What is coconut oil?
Coconut oil is pressed from the white flesh of the coconut, and is rich in saturated fatty acids (mostly lauric and myristic acid), that are great for our health. It’s an ideal cooking oil and can be used in weight-loss programs – it even has positive effects on cholesterol.
You’ll find two types of coconut oil commonly available:
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Made from fresh (raw) coconut meat
Cold-pressed, and filtered
Retains its natural coconut scent
Rich in natural micronutrients
More expensive than refined coconut oil
Organic Refined Coconut Oil
Made from dried coconut meat
Refined/processed
No coconut scent
Fewer micronutrients
Less expensive than virgin coconut oil
Did you know? Coconut oil’s saturated fatty acids consist mainly of medium-chain triglycerides which are much healthier than many long-chain molecules found in vegetable oils and animal fats. Don’t let the high saturated fat content put you off – coconut oil is the healthy choice!
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
Cooking – Coconut oil is great for cooking because of its stability at high temperatures. When most oils are heated, their chemistry begins to change, and harmful by-products like aldehydes can be created. Coconut oil’s healthy saturated fats can withstand much higher temperatures than the mono- and poly-unsaturated fats found in other oils. This means far fewer unhealthy by-products when you fry with coconut oil, resulting in safer, healthier food.
Click here for more information on the changes oils undergo when used for frying, and why saturated fats are better for high-temperature cooking.
Cholesterol – Coconut oil is an excellent choice for heart-healthy eating, as it’s proven to have beneficial effects on cholesterol levels. It raises the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels so effectively that the increase in ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol is dramatically outweighed.
Did you know? A 2009 study of fatty acids in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that “lauric acid had a more favourable effect on total:HDL cholesterol (ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol) than any other fatty acid, either saturated or unsaturated.” Read the study here.
Weight Loss – There are several studies that show coconut oil is more effective in weight-loss programs than vegetable oils. This is because medium-chain triglycerides (like those in coconut oil) are thought to be more easily digested and burned for energy than long-chain triglycerides found in other fats and oils. This helps to increase the metabolism and aid in weight-loss, as well as providing a good source of energy to get you through the day.
Need more proof? Read the studies below:
This study found that woman using coconut oil experienced a reduction in abdominal fat, whereas women using regular oil did not.
This study found that overweight men on a diet rich in medium-chain triglycerides (as found in coconut oil) experienced a greater loss of fat tissue than those on a diets containing long-chain triglycerides.
Did you know? Athletes often use coconut oil in their training programs as a healthy source of energy to keep them at their peak.
Dementia - There is increasing interest in the study of medium-chain triglycerides and their effect on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s too early to draw conclusions based on the evidence to date, and we can’t promise coconut oil will have any effect on these conditions, but you can find more information on the research here and here.
Credé Coconut Oil
Credé produces both virgin and refined (odourless) coconut oils, both of which are certified organic. Our production process for refined coconut oil does not use any chemicals, using a process of filtration, natural bleaching (using bleaching clay, which is filtered out), and steam-treatment to remove impurities and scent.
