What Is Coconut Oil?

Once thought to be extremely unhealthy, coconut oil is proving itself as not only being the healthiest of all the cooking oils, but also an all around excellent health benefit for both the inside and the outside of the body. Coconut oil is jammed packed with healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and acids, and helps to promote good health. Coconut oil is incredibly versatile, a superb cooking oil, delicious in baking and cooking, an amazing skin care product and hair conditioner, and a fantastic daily health supplement.

Coconut oil is made from the meat of mature coconuts. It is completely edible and has been a common staple for hundreds of years in areas south of the equator where coconut palms commonly grow. Coconut oil is packed full of healthy nutrients and has not only been used in cooking, but also in medicine and beauty products. Coconut oil is one of the best oils to use in cooking, as it is very heat stable and is one of the healthiest cooking oils available. Coconut oil also has a longer shelf life than many of the other types of cooking oils, easily lasting two or more years.

Is Coconut Oil Good For You?

Is coconut oil healthy? It definitely is! At one time, coconut oil was thought to be unhealthy, but science has proven that it is not just healthy, it is far healthier than the commonly used cooking oils like olive oil, peanut oil or vegetable oil. Coconut oil is packed full of health benefits and is by far the healthiest choice of all the cooking oils. It helps to promote a healthy heart and cholesterol levels, helps to increase metabolism promoting weight loss, and helps to boost immunity levels. Coconut oil also helps to fight HIV, cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure, and it helps to increase bone strength as well. It helps to soothe dry or irritated skin, fight acne and other skin conditions, and helps skin stay younger and healthier looking. In addition, it can be used on hair as a deep conditioner to help heal dry broken ends and overworked hair. Keep in mind that the health benefits of coconut oil are far higher in virgin non-hydrogenated coconut oil than in hydrogenated coconut oil, as hydrogenated coconut oil has had a large amount of its healthy properties processed out.

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Why Is Coconut Oil Good For You?

Coconut oil is good for you due to its antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Coconut oil has all these great properties due to the lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid it contains. It also contains healthy medium chain fatty acids, iron, vitamin K, vitamin E and other important vitamins and minerals. The biggest reason coconut oil is good for you, is the lauric acid it contains. Coconut oil has the highest amount of lauric acid next to mother’s milk. Lauric acid is an amazing immunity booster, and disease and infection fighter.

What Can Coconut Oil Be Used For?

Coconut oil can be used for a variety of purposes. It makes excellent cooking oil, and is the only cooking oil that is healthy to use at high temperatures. It is a superb substitute for butter, margarine and shortening in baking and cooking. It also makes a great make up remover, shaving lotion, skin moisturizer and hair conditioner. In addition, coconut oil makes an excellent health supplement that can be taken daily to boost immunity, combat disease and assist in weight loss.

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How Much Coconut Oil Should I Take?

You might be asking, how much coconut oil should I take daily? Coconut oil can be taken daily. Most physicians recommend taking 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil daily to benefit from its nutrients and health benefits.

Coconut Oil Reviews By Use

There are many different types and brands of coconut oil. Some are better suited than others for certain things, and some are healthier choices than others are. Coconut oil is available in several different types: virgin, organic, pure, fractionated and cold pressed. There are also coconut oils that have been made for a specific purpose such as hair, skin, cooking, weight loss and for dogs. By reviewing popular brands of coconut oil, we are able to find the best brands and types depending on your specific needs.

#1 Best Overall

Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

According to our research, Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is the best overall coconut oil. It is USDA certified 100% organic, trans-fat and cholesterol free, and non-hydrogenated. This particular oil contains around 50% lauric acid; lauric acid helps to promote a healthy immunity system, helps to increase metabolism and promotes weight loss. Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is the best overall coconut oil as its great for almost everything; it is an excellent cooking oil, a superb butter and shortening substitute, a fantastic skin care product and hair care product, and an excellent daily health supplement. It is available in a convenient two 54-ounce container pack.

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#1 Best For Hair

Dabur Vatika Coconut Hair Oil

Dabur Vatika Coconut Hair Oil was found to be the best coconut hair oil product on the market. Not only does this particular oil contain all the health benefits of coconut oil but it is also enriched with lemon, henna, Alma and several other healthy natural herbs. Dabur Vatika Coconut Hair Oil penetrates deep to the hair’s roots, giving it complete nourishment from scalp to tip. It helps to restore and keep hair's natural radiance and luxuriance. This oil is available in a convenient pack of two 300 ml bottles.

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#1 Best For Skin

NOW Foods Pure Coconut Oil

If you are looking for the best coconut oil skin care products, then NOW Foods, Coconut Oil Pure is for you. It is a 100% natural coconut oil and contains no preservatives, chemicals or artificial colors. NOW Foods, Coconut Oil Pure is perfect for all skin types and helps promote healthy soft younger looking skin. This oil is available in a convenient 7 oz two pack (Multi-pack).

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#1 Best For Weight Loss

Nature's Way Organic Coconut Oil

Nature’s Way Organic Coconut Oil is pure extra virgin coconut oil that is 100% certified organic and an excellent source of energy.  It is cold pressed, non-GMO, Hexane-free and unrefined. It has no Trans fat or hydrogenated fat. It contains 64% medium chain good fats that help the body produce more energy. Nature’s Way Organic Coconut Oil makes a great health supplement, and with a good diet and regular exercise helps to promote weight loss. This oil is available in a 32-ounce container.

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#1 Best For Cooking

Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil was found to be the best coconut oil for cooking. It is 100% certified organic, non-GMO, cold pressed, unrefined and packed full of lauric acid and other healthy nutrients. Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is excellent for cooking as it has a light sweet enjoyable flavor, makes an excellent healthy substitute for butter, shortening and margarine, and is great for both baking and cooking. Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a superb oil for use at high temperatures, as it is extremely stable, does not burn easily, and does not produce harmful chemicals that many other cooking oils do when heated up to high temperatures. This oil is available in a convenient two 54-ounce container pack.

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#1 Best For Dogs

CocoTherapy Pet Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

People are not the only ones who can profit from the exceptional health benefits of coconut oil - dogs can too. CocoTherapy Pet Organic Virgin Coconut Oil comes in an 8 ounce container and is packed full of great healthy nutrients, lauric acid and vitamins. CocoTherapy This oil is 100% natural and pure, and is so delicious dogs will happily eat it straight - no need to hide it in their food like many other types of health supplements.

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#1 Best For Oil Pulling

Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Oil pulling is the process of using oils such as coconut oil, olive oil and other similar oils, to pull toxins out of the body. Oil pulling is a very simple procedure; a couple of tablespoons of oil is swished around in the mouth for 15-20 minutes which draws the toxins from the body and helps clean the teeth and mouth; the oil is then spit out. Due to its numerous health benefits coconut oil is the best oil to use for oil pulling. Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is our choice for oil pulling. It is 100% organic, unrefined, cold pressed and full of great healthy fatty acids, lauric acid and nutrients, and vitamins. Oil pulling with Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil can help remove toxins from the body, can help stop teeth decay and leaves the mouth fresh and clean.

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Coconut Oil Reviews By Type

#1 Best Virgin Coconut Oil

Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Generally, virgin coconut oil means that only fresh coconuts were used for it and no chemicals or high heat were used in its making. Virgin coconut oil contains more vitamins and nutrients than normal coconut oil does; however, it is more expensive. Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is one of the very best virgin coconut oils on the market. It is also 100% organic, cold pressed and unrefined. This oil is excellent for baking and cooking, good skin and hair health, and as a daily health supplement.

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#1 Best Organic Coconut Oil

Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Organic coconut oil is a healthier choice than non-organic coconut oil is because it does not contain any pesticide residue or unhealthy chemicals. One of the best organic coconut oils is Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. It is USDA certified 100% organic, unrefined, cold pressed, and is high in antioxidants and lauric acid. Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil makes an excellent daily health supplement, is great for cooking and baking, and can be used as a skin lotion and hair conditioner. This oil comes in an environmentally friendly 16-ounce glass jar.

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#1 Best Pure Coconut Oil

Dr Bronner's Fresh-pressed Virgin Coconut Oil

One of the best pure coconut oils on the market is Dr. Bronner’s Fresh-pressed Virgin Coconut Oil White Kernel Unrefined. It is made from fresh coconut kernel and has a slightly nuttier flavor than normal coconut oil does. Dr. Bronner’s Fresh-pressed Virgin Coconut Oil is unrefined, and is high in lauric acid and healthy fatty acids. This oil is excellent for cooking and baking, and makes a superb skin lotion and hair conditioner. It also makes an excellent daily health supplement. The oil comes in an environmentally friendly 14-ounce glass jar.

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#1 Best Fractionated Coconut Oil

Fractionated Coconut Oil 7 lb/ One Gallon

Fractionated coconut oil is saturated oil. It is made by removing almost all of the unhealthy fatty acids from the oil, leaving only the healthy fatty acids behind, which in turns increases the concentration of Caprylic acid and Capric acid that it contains, making it higher in anti-oxidants.  Fractionated coconut oil has a very long shelf life, much longer than normal coconut oil does, and is more stable than normal coconut oil is. Fractionated coconut oil is generally more expensive than normal coconut oil is; however, it can be purchased in a convenient one-gallon jug. This oil is commonly used in the making of soaps, lotions, hair conditioners and cosmetics. It is also used as massage oil, and is excellent for helping with acne, eczema, chapped lips, diaper rash, dry skin and psoriasis. It can also be used for cooking.

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#1 Best Refined Coconut Oil

Tropical Traditions Organic Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil

Refined coconut oil generally has less flavor and smell than unrefined coconut oil does. Refined coconut oil also can withstand higher cooking temperatures than unrefined oil can. However, refined coconut oil does not contain as much health benefits as unrefined oil does. Refined coconut oil does still contain some good fatty acids, and other nutrients and vitamins; however, the amount is less than in unrefined coconut oil, and varies depending on how the coconut oil is refined. Coconut oil that is refined using a chemical distillation is not half as healthy as coconut oil that is refined using natural distillation like steam. Oil refined using chemicals, often contains bad fatty acids that are bad for a person’s health. One of the very best refined coconut oils on the market is Tropical Traditions Organic Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil. It is refined naturally with steam so it still contains all the great health benefits that unrefined coconut oil contains, but it does not have the coconut flavor so it is better for cooking. Tropical Traditions Organic Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil is less expensive than the average organic unrefined virgin coconut oil. It comes in a convenient 1-gallon plastic tub.

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#1 Best Cold Pressed Coconut Oil

Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

When a coconut oil is cold pressed, it means that it had the minimal amount of processing possible, and that it still contains most of its natural nutrients and vitamins. Generally, cold pressed coconut oil is a superior oil. Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is one of the very best types of cold pressed coconut oil available. It is 100% organic, is GMO free, trans-fat and cholesterol free, and is non-hydrogenated. Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is made from fresh coconuts and cold pressed to ensure it contains the very best the coconut has to offer. It is excellent as a daily health supplement, for cooking and baking, and as a skin and hair care product.

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Coconut Oil Brands

There are a multitude of different brands of coconut oil. Not all coconut oil is created equally - some brands of coconut oil have more health benefits than others due to the way they are processed and the quality of coconuts they use. Some brands are more expensive than others, and some are better suited for certain things than others are. Some brands of coconut oil are made for a specific purpose, while others are made as all-purpose oil.

Unless you are buying coconut oil for a very specific purpose, it is usually easiest and most cost efficient to buy a high quality all-purpose brand of coconut oil like Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut oil, Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil or Dr. Bronner’s Fresh-pressed Virgin Coconut Oil. If you are simply looking for coconut oil just for cooking, and do not enjoy coconut flavoring, a refined coconut oil like Tropical Traditions Organic Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil is perfect. For pet owners, wanting to share the great health benefits of coconut oil with their pets, coconut oil brands like CocoTherapy are fantastic. Those wanting coconut oil for just skin care or hair care should check out great brands like Dabur and NOW Foods. Coconut oil is also great for weight loss; Nature’s Way Organic Coconut Oil is a great brand of coconut oil to help increase metabolism and help with weight loss. For those wanting to make their own soaps, massage oils and shampoos, fractionated coconut oil is perfect. There are so many great uses for coconut oil, and so many different fantastic brands, it can be hard to choose the best one for you. By researching the different brands and how each one is made, we are able to find the perfect option depending on use and application.

Our Reviews Of Coconut Oil Products From Other Popular Brands