What is coconut oil. How and from what is coconut oil made?

Coconut oil can be called a universal product, since it is used in many areas - cosmetology, cooking, medicine, and even in the household: it is used to polish wooden furniture. The product is extracted from coconuts, or rather from their pulp, which is called copra. Like most oils, coconut oil is produced in two ways - hot or cold pressing.

Oil made by hot pressing partially loses useful components. The product produced by cold pressing is considered the most valuable, since it retains almost all the beneficial substances from the coconut. This method is used less frequently than the first, since it allows you to extract only 10% of the total oil present in the pulp of the nut. Such oil is more valuable and more expensive than that obtained by hot pressing.

Coconut oil stored at room temperature and below has an unusual appearance for vegetable oils. It may be in the form of a thick, whitish-cream liquid or small, hard, soap-like pieces. Liquid and transparent oil becomes when heated to 26 degrees and above.

Composition of coconut oil

The main component of coconut oil are polyunsaturated fatty acids, recognized by scientists as vital to humans. Since they are not synthesized by the body, they can only be obtained from the outside. Coconut oil is one of the best sources of these substances. It contains fatty acids:

• myristic;
• lauric;
• oleic;
• palmitoic;
• caprylic;
• linolenic;
• arachidonic;
• stearic;
• capric.

In addition, the product boasts calcium, phosphorus, as well as vitamins A, C and E, which are valuable substances that preserve beauty and youth.

Types of coconut oil

There are two types of coconut oil - non-food And food. The latter can be found in stores. It is intended for culinary purposes. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that when heated, it does not emit carcinogens. They can replace the usual sunflower oil, and then the dishes will acquire an exquisite taste. It is suitable for baking, sweet and vegetable dishes, seafood, salad dressings and adding to cereals and drinks.

Manufacturers use the product as a food additive for the production of margarine and cake toppings.

The unique combination of fatty acids gives the product medicinal properties. Metabolized in a special way, they have a positive effect on the brain and improve the condition of people suffering from epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. Substances in the product increase the level of "good" cholesterol and lower the level of "bad", and this also reduces the likelihood of developing vascular and heart diseases. Coconut oil improves immunity, and with regular use reduces the likelihood of cancer and restores thyroid function.

The benefits of coconut oil also lie in its ability to help in the treatment of many skin diseases. It has antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This allows it to be used to combat fungal infections of the skin, hair and nails, with dermatophytosis and mycosis.

It is also able to rid the oil of diseases caused by Candida fungus, dermatitis and eczema. It can also be used as an aid in the treatment of lichen, even ringworm.

For hair care, the product can be used without additional components. If you rub a little oil into curly hair, it will make it easier to style. To improve the condition of the curls, it is enough to apply the oil on the strands and scalp for 30 minutes, and then rinse using a regular shampoo. Rub the warm remedy with light massage movements.

Coconut oil is useful for the ends of the hair: regular use will relieve the section. You can make masks:

• Oily. The product is combined with other oils: mustard, castor, peach and burdock. To prepare the mask, combine three different types of oils in a teaspoon, and then heat them in the microwave or in a water bath.
• Firming. Combine 0.5 tablespoons of glycerin with 40 grams of oil, yolk and 10 milliliters of wine vinegar.
• Nutrients. In a bowl, mash a banana and place 1.5 tablespoons of cream or sour cream and 40 grams of butter in it.

Coconut oil is not easy to get out of your hair. To make the task easier, do not apply it to the strands in large quantities, and also use it with less fatty oils or warmed sour-milk products.

Coconut oil for face

The product is ideal for dry skin. The oil nourishes, eliminates inflammation, softens, moisturizes and restores the skin, and also prevents the occurrence of cracks, peeling and irritation. It is also useful for other skin types. For example, a remedy for problematic skin will help eliminate acne and speed up the healing of wounds after them.

The remedy is struggling with another age-related problem - pigmentation. To reduce its intensity, you need to lubricate problem areas.

Coconut oil for skin can also be used as a sunscreen. It will help to avoid burns, protect from ultraviolet radiation and provide an even tan. It will make a good cleanser that cleanses the skin and easily removes makeup. It is also a good protective agent, improves blood circulation and helps to remove toxins.

For skin and hair care. The perfect product. And yet… just as not all yogurts are the same, not every coconut oil has the same characteristics. Let's understand the types of coconut oil before the savvy producers start to fool us.

To begin with, a small educational program - oils are obtained in several ways:

Expeller-pressed

Means that the oil was obtained by direct pressing of stones, seeds, fruits, legumes or grains. The oil may have been extracted using high pressure, but in any case, no solvents were used in the process.

cold-pressed

The oil was obtained by the previously described method, but everything happened at a temperature below 50 degrees.

heat extraction

Means that when receiving oil, the raw material was heated. This method increases the yield of a useful component.

