Facts on coconut oil?

Coconut oil, also known as coconut butter, is a fat consisting of over 90 percent saturated fat extracted from coconuts and used in cosmetics and in baking as a cooking oil. Coconut oil provides seven percent of the total export income of the Philippines, the world's largest exporter of the product. Hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated coconut oil is often used in non-dairy creamers, and snack foods.





Physical properties


Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, a medium chain saturated fatty acid. Virgin coconut oil melts at 20-25掳C. It is among the most stable of all vegetable oils, has a high smoke point - higher than butter - and is resistant to light oxidation and rancidity


Health effects


Coconut oil is considered by some to be a very healthy oil. Consumption of virgin coconut oil (unhydrogenated) is claimed to cause increased metabolism and an improved immune system, compared to diets rich in other polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as sunflower or canola oils.





Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, which is commonly held to promote cardiovascular and heart disease as well as diabetes. However, populations consuming large quantities of coconut oil, eg Sri Lanka, Kerala and the Philippines, have far lower rates of heart disease than Westerners eating polyunsaturated oils. Like other oils, when (partially) hydrogenated it forms trans fats, which have been associated with heart disease. Coconut Oil is made up of Medium Chain Fatty Acids, like those found in breast milk, making them very different to other fats which are predominately Long Chain Fatty Acids.





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Other uses


Coconut oil has also been tested for use as a biodiesel engine fuel, though the high melting point makes its use difficult.





In India, coconut oil is used as an oil for styling hair.





It is also excellent as a skin moisturizer. A study shows that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective and safe as mineral oil when used as a moisturizer, with absence of adverse reactions.[1]





Some people have reported improvements in skin conditions such as eczema when using coconut oil.[citation needed]





It has been suggested that virgin coconut oil may have a potential as an anti-viral agent. In the first clinical trial involving HIV patients, treatment with coconut oil for 8 months resulted in reduced viral load in 8 patients, and favorable increase in CD4/CD8 counts in 5 patients. [2]Facts on coconut oil?
Just a note - Coconut oil and coconut butter are different. Coconut oil is just oil pressed from the coconut. Cocunut butter acutally includes coconut pulp, so is very different in taste and texture. You can easily cook with coconut oil. Coconut butter is better raw or for baking only. Report Abuse
Facts on coconut oil?
http://www.mercola.com/2001/mar/24/cocon鈥?/a>