Used in the tropics for thousands of years, coconut oil is starting to get the positive attention it deserves. A high proportion of the coconut oil that ends up in foods may be classified as refined. Tropical Traditions defines refined oil as a product that has undergone bleaching and deodorizing. Such treatment becomes necessary because of the unsanitary conditions in which farmers often store the coconut solids before they send them to a factory for processing.
Unrefined oil, also known as virgin coconut oil, does not undergo the same process as its refined equivalent. Tropical Traditions explains that producers make the virgin product by mechanically pressing the coconut meat soon after picking. The fresh coconut meat undergoes one of two processes: wet milling or quick drying. Quick drying, the most common method used, promptly dries the coconut meat and the oil is mechanically expressed.
Wet milling refers to the process in which the coconut milk is expressed from the fresh meat and then boiled, fermented or separated from the milk using enzymes or centrifuge. Due to the quick process, the resulting oil does not require bleaching or additives. It also isn't exposed to high heat levels like its refined counterpart. It retains the distinct flavor and odor of coconut.
Polyphenol compounds, found in unrefined coconut oil, demonstrate an important antioxidant effect inside and outside the body, inhibiting the oxidation of cholesterol. Through this mechanism, unrefined coconut oil can reduce the development of atherosclerosis and the risk of cardiovascular disease. New studies have found polyphenols supports the potential use in skin photo-protection and prevention of photo-carcinogenesis in humans; possibly reducing the chances of skin disease and cancer. Because the polyphenols become damaged during the bleaching process, you should not expect such positive effects from refined coconut oils.
Refined coconut oil refers to coconut oil that has been bleached, and deodorized. The oil is derived from dried coconut meat known as copra. Copra has different degrees of quality; determined by how much moister loss occurs during the first drying process, under the sun. The better quality copra is called "copra resecada" and the wet and moldy copra is called "crude copra".
Sun dried copra is particularly susceptible to insect attack. Cargo must be inspected for infestation by copra beetles, cockroaches and other species of beetles. If the cargo is infested, it must be fumigated or a fumigation certificate must be demanded from the consignor. Traditional Tropics notes that oil obtained from copra has to be purified with bleaching clays because contaminants arise during the drying process.
Larger manufactures use high heat to deodorize the coconut oil to remove its distinctive odor and flavor. Sodium hydroxide is often added to prolong its shelf life. To obtain the most oil, some brands use chemical solvents to extract as much oil as possible from the meat. They may partially hydrogenate the oil, too, which means it will contain trans-fats. MayoClinic.com advises against the consumption of trans-fats, noting they raise bad cholesterol levels while lowering good cholesterol levels.
Three-quarters of coconut oil comes in the form of the medium chain fatty acids. These unique compounds, a subdivision of saturated fat only found in high concentrations in coconut oil, can help support the immune system and eradicate yeast infections. These acids can diffuse into the cell membrane of a fungal cell before causing its death by dissolving. Because of their saturated nature, the medium chain fats remain stable in both the refined and unrefined oil.
Of the two options, refined oil remains a cheaper choice with a higher smoke point great for frying foods. While the refined product still contains the valuable medium chain fatty acids, the damage done to many nutritive factors such as the polyphenols during processing means that the unrefined (virgin) oil stands out as the healthier choice.. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends eating unrefined coconut oil in moderation to limit your saturated fat intake, and avoiding refined coconut oil altogether. Hemp Natural Soap only uses unrefined (Virgin) oils to ensure our products have as many healing nutritive factors as possible.
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