What Are the Benefits of Coconut Oil Vs. Olive Oil?

All oils are not created equal, and a few offer amazing health benefits for the body, hair and skin. Olive oil and coconut oil are different in nutrition and taste, but both are very beneficial diet and beauty products.

Features

• Olive oil is a traditional Mediterranean oil made by pressing and extracting oil from olives. Coconut oil is oil pressed from coconuts and is usually found in islands like the Philippines and Fiji.

Taste

• Olive oil is a golden color and has a rich, full-mouth taste. Coconut oil is white when hardened and clear when in liquid state. It tastes like coconut but is not sweet. Both oils are excellent for stir-frys, salad dressings and baking.

Health Benefits

• Coconut oil is one of the best oils for cooking because it doesn't have transfats, even when heated at high temperatures. It is good for the thyroid and aids in weight loss.

  Olive oil is particularly good for a healthy heart. According to World's Healthiest Foods: "adherence to a Mediterranean style dietary pattern -- characterized by high consumption of olive oil, raw vegetables, soups, and poultry -- was associated with a significantly lower risk of death from all causes."

Hair and Skin Benefits

• Both olive and coconut oil act as a lotion, smoothing the skin, and make a great hair conditioner, leaving hair extra shiny and silky.

Tips

• When purchasing olive oil, always buy extra virgin, and look for cold pressed. For coconut oil, look for virgin, organic and cold pressed.