About Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a common ingredient in many cosmetics for skin and hair. It's a popular base oil for adding aromatherapy essential oils to. But it's also a versatile oil used for food, nutritional supplements and as a potential source for biodiesel. Coconut oil is one of the cooking oils recommended in the place of lard or oils with saturated fats.

Types

• There are four basic types of commercially made coconut oils--virgin, refined, hydrogenated and fractionated. Virgin oil is the type used for food or nutritional supplements. Refined oil (also called copra) is coconut meat that has been dried (and smells bad), then treated with chemicals and spun in a centrifuge processor to remove some of the smell and any dirt. Hydrogenated oil has acids (such as melaic acid) added to it to make an oil with a higher fat content. It contains more saturated fats than virgin oil and may be banned in some places like New York City. Fractionated coconut oil has had most of the chemicals removed and is only liquid fat.

Uses Of Virgin Coconut Oil

• Virgin coconut oil is used in cooking, taken directly as a nutritional supplement and is also used in massage oils. It's the lightest of the coconut oils and is most easily absorbed into the skin. It can be added to bathwater or to hair rinse to help keep skin and hair soft and supple. When taken as a nutritional supplement, it's considered a general tonic to keep you from getting a variety of ailments, including heart disease. It's also sometimes applied directly onto yeast infections on the genitals for relief.

Warning

• More is not better when it comes to consuming coconut oil. You still need to eat a wide variety of low-fat foods and lots of fruits and vegetables. Virgin coconut oil can be a lower-calorie replacement for some cooking oils and shortening. Also, although some virgin coconut oil is marketed as extra virgin oil, there is no difference. The coconut oil industry is not regulated, so talk to your doctor before taking coconut oil as a supplement.

Biofuel Potential

• Coconut oil has been used as lamp oil for centuries. Since the demand for alternative fuels has risen, more and more coconut oil has found its way into engines as a lubricant and as fuel. It has lower emissions than diesel or gasoline. The Phillipines not only produces the most coconut oil in the world, it has also been powering many of their cargo boats using a fuel with coconut oil in the mix since World War II. Coconut oil helps fuel tractors in the Solomon Islands. It's hoped that tropical islands can cut down on importing fuel and grow their own.

Allergy Symptoms

• Although very rare, some people can be allergic to all coconut products, including coconut oil. Symptoms include problems breathing and sudden development of dermatitis where the coconut oil has touched. Loose, runny stools is another problem, but usually goes away after the coconut oil is reduced. If diarrhea doesn't go away after a couple of weeks, then stop taking the coconut oil and contact your doctor.