With all of the options out there, how do you know which coconut oil is best?
Unrefined vs. Refined
Virgin vs. Extra Virgin
Quick Drying vs. Wet Milled
Expeller vs. Cold Pressed
Organic vs. Non-organic
Yikes! No wonder people are confused!
I’m here to break it down for you all and give you recommendations for the best coconut oil money can buy!
Refined vs. unrefined
Most commercial grade coconut oils are made from copra which is dried coconut meat. It is dried by kiln, sun, smoke, etc. If copra is used as the base material, the unrefined coconut oil is not suitable for consumption. It must be refined because the way that copra is dried is not sanitary. The final product is called RBD oil, which stands for refined, bleached, and deodorized. No thank you.
Unrefined simply means that it has not been chemically altered. This is what you want!
Virgin vs. Extra Virgin
There is no industry standard definition for “Virgin Coconut Oil” as there is in the olive oil industry for “Virgin” and “Extra Virgin” olive oil. (1)
However, many companies have set their own standards. For example, Tropical Traditions (my favorite brand) believes that Virgin coconut oil can only be achieved by using fresh coconut meat or what is called non-copra.
The label of “Extra Virgin” coconut oil is arbitrary as there is no official classification of difference between virgin and extra virgin.
Quick Dried vs Wet Milled
Quick dried means that the meat of the coconut is dried quickly and the oil is then pressed out via machine.
Wet milled means that the oil is extracted from fresh coconut meat without drying first. “Coconut milk” is expressed first by pressing. The oil is then separated from the water. Methods which can be used to separate the oil from the water include boiling, fermentation, refrigeration, enzymes, and mechanical centrifuge. (2)
Expeller Pressed vs. Cold Pressed
Expeller Pressed means that the oil was squeezed from the meat via a machine using no chemicals. The problem with this technique is that heat is used which can alter the taste of the oil and result in less yield for the company. Some companies then use chemicals to try and extract the leftover oil.
Cold Pressed oil is produced in a low heat environment. Typically under 120 degrees. Sadly, this is not monitored in the United States like it is in Europe, so Cold Pressed in the US can mean anything produced in environments 400 degrees or less. However, cold pressed coconut oil typically has retained more nutrients and would be a better option in this case.
Organic vs. Non-Organic
Pesticide use in coconut palms is minimal. However, if you choose organic, you can rest assured that pesticides, chemicals, etc were not used in the manufacturing process either.
Also, something that is important to look for when choosing coconut oil is a Fair Trade Certification. This means that the growing, production, and packaging of the coconuts were done in a fashion that was safe, fair, and respectful of the employees involved. That’s important to me!
I also prefer to purchase my coconut oil in glass containers. No plastic for me please!
So, to recap…..
When looking for coconut oil, look for:
-Organic
-Unrefined Virgin (or Extra Virgin)
-Cold Pressed
-Wet milled
-Fair Trade Certified
-Glass container
What you DON’T want:
-Refined or RBD oil
-Expeller Pressed
-Quick Dried
-Plastic Container
My Coconut Oil Recommendations:
1. Nutiva Liquid Coconut Oil- I like this organic, unrefined, Non GMO coconut oil because it has a nice, neutral flavor. Find it HERE!
2. Tropical Traditions- This is top quality coconut oil. Only downfall is it’s a bit pricier. Therefore, I choose to use it topically only. Find it HERE!:
3. Aunt Patty’s- Organic, Virgin, and tastes great! Great price point too! Find it HERE!
Questions? Just ask!
Want to work with me 1:1 to create the perfect diet for you and/or your family? Contact me today at dana@thrivekin.com.
Sources:
1. Shilhavy, Brian and Marianita. Virgin Coconut Oil. 2012 Sophia Media. Moorpark California.
2. “”