Coconut Oil Series - What type of coconut oil should you buy?

There are several types of coconut oil on the market. The reason for this is that coconut oil can be produced using several methods such as the cold press method, wet mill method or the boiling method.

You should ALWAYS pick a brand of coconut oil that states it is 100% natural. The moment the oil is subjected to chemical and industrial processes; it becomes highly unhealthy and detrimental.

Natural is the way to go. Always keep that in mind.

The best type of coconut oil is extra virgin or virgin quality oil. What this means is that you are consuming coconut oil that is pure and healthy. There are organic options too. Usually, organic coconut oil just like most organic foods, will be more costly.

However, if the cost is prohibitive due to your budget, then it is fine to stick with the virgin coconut oil. After all, coconuts are not as harshly affected as apples or other fruit as far as pesticides and chemicals go.

One of the methods of producing coconut oil involves cold pressing the coconut between 2 plates of metal. This will cause the oil to be released. This is the best type of coconut oil. The lack of heat will ensure that the quality of the oil will be pristine and amazing. You should always aim to purchase this type of coconut oil when possible.

Coming in a close second will be coconut oil that is also produced by pressing. However, in this case, the coconut will be pressed between 2 warm metallic surfaces. By doing this, more oil can be extracted due to the warmer surfaces.

It goes without saying that most companies are focused on the bottom line, which is profit. So, with warm pressing, they will be able to get most bang for their buck. They will produce more oil with the same cost incurred. The catch here is that coconut oil produced in this way will be of lower quality. Usually, this type of coconut oil is cheaper too.

If you are on a tight budget and you can only afford the second-best quality coconut oil, get it. It is still highly beneficial.

Coconut oil is packaged in many forms such as sprays, etc. Avoid these fancy products and stick to the coconut oil in its purest form.

You should also note that while coconut oil is packed with fatty acids, it does not contain omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, you may consume fish oil supplements or use extra virgin olive oil in preparing dishes such as salads, etc. In this way, you will be getting the best of both worlds.