Coconut oil

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Coconut oil, also known as coconut butter, is a tropical oil extracted from copra (the dried inner flesh of coconuts) with many applications. Coconut oil constitutes seven percent of the total export income of the Philippines, the world's largest exporter of the product.

Coconut oil was developed as a commercial product by merchants in the South Seas and South Asia in the 1860s.

Contents

[edit] Physical properties

Coconut oil is a fat consisting of about 90% saturated fat. The oil contains predominantly medium chain triglycerides, [1] with 86.5% saturated fatty acids, 5.8% monounsaturated fatty acids, and 1.8% polyunsaturated fatty acids. Of the saturated fatty acids, coconut oil is primarily 44.6% lauric acid, 16.8% myristic acid and 8.2% palmitic acid, although it contains seven different saturated fatty acids in total. Its only monounsaturated fatty acid is oleic acid while its only polyunsaturated fatty acid is linoleic acid.[2]

Unrefined coconut oil melts at 20-25 °C and smokes at 170 °C (350 °F).[3], while refined coconut oil has a higher smoke point of 232 °C (450 °F).

Coconut oil has a long shelf life compared to other oils, lasting up to two years due to its resilience to high temperatures. Coconut oil is best stored in solid form - i.e. at temperatures lower than 24.5 °C (76°F) in order to extend shelf life. However, unlike most oils, coconut oil will not be damaged by warmer temperatures.

[edit] Chemical properties

Among the most stable of all oils, coconut oil is slow to oxidize and thus resistant to rancidity.

[edit] Types of oil available

[edit] Unrefined coconut oil

Otherwise known as "Virgin" (or sometimes "Extra Virgin") coconut oil, this is coconut oil that is derived from fresh coconuts, not copra, and has not undergone the RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) process that refined coconut oil derived from copra goes through.

Almost all of the "unrefined" coconut oils on the market being marketed as "Virgin" are produced one of two ways:

1. Quick drying of fresh coconut meat which is then used to press out the oil. Using this method, the coconut meat is quick dried, and the oil is then pressed out via mechanical means.

2. Wet-milling. With this method the oil is extracted from fresh coconut meat without drying first. "Coconut milk" is expressed first by pressing. The oil is then further separated from the water. Methods which can be used to separate the oil from the water include boiling, fermentation, refrigeration, enzymes and mechanical centrifuge. [4]

Unlike olive oil, there is no world or governing body that sets a standard definition or set of guidelines to classify coconut oil as "virgin." Unrefined coconut oil made from fresh coconuts retains the scent and taste of coconut oil, unlike refined coconut oil which has been steam deodorized.

[edit] Refined oil

Refined coconut oil is referred to in the coconut industry as RBD (refined, bleached, and deodorized) coconut oil. The starting point is "copra", the dried coconut meat. Copra can be made by smoke drying, sun drying, or kiln drying. The unrefined coconut oil extracted from copra (called "crude coconut oil") is not suitable for consumption and must be refined. [5]

[edit] Hydrogenated oil

Hydrogenated coconut oil may either be fully or partially hydrogenated. This happens mostly in tropical climates, since the natural melting point of coconut oil is about 76 degrees F, and already naturally a solid in most colder climates.

[edit] Fractionated oil

Fractionated coconut oil" is a fraction of the whole oil, in which most of the long-chain triglycerides are removed so that only saturated fats remain. It may also referred to as "caprylic/capric triglyceride" or MCT oil because mostly the medium-chain triglycerides caprylic and capric acid) are left in the oil.

Because it is completely saturated, fractionated oil is even more heat stable than other forms of coconut oil and has a nearly indefinite shelf life.

[edit] Effects on health

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Please see the discussion on the talk page.

During the 1980s, the American Heart Association issued statements indicating that coconut oil's high saturated fat content was detrimental to cardiovascular health and promoted heart disease [6] [7]. The American Soybean Association in the 1980s also claimed that coconut oil is a saturated fat and can cause heart attacks[8].

