Question No.  19362 :
What is virgin coconut oil? It is safe to consume?

Most commercial grade coconut oils are made from copra. Copra is basically the dried kernel of the coconut. Most of the copra is dried under the sun in the open air. The coconut oil extracted from copra is not suitable for consumption and must be refined. The standard end product made from copra is RBD coconut oil. RBD stands for refined, bleached, and deodorised. Both high heat and chemicals (e.g. solvent extractions) are used in this method. RBD oil is also often hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated. Virgin coconut oil is obtained by using fresh coconut kernel or what is called non-copra. Chemicals and high heating are not used in further refining. There are currently two main processes of manufacturing virgin coconut oil: Quick drying of fresh coconut meat, which is then used to press out the oil. Using this method, minimal heat is used to quick dry the coconut meat, and the oil is then pressed out via mechanical means. Wet-milling. With this method the oil is extracted from fresh coconut kernel without drying first. "Coconut milk" is expressed first by pressing. The oil is then further separated from the water. Methods that can be used to separate the oil from the water include boiling, fermentation, refrigeration, enzymes and mechanical centrifuge. One of the main differences between virgin coconut oil and refined coconut oils is the scent and taste. All virgin coconut oils retain the fresh scent and taste of coconuts, whereas the copra-based refined coconut oils have no taste at all due to the refining process. Some grades of refined copra-based oils are also now sold that have a coconut flavour, but are usually bitter and have a burnt taste to it. For the past several decades we have heard about animal and human studies feeding coconut oil that purportedly showed increased indices for cardiovascular risk. Studies were done to show that coconut oil, and all saturated fats, were bad for one's health because they raised serum cholesterol levels. However, these studies were done on hydrogenated coconut oil, and all hydrogenated oils produce higher serum cholesterol levels, whether they are saturated or not. Recent research shows that it is the presence of trans fatty acids that causes health problems, as they are fatty acid chains that have been altered from their original form in nature by the oil refining process. For further information on the effects of coconut oil on health, please refer to the URLs below: http://www.isismedica.com/Coconut Oil.htm http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/coconut_oil.html Question Asked By:

Name: Cheng

Age Group: 13 to 20

Occupation Type: Student

Education Level: A Level's