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Extra virgin coconut oil can be used in many dishes and on the body, but some benefits are controversial.

DanaTentis image by Pixabay

Extravirgin coconut oil , coconut oil or coconut butter is a vegetable oil derived from the fruit Nucifera coconuts. It can be extracted through pressing, solvents and at-home processes. To better understand how the vegetable oil extraction process works, read the article: "Learn about vegetable oil extraction techniques". To learn how to make coconut oil at home, check out the article: "How to make coconut oil the easy way".

Couleur image by Pixabay

Other types of coconut oils are available on the market, such as babassu coconut oil (pictured below), which is popularly called "babassu oil" or "baassu coconut oil", not "extra virgin coconut oil", although this type of oil is extracted from a species of coconut and, in some cases, classified as extra virgin. To learn more about babassu coconut oil, check out the article: "Babassu coconut oil: common in the cosmetic and food industry. Know its benefits".

Marcelo Cavallari, Hermaphrodite Infructescence, CC BY-SA 4.0

It is common to confuse coconut oil with coconut milk and coconut pulp, but these formats are completely different both in terms of appearance, density and flavor, as well as in terms of nutritional and functional properties.

Another very common confusion is between extra virgin coconut oil, virgin coconut oil, refined coconut oil and hydrogenated coconut oil.

Cold-pressed organic extra virgin coconut oil is the purest type of coconut oil of all and the one that best retains its properties, being the most suitable for ingestion. Refined coconut oil, on the other hand, is usually prepared by means of a hot press of dry beans, and it is no longer as pure as extra virgin, and is not suitable for consumption. You also need to avoid hydrogenated coconut oil, as the consumption of hydrogenated fat has been linked to increased waistline, type 2 diabetes, altered blood fat levels, high blood pressure and liver problems.

Prioritizing the consumption of extra virgin coconut oil is healthier and guarantees a more pleasant coconut flavor. It is also necessary to avoid oils extracted by solvents, as the use of hexane can be socially and environmentally harmful. Understand more about this topic in the article: "Vegetable oils: know the benefits and cosmetic properties".

Extra virgin coconut oil (Nucifera coconuts) is famous for bringing benefits to health and beauty through feeding and direct application to hair, skin, teeth and mucous membranes. The cleaning products industry also uses it to make soaps, which are even reputed to be more sustainable than other types of cleaning agents with a detergent action. To learn more about this topic, check out the article: "Is coconut soap the most environmentally friendly?".

Health experts have recommended the daily intake of extra virgin coconut oil for treatment and disease prevention. However, this vegetable oil ends up being controversial, because while a portion of doctors and nutritionists are in favor of its use, another claims that consumption (via digestion) is not yet proven safe due to the amount of saturated fat. On the other hand, there are some studies that prove that the consumption of extra virgin coconut oil by humans can have benefits for the treatment and prevention of diseases.

Benefits

Prevents and treats hair damage

A study published by Society Cosmetic Chemists showed that extra virgin coconut oil helps prevent damage to hair caused by combing and treats damaged strands chemically (whitening) and thermally (hot shower water, heat from flat irons, dryers, etc.). That's because, according to the study, coconut oil helps prevent the loss of protein and water from the hair, in addition to serving as a lubricating film.

Improves fat levels

A study of Filipino women and published by US National Library of Medicine suggests that consumption of extra virgin coconut oil improves fat levels in premenopausal women. The same study cites analyzes carried out on animals, which show that the consumption of coconut oil reduces total cholesterol, which contributes to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease - being a great substitute for butters and hydrogenated vegetable fats. The same study presents information that data from the 2003 Philippine National Nutrition Survey show a relatively low incidence of hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), hypertension, stroke and angina (weakening of the heart muscles) in the Bicol region. , where diets have high levels of coconut consumption compared to other regions.

Prevents Alzheimer's Disease

Although extra virgin coconut oil has historically been recognized as a source that contains high levels of saturated fat, a study published by the platform PubMed suggests that the benefits of coconut should be reconsidered. This is because, unlike saturated animal fats, coconut oil has medium-chain fatty acids (such as lauric acid, myristic acid and caprylic acid), which are the only ones that can be absorbed and metabolized by the liver, being converted to ketones - important alternative energy sources for the brain that can be beneficial for people who are developing or already have memory impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease.

improves diabetes

Oxidative stress is one of the characteristics of diabetes mellitus. According to the study published by the platform PubMed, the antioxidant properties (among other functions) of virgin coconut oil may have a beneficial effect in ameliorating the disease. According to the same study, this is because coconut oil significantly reduces fasting blood glucose and improves oral glucose tolerance.

Treats gingivitis and plaque formation on teeth

Another study published by the platform PubMed concluded that extra virgin coconut oil is a great adjuvant in decreasing plaque formation and plaque-induced gingivitis - making it an ally in daily oral hygiene.

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Treats xerosis (dry, flaky and rough skins)

Dry, flaky, rough and itchy skin is associated with poor functionality in the skin's natural protective barrier - a condition that can even be caused by hot shower water. According to the study published by ScienceDirect, extravirgin coconut oil is a great moisturizer for these cases, has antiseptic effects and is more effective than mineral oils.

Uses

in food

Extra virgin coconut oil is a great culinary ingredient. Cakes, sweets, creams, sauces, mousses, ice cream and even homemade chocolates have a light, healthy and creamy touch when the recipe contains extra virgin coconut oil. This is because - when the ambient temperature is not too high - extra virgin coconut oil has a pasty appearance.

cosmetics

In addition to being a safe body moisturizer (different from conventional cosmetic products - learn more in the article: "Learn about the main substances that should be avoided in cosmetics") and that can be mixed with essential oils and bring benefits to the health of the skin, the Extra virgin coconut oil is a great make-up remover and can have the function of exfoliating the skin - if mixed with coffee grounds. In times of very low or high temperatures, extra virgin coconut oil is also a great lip moisturizer. When mixed with bactericidal essential oils (such as tea tree oil) and sodium bicarbonate, extra virgin coconut oil has the function of deodorizing and at the same time moisturizing the armpits.

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Oral hygiene

As mentioned above, extra virgin coconut oil is an effective adjunct in the treatment of dental plaque and gingivitis caused by plaque. So how about adding it to your daily oral hygiene and still enjoy the smooth coconut flavor?

Controversy

Although the studies mentioned have concluded that extra virgin coconut oil has benefits for the treatment and prevention of the diseases mentioned above, the Brazilian Association of Nutrology (ABRAN) considers that the analyzes carried out so far are controversial and inconclusive and recommends that coconut oil , in general, should not be prescribed for the prevention or treatment of diseases.

ABRAN also states that:

1. When coconut oil is compared to vegetable oils less rich in saturated fatty acid, it increases total cholesterol.
2. Studies that conclude that coconut oil has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and immunomodulatory activities are predominantly experimental, notably in vitro, with no clinical studies demonstrating these effects.
3. To date, there is no clinical evidence that coconut oil can protect or alleviate neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
4. A very small number of studies, with controversial results, have reported the effects of coconut oil on body weight in humans.

Did you like the article about coconut oil? So you might also want to take a look at the article: "Grape seed oil: benefits and how to use it".

But remember: when you run out of extra virgin coconut oil - if you don't reuse the glass jar - dispose of the container correctly. See which collection points are closest to your home.