KAlsubai Coconut Oil: An Overview
Coconut oils have been a part of our Indian cuisine and wellness for centuries. However, for a long time some experts have slandered its clean image owing to its saturated fat contents and its effect on the heart that many have steered from it for years. Today, it is now called the new ‘superfood’ of the decade! While it is true that coconut oil do have fats, for many years, people were told that all saturated fats are unhealthy and they couldn’t be more wrong. Turns out, this thin clear sweet smelling oil, when especially cold-pressed in nature, may have extraordinary properties that crush this misinformation.
What is Cold-pressed Coconut Oil?
Cold-pressed coconut oil is extracted from copra or sun-dried coconut kernels and is unrefined in nature but ready for consumption. As it has not been exposed to heat, bleach or chemicals, this natural elixir retains its exotic sweetness and smell as well as its many nutritional benefits. Medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) such as lauric acid, an essential fat that is also found in breastmilk are abundantly found in coconuts. This fatty acid has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that are absorbed well by the small intestine, directly used in the body for energy and do not undergo any degradation.
Cold-pressed coconut oil is clear as water at temperatures above 24 degrees and completely white solid at cooler temperatures. As this variant of coconut oil is unrefined, it has a low smoking point of about 350℉, which is ideal for sautéing and baking. Due to it’s nourishing properties, it is used for treating hair, skin and teeth problems too. Choosing the best quality cold-pressed oil is extremely important as there are blends available in the market and may not be beneficial. In conclusion, even though cold-pressed coconut oil is healthy, anything in moderation is the key to a healthy future.