A research study at the Heart Research Institute in Sydney, Australia used coconut oil and safflower oil (high in polyunsaturated fat) in two otherwise identical meals for the study's participants [9]. The study found the following: "...three hours after eating the coconut oil meal, the lining of the arteries was hindered from expanding to increase blood flow. After six hours, the anti-inflammatory qualities of the good cholesterol were reduced" and "...the safflower oil meal seemed to improve those anti-inflammatory qualities. Also, fewer inflammatory agents were found in the arteries than before the meal."

Epidemiological studies of tropical cultures that get a majority of their caloric intake from coconut oil shows a different result. The most popular study was conducted in the early 1980s on the Polynesian islands of Pukapuka and Tokelau - two cultures relatively untouched by western food (like carrot cake and milk shakes) at the time. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutriion in 1981. Both cultures had and extremely high intake of saturated fat, with one of the island's population consuming a whopping 63% of their caloric intake from coconut. The people were found to be very healthy, and the authors of the study concluded: "Vascular disease is uncommon in both populations and there is no evidence of the high saturated fat intake having a harmful effect in these populations." [10]

Another study [1] by coconut oil advocates suggested that coconut oil reduces LDL and improves HDL.

A study done by the Lazaro Hospital showed that coconut oil reduced the viral load on HIV patients. 15 participants were involved in the study and 7 of them showed substantial improvement after consuming coconut oil daily for six months. [2] Participants in the study who consumed more coconut oil lowered their viral loads quicker than those who consumed less coconut oil. Furthermore, there have been instances where people have consumed as much as 1 cup of coconut oil a day and have lowered their viral loads to undetectable amounts.[3]

Whereas consumption of most fats typically results in storage in the human body (as fat tissue), the fatty acids in coconut oil are broken down and are used primarily for energy production, seldom being stored as fat tissue[11] [12]. It has been discovered that these fatty acids do not have a negative effect on blood cholesterol; in fact, they help protect against heart disease.[13]

[edit] Applications

[edit] Cooking

Coconut oil is commonly used in cooking, especially when frying, and it has a high smoke point temperature which makes it good for this purpose. In communities where coconut oil is widely used in cooking, the refined oil is the one most commonly used.

Coconut oil is often used in making a curry.

In Malaysia, coconut oil is used for making Nasi Lemak.

[edit] Manufacturing

Coconut oil is used in volume quantities for making margarine, soap and cosmetics.

Hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated coconut oil is often used in non-dairy creamers, and snack foods.

Fractionated coconut oil is also used in the manufacture of essences, massage oils and cosmetics

[edit] Cosmetics and skin treatments

Coconut oil is excellent as a skin moisturiser. A study shows that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective and safe as mineral oil when used as a moisturiser, with absence of adverse reactions [14].

Coconut oil can also help in healing Keratosis pilaris by moisturising the affected area. The coconut oil should be applied in the shower, and may cause the KP bumps to disappear.

In India and Sri Lanka, coconut oil is commonly used for styling hair, and cooling or soothing the head (stress relief). People of coastal districts of Karnataka and Kerala bathe in warm water after applying coconut oil all over the body and leaving it as is for an hour. It is suggested by elders that this ritual must be done at least once in a week, to keep body, skin, and hair healthy.

[edit] As a fuel

[edit] Traditional use

Coconut oil is used in oil lamps.

[edit] In diesel engines

[15] [16] Coconut oil has been tested for use as a feedstock for biodiesel to be used as a diesel engine fuel. In this manner it can be applied to power generation and transport using diesel engines.

Coconut oil is blended to make biodiesel but can also be used straight, without blending. However, only blends with 10% or less of coconut oil can be safely used in unmodified engines. The oil needs to meet the Weihenstephan standard [17] for pure vegetable oil used as a fuel since otherwise moderate to severe damage from coking and clogging will occur in an unmodified engine . Stationary engines that are continuously loaded (>70%) may possibly be used without engine modifications but there is divergent opinion about this.

The physical constraints of using raw coconut oil in a diesel engine are formed by:

  • higher viscosity of coconut oil (up to 10 times as high as diesel), leading to altered spray pattern of injected fuel, additional stress on injection pump
  • minimum combustion chamber temperature of 500 °C to avoid polymerisation of the fuel, leading to clogged injectors, sticking piston rings and lubrication oil deterioration
  • solidification point between 22-25 °C requires an additional fuel tank heater in temperate climates.

Raw coconut oil can be used as a fuel for generating electricity by remote communities that have an abundant supply of coconuts and milling capacity, provided diesel engines are adapted.

Coconut oil is currently used as a fuel for transport and electricity generation in the Philippines[citation needed] and India[citation needed] while research is being carried out in the islands of the Pacific [18]. In the 1990s Bougainville conflict, islanders cut off from supplies due to a blockade used it to fuel their vehicles.[19]

[edit] Availability to consumers

While coconut oil is widely available in some countries, it can be hard to find in others. In the UK it is not generally available in big supermarkets, but can be easily obtained from smaller convenience stores at very cheap prices (from £1 to £2 for 500ml). Some people are unaware of this and resort to buying it online or from health food shops, which generally charge a lot more (from £5 to £20 for 500ml). Some sellers explain their prices by saying that their product is not refined (eg. "extra virgin"). However, as saturated fats do not contain any double bonds, they are highly heat stable, and as coconut oil is about 90% saturated fat, the quality of the oil itself is not affected very much by the processing. Interestingly enough, some sellers even advertise their product as being both "made without heat processing" and as being heat stable. The main difference between these two oils is the amount of extra nutrients that may remain in the unrefined oil, and the taste which in the refined oil is nearly non-existent.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c208C.html
  2. ^ Nutrient analysis of coconut oil - USDA
  3. ^ Cooking For Engineers - Kitchen Notes: Smoke Points of Various Fats
  4. ^ http://www.coconutoil.com/coconut_oil_production.htm
  5. ^ http://www.coconutoil.com/coconut_oil_production.htm
  6. ^ http://www.newstarget.com/001587.html
  7. ^ http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/28/coconut_health.htm
  8. ^ The Coconut Oil Miracle, Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D, p 9 (2004)
  9. ^ Nicholls SJ, Lundman P, Harmer JA, Cutri B, Griffiths KA, et al, Consumption of Saturated Fat Impairs the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of High-Density Lipoproteins and Endothelial FunctionJ Am Coll Cardiol, 2006; 48:715-720, doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2006.04.080 (Published online 21 July 2006).
  10. ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7270479&dopt=Abstract
  11. ^ The Coconut Oil Miracle, Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D. (2004)
  12. ^ http://www.newstarget.com/009701.html/ Hypothyroidism and Virgin Coconut Oil (press release)
  13. ^ Dr. D. P. Athukorale, South Asia Research Institute for Policy and Development, "Coconut Oil: Latest Weapon Against Heart Disease", November 29, 2004
  14. ^ Agero AL, Verallo-Rowell VM A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis Dermatitis 2004 Sep;15(3):109-16
  15. ^ Straight vegetable oil as diesel fuel
  16. ^ Vegetable oil used as fuel
  17. ^ Weihenstephan vegetable oil fuel standard (German Rapeseed Fuel Standard)
  18. ^ Coconut Oil for Power Generation by EPC in Samoa - Jan Cloin
  19. ^ The coconut revolution - a documentary film.

These were probably referenced in the text at one time but no longer are:

[edit] See also

  • Coconut
  • Copha, a vegetable shortening which is popular in Australia made of coconut oil.

[edit] External links

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v • d • e
Edible fats and oils
Fats Butter • Cocoa butter • Ghee • Lard • Margarine • Salo • Schmaltz • Shea butter • Suet • Tallow • Vegetable shortening
Oils Almond oil • Canola oil • Coconut oil • Corn oil • Cottonseed oil • Grape seed oil • Olive oil • Palm oil • Peanut oil • Pumpkin seed oil • Rapeseed oil • Safflower oil • Sesame oil • Soybean oil • Sunflower oil • Walnut oil
See also: List of vegetable oils
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