really soft, and it actually delays wrinkles!
7. Coconut oil contains anti-viral properties that reduce the risk of influenza, measles, herpes, and other illnesses. It's even believed to help reduce susceptibility of HIV.
8. It helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
Production begins with the white flesh or kernel of the coconut which is either dried-in which case it is called copra-or used in it's natural undried state-a process known as wet milling. Various techniques exist for extracting the oil, from simple presses to more high-tech approaches using centrifuges, chemicals, steam or some combination of methods. The exact production method used depends on the type of oil to be produced and its intended market. The two main categories of coconut oil are virgin coconut oil and RBD coconut oil with a number of additional labels often applied as part of a marketing strategy emphasizing certain aspects of the production process.
Coconut oil made from dried coconut meat or copra is usually not suitable for human consumption in its raw form and so is further refined after pressing or extraction by other means, to produce what is known as RBD (refined, bleached and deoderized) oil which is the oil most often sold as a cooking oil. This refining process involves the use of high temperatures and/or sovents, occasional partial hydrogenization, and bleaching is achieved by filtering through clay. Virgin coconut oil, on the other hand, is produced using either fresh or "quick dried" coconut meat which is then pressed to produce coconut milk. The milk is left to settle over a period of many hours to allow separation of the oil and water, or is extracted using other means such as boiling or using a centrifuge.
It is only relatively recently that coconut oil has achieved "super-food" status among health aficionados, a development that has coincided with a growing appreciation and understanding of the important role fats play in a healthy and well balanced diet. Research on its health benefits has also revealed its potential as an aid to weight loss and as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Its use by many dog owners to treat a range of common health issues is yet another interesting example of the versatility of this product.
However, the many coconut oil uses are not just related to food and diet and there are literally hundreds of other applications that this seemingly wondrous ingredient has to offer. Some of these include for hair growth and as a conditioner, on the face and elsewhere for skin care, and it has been used successfully in the treatment of acne. Other common applications include its use in soap making and as a non-toxic ingredient in the manufacture of various cosmetics.