Chemical extraction

It involves the use of chemicals, solvents in the process of obtaining oil. For example, hexane, which simplifies the process of extracting oil from raw materials.

Unrefined virgin coconut oil

An ideal product containing all the benefits of coconut oil. It is obtained from the pulp of coconuts pressed at low temperatures (up to 48 degrees Celsius). It is this oil that is recommended for food and cosmetic purposes. It is ideal for use raw. It can also be fried and used for baking (the smoke point, that is, the temperature above which the oil begins to form carcinogens, is 177 degrees Celsius).

If such an oil bears the international “organic” mark (not a fake, like on the Russian plagiarism of the Nutiva brand, but a real one, provided with a certificate), then this is the best version of coconut oil, better than which only bounty heavenly delight can be. Such oil necessarily has a delicately sweet coconut aroma, which means that dishes cooked with it will also smell a little bit of coconut. LookBio talked about organic coconut oils available in Russia,.

Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil

Like unrefined virgin coconut oil, this oil is obtained from the pulp of coconuts. However, the technology used is different - screw press machines. With this extraction, the raw material is heated up to 90-100 degrees Celsius, which provides a greater yield of oil. Therefore, the oil obtained by pressing is cheaper than the oil of the first cold pressing. Also, this oil has slightly fewer useful micronutrients, but it is slightly more resistant to heat (smoke point - 182 degrees). Pressed coconut oil has a more neutral taste. It already has less of the sweet aroma of coconut, but a light nutty flavor is added. Such oil is still a healthy product. It is ideal for cooking: for frying and use in the oven.

Expeller Pressed Refined Coconut Oil

The same as the previous version, only the oil is refined. Still a healthy product, ideal for roasting and frying as it has almost no taste. However, you need to be careful with this option. To be sure that the oil is obtained by pressing, it is safer to choose the organic version (there are many such oils on iHerb).

Refined coconut oil of unknown origin

Inexpensive refined coconut oil has already appeared in Russia and, as a rule, in this case, the oil production method is not indicated on the packaging. On the product under the Delicato brand (150 rubles per 450 g), which we found in HyperGlobus, it is indicated in small print that the oil is “refined bleached deodorized”. The last two words mean that this oil is obtained by extraction with hexane (or gasoline - this is also possible). Next, the oil is bleached using special clays and distilled for deodorization, which should remove all unpleasant odors.

As a rule, cheap refined coconut oil is not obtained from the flesh of the coconut, but from what is left after the cold pressing of the coconut. Or from coconut shells, which are usually dried on the street, in the sun, and then driven into extraction. Yes, the shells also give oil, but in this case we are talking about a completely different product, which in its composition is far from unrefined virgin coconut oil. It is also important that the extraction process takes place at very high temperatures (about 200 degrees), which impoverishes the initial micronutrient composition of the raw material. Such oil does withstand high temperatures, so it is recommended by the manufacturer for frying, however, experts in healthy nutrition (in particular, a nutraceutical specialist, a specialist in holistic medicine and our

I bought a coconut, I managed to "cut" it myself - I split it quite easily, after draining the milk you need to beat with the blunt side of the knife, it's better not in the middle, but about 1/3 of the distance between the tops ... I found an article on how to get coconut oil at home ...

To begin with, information - why, in fact, do you need oil? For example, I use it for cosmetic purposes. The properties of coconut oil are such that when massaged, it makes the skin velvety in seconds, forms a protective film on the surface and smoothes the skin. Due to the complete absorption of the oil, the skin becomes tender and soft, small wrinkles disappear. In addition, the oil protects well from the harmful effects of the environment and, importantly, is suitable for all skin types and does not pollute the pores.

I once read that Polynesian women have always been famous for their beautiful tans and glowing skin. The secret of their attractiveness turned out to be simple: they anointed their bodies with coconut oil. By the way, it is suitable for mixing with ready-made sunscreens, milk, but you can use it in its pure form as sun protection. Yes, and the famous Cleopatra bath, after all, consists of donkey milk and ... coconut oil!

I mainly use oil for hair care. American scientists have also found that coconut oil reduces the loss of protein from the hair while washing it with shampoo. The oil evenly spreads over the hairline, preventing the penetration of any byaki from the shampoo into it. The oil layer also protects the hair during toweling and brushing. You can apply oil after washing your hair - but not on the roots!

Arguments, I think, are enough - let's go for a coconut! In production, oil is obtained from dried walnut shells. We will not dry anything, we will do it differently.

It is important to choose a fresh nut; dry stale homemade butter will not work. To do this, you need to take a good look at the nut - the villi should not be very broken, we choose the lightest of all coconuts. Now we shake it: does milk flounder inside? Super is it!

At home, you need to pierce with a screwdriver (or something else sharp) two of the three little black recesses on the nut. This is the place where he was attached to the palm tree. Drain the delicious coconut milk - we won't need it for oil.

Now, holding the nut in your hand, lightly tap the coconut with a hammer. A crack should go - we released the air, the juice was drained. I think this task will be easy to handle.

Cut out pieces of coconut crumb, three on a fine grater or chop in a food processor. The oil will start to come out.

Next, fill the resulting chips with warm water, let cool, and put in the refrigerator. The next morning (or maybe earlier) a greasy crust will appear on the surface - 3-5 mm thick, similar in consistency to beef fat. We collect it and melt it in a water bath. Do not boil, otherwise the value of the oil will decrease! Now we filter the finished product from the remnants of coconut lumps into a clean glass jar.

I advise you not to throw away coconut flakes, but use it as a body scrub. Once I tried to fill in the shavings again - again I got a few grams of oil!
The oil will keep on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for about a week, but it's best to use it while it's still fresh.

Usually a 50-milligram jar of oil comes out of a medium coconut, in the refrigerator it solidifies, but melts from the heat of the hands. We've got an ideal make-up remover around the eyes, for the treatment of everyday wounds and burns, a good ointment for the treatment of cracked heels and peeling skin. And coconut oil is delicious and smells like overseas islands! Good luck with your cooking!

Coconut oil is widely known in southern countries, it is widely used in cooking, cosmetology, medicine and even in everyday life. Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids. It keeps its value for a long time even without a refrigerator, it is pleasant to the touch, has a unique aroma and good taste. To appreciate the full range of benefits of coconut oil, you need to understand when and for what it is used.

Benefits of coconut oil

1. Coconut oil is an excellent cosmetic product that is used in skin and hair care. It perfectly moisturizes dry and damaged hair ends, softens dry and rough skin. The oil is applied to the face to tighten wrinkles, to the soles of the feet to get rid of cracks, to the hands to moisturize the skin.
2. Coconut oil is great for human health. When ingested, it stabilizes the work of the heart, normalizes digestion, strengthens the immune system.
3. The oil can also be used externally - it heals wounds, treats minor eczema and inflammation, and fights acne.
4. Coconut oil contains a lot of vitamins, but at the same time it is absolutely non-caloric. The oil is well absorbed, improves the functioning of the endocrine system and the thyroid gland, which helps to speed up the metabolism.
5. If you drink one teaspoon of coconut oil every day on an empty stomach in the morning, the work of the liver, kidneys, and gallbladder will normalize. It is very useful to use coconut oil for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
6. Coconut oil is actively used in massage. The aroma of coconut is not only pleasant, but also incredibly healthy. The smell of coconut oil is able to calm the nerves, relax. Apply some oil to your temples - this will make your sleep sound and long.
7. Coconut oil is used against stretch marks and cellulite, as well as one of the most effective sunburn treatments. Coconut oil is the best balm for chapped and dry lips.
8. Coconut oil is also used in the household - it is an ideal tool for polishing furniture.

This is not a complete list of what quality and natural coconut oil is capable of.

Coconut oil can be purchased at a beauty store or pharmacy. However, you can never be 100% sure that the prepared oil is completely natural. Why guess and doubt when you can make your own oil? Plus, it will cost you a lot less!

1. To make coconut oil, you need a coconut. With enough experience, you can make butter from two coconuts. However, if you are making butter for the first time, start with one fruit. Coconut should be ripe, large, without much damage.
2. First you need to drain the milk from the coconut. To do this, make a hole in the coconut, the easiest way is to use a screwdriver for this. When the hole is ready, pour the precious milk out of the coconut. It is very tasty and sweet - you can immediately enjoy it.
3. After that, the coconut must be cut with an ax or sawn with a hacksaw. Using a knife or spoon, carefully scrape off the flesh of the coconut and collect it in a clean bowl. Try to get rid of the coconut shell and outer shell.
4. Pieces of coconut pulp need to be crushed. This can be done with a grater or blender. To make the coconut well chopped, add a little water to the container - so the pulp will well move away from the walls of the dish.
5. After that, pour the resulting mass into dishes with high sides and fill with hot water. The water should be hot, but not boiling - too high a temperature will kill the beneficial properties of the coconut. The liquid should cover the pulp by 3-4 centimeters.
6. To make more oil come out of the coconut, grind the resulting mass from time to time with a wooden mallet. When the mass has cooled, it must be poured into a jar and put in the refrigerator.
7. Next up is physics. Coconut flakes, having weight, will slowly sink and settle to the bