Virgin coconut oil is extracted from coconut milk without any heat. This oil is free of hydrogenation, deodorization, and refinement, but retains the taste, flavor, smell, and freshness of the oil.
Compared to the regular coconut oil, virgin coconut oil is gaining popularity worldwide. Since centuries, it has been used in Asian countries for skincare and health.
The significant amount of fatty acids and health-promoting micronutrients make it different from the regular coconut oil. It is the purest available form of coconut oil that possesses a number of health benefits that you may not know.
Continue reading to learn more about the health benefits and what makes it different from the regular coconut oil.
Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil
Virgin coconut oil is rich in vitamins, protein, and antioxidants. Following are some of the benefits you may get from this oil:
1. Virgin Coconut Oil Can Promote Healthy Heart.
Virgin coconut oil contains a high amount of fatty acids and vitamin A, D, E, and K. The oil can increase the level of good cholesterol in the body, that improve heart health.
In a study published in the Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 35 volunteers (both male and female) participated in a clinical trial.
Some of them received virgin coconut oil while others were given a carboxymethylcellulose solution twice daily for eight weeks.
The results show virgin coconut oil intake significantly increased good cholesterol level compared to the control group.
Regular consumption of virgin coconut oil may reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
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2. It May Improve Immune System.
Virgin coconut oil contains a good amount of antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties that help create antibodies and improve your immune system.
Besides, the oil is rich in antioxidant that helps fight free radicals and oxidative toxicity.
Research published in 2018 shows that virgin coconut oil supplementation could reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in rats.
3. Virgin Coconut Oil Aids in Weight Loss.
The medium-chain fatty acids found in virgin coconut oil are mostly used by the body for energy production. It means not much of them are stored as fat which is helpful if you want to lose weight.
According to a study published in the ISRN Pharmacology, virgin coconut oil could safely and effectively reduce weight.
Consuming virgin coconut oil will give you energy while helping you in losing weight.
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4. It May Help in Hypothyroidism.
The visceral fat or active fat level is significantly higher in those with hypothyroidism, which put them in higher health risk.
A similar study for weight loss shows virgin coconut oil could reduce the Visceral Adiposity level.
If you’re suffering from hypothyroidism, you can try virgin coconut oil to reduce some of the symptoms of the disease.
5. Virgin Coconut Oil Can Treat Skin Disease.
Virgin coconut oil is good for your skin both in beautification and wound healing.
The antioxidants, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties of virgin coconut oil help treat any skin-related problem such as eczema, psoriasis, etc.
A study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine confirms the anti-inflammatory and skin-protective activities of virgin coconut oil.
Starting from wound healing to reducing stretch marks, virgin coconut oil can be used for many purposes.
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6. It Can Promote Healthy Hair.
The fatty acids in virgin coconut oil help improve hair quality, making it shiny and strong.
According to an animal study published in the Journal of Medical Primatology, fatty acids could improve hair coat condition and reduce hair loss in rhesus macaques, a popular species of old world monkeys.
You can massage your scalp with virgin coconut oil to strengthen your hair follicles and promote hair growth.
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7. It May Help Your Digestive System.
Virgin coconut oil is claimed to treat digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome.
As the oil is edible, you can add it into your regular diet in the proper dosage.
Regular & Virgin Coconut Oil: What is The Difference?
There are some features that make these two oils different from each other, including:
Extraction Method
The method of extraction is the most important difference between these two versions of coconut oil.
Regular coconut oil is derived through the compression of copra or dried coconut kernels with a moisture content of around 6%.
On the other hand, virgin coconut oil comes from the coconut oil obtained from fresh coconut. Unlike the regular one, virgin coconut oil doesn’t require any heat or sunlight to be produced.
Appearance
The regular and virgin coconut oil look slightly different from each other, which is difficult to find in naked eyes.
Virgin coconut oil may have certain colloidal, some particles, and moisture within it. On the other hand, regular coconut oil is refined and only has fatty acids in it.
Nutrition
Virgin coconut oil originates from fresh coconut. So, it contains a number of nutrients such as vitamin E and minerals. These nutrients are otherwise robbed from the regular coconut oil during heating, filtration, refining, and bleaching.
Besides, virgin coconut oil contains more antioxidants compared to the regular one.
Price
Due to the extraction method, virgin coconut oil is healthier, which makes it a bit pricier than its regular counterpart.
Some unethical seller may try to sell the regular coconut oil in the place of virgin coconut oil. Make sure you purchase the oil from a reputed seller.
Conclusion
Virgin coconut oil is extremely healthy and safe that you can use on a regular basis.
You may often get to hear about the extra virgin coconut oil, which is basically the virgin coconut oil with an “extra” word.
Although a bit pricey, this virgin coconut oil will provide you with more benefits for both your health and beautification.
However, virgin coconut oil does not go rancid easily and has a longer shelf life than any other edible oil that makes it worth spending money on this oil.
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