Experts say the best coconut oil you can buy is organic virgin coconut oil (VCO). This is coconut oil that has been squeezed out of the best coconut meat without high heat treatments. There are coconut oils that have been taken from copra (older lower quality dried coconut meat). This is then cooked, refined and bleached. These commercial coconut oils have little or no coconut taste, and have lost some of the health benefits. Good virgin coconut oil will have a smooth mild coconut flavor. Definitely avoid any coconut oil that has been hydrogenated so it will be solid at room temperature. Hydrogenated oil is always very bad for you, even if it was coconut oil to start with.
VCO will be solid at a temperature of about 76 degrees F (30 degrees C) and becomes a liquid at about 77 degrees F (31 degrees C). Solid coconut oil is sometimes called coconut butter, but it is the same thing. It is measured and used the same, whether it is an oil or a solid. Coconut oil is very stable and can be kept at room temperature, no refrigeration needed. If refrigerated, it becomes very hard.
Some companies say their product is extra virgin coconut oil, but unlike olive oil, there really is no difference between virgin coconut oil and extra virgin. There are several methods of cold-pressing the coconuts for oil, but they are all very similar.
Coconut oil can be safely used for all your cooking purposes. You can bake with it, sauté with it, and even deep fry with it. It gives a delicious taste to the things you cook. You can also use shredded and chipped coconut meat, coconut cream or coconut milk in your cooking and in healthy smoothies. All these coconut products have coconut oil in them, and are just a few more ways to get your daily coconut oil.
Experts recommend you eat two to four tablespoons of coconut oil daily. If you are experiencing health problems, or you need to lose a lot of weight, add more to your diet.
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