A little about Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one such kind of oils that could be put to multiple usages. It is procured from the core or the flesh of a ripe coconut. It has been the most prominent source of fat in the daily diets of a lot many people, especially in the tropical states. There are a lot many uses of coconut oil and a very common one is its use in food and betterment of health.
One classification of the many of coconut oils is the Extra Virgin Coconut oil.
It becomes necessary here to create an understanding of what these words mean. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is extraordinary oil which is good not just for adding to the taste of food but also for dieting purposes and providing immunity against infections. It is also very helpful in ensuring proper stimulation of the thyroid gland and in the stimulation of body’s creation of anti aging hormones.
How is Extra Virgin Coconut Oil produced?
- In the process of making the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, freshly ripened coconuts are used. The procedure entails de-shelling and processing of the fresh coconuts.
- The pressing of coconuts would create an impact in the form of emulsion of coconut milk that holds the dampness as well as the oil of coconut.
- After the pressing part the next step in the process of making Coconut Oil is to chill the emulsion. The effect of chilling is that the oil is converted into a solid state so as to ensure that the mixture could be made to undergo rest of the process using centrifugal devices. Using the centrifugal devices helps in the removal of the layer of water enhancing the quality, in turn. The resultant is a creamy, fabulously tasting coconut oil which is also very smooth.
- The amount of heat that is used in the production process of the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is the least when compared to other virgin oils. As a result, this contains healthy saturated fats which prove to be quite helpful in the upkeep of health, in curative uses etc augmented by the most preferred parameter i.e. the taste.
How does the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil help?
There are many benefits of the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. These benefits are not confines to a particular domain but these take care of a lot many issues concerning health, taste, beauty, care of hair. These could be viewed from the varied aspects, it takes care of.
- Healthy Cooking:
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil can be effectively used in cooking without making any changes in the recipe other than the oil, retaining or enhancing the taste of recipes and at the same time making the food even healthier. Taking a more detailed look on the benefit of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil in cooking, the following facets can be viewed.
- Taste enhancement: The taste of food cooked in Extra Virgin Coconut Oil tastes better and lasts longer with the same taste maintained. If unsaturated fats are used, there is a greater chance of food getting rancid than the food cooked in Coconut Oil.
- Rich supply of Antioxidants: The Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a very loaded source of Antioxidants which ensure a healthy living.
- Thyroid Function: The use of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is very helpful in the stimulation of the thyroid hormone. And if this hormone functions properly, it looks after the functioning of many other organs of the body.
- Helps in keeping a check on weight: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil goes a far way in helping in weight loss. Coconut oil helps is keeping a check on weight and losing it easily.
- Protection from Cancer: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil helps in keeping the deadly disease of cancer away. A study done on animals revealed that the animals which were given unsaturated foods, came out with tumors more than the ones that were fed with saturated oil food. The Extra Virgin Coconut Oil carries anti carcinogenic effects.
- Antimicrobial characteristics: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is bestowed with excellent antiviral characteristics. It is full of Medium Chain Fatty acids like caprylic, lauric and capric acids. The Extra Virgin Coconut Oil contains 40-55 percent of lauric acid which has the best antiviral property.
- No adverse effect on circulatory disease or heart: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil consumption was found to produce drastically lesser levels of artery damaging lipoproteins and very high levels of defensive alpha lipoproteins as compared with sunflower oil consumptions when experimented on animals. The effect that the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil carries on the cardiovascular activities.
- No Trans-fats: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil does not contain the very dangerous Trans-fats which are largely present in the unsaturated oils. These fats have a very strong tendency to generate and multiply bad cholesterols in the body leading to blocked arteries, heart problems and pancreatic disorders and therefore, should be avoided.
There are so many other uses of the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. It is very rich in antioxidants and therefore it does wonders for skin. It helps notably in doing away with wrinkles, stretch marks, skin problems like eczema and acne-the most hated common teenager problem. Use of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil also maintains a healthy tract of the intestines. It is of much help in controlling the level of blood sugar which could go up with the consumption of oils with unsaturated fats.
Another advantageous use of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is that it increases the efficiency of the metabolism taking place in the body thereby improvising the digestion process of the body too. The Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a very good source that helps in improvising the absorption of nutrients in the body.
Keeping all things aside, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a perfect ingredient to remove fatigue and avoid its generation. It is a very weighty source of long lasting energy for the body. Yet another advantage of the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is that the food items prepared using this oil have a longer shelf life and continue for long hours. The shelf life of the oil too is very long and helps, thus, in keeping a check on the budget too.
Factors to be kept in mind when choosing Extra Virgin Coconut Oil:
When going out to buy Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, the following parameters should be adhered to make it easier for oneself to make the choice. These parameters include consideration of the below mentioned factors.
1. The oil should be absolutely transparent and clear like glass. It’s a mark of its purity.
2. A property to be present in good Extra Virgin Coconut Oil demands a very light aroma of fresh coconut.
3. The Extra Virgin Coconut Oil must have the taste of a natural coconut.
4. It should be quick at absorption
5. Non-greasy feel. It should not be very sticky or adhesive like.
6. Very slight thickness: The good extra virgin coconut oil is not very thick
In consistency, therefore before choosing the oil it should be noted that the oil is not too solid.
The advantages of the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil are many and know no end. To conclude this could be said that this advantageous oil is highly pure as is made with no refining. This healthy oil is free from additives like chemicals and is made without resorting to bleaching, deodorization, and hydrogenation and without undergoing any heat processing adding to its desirability.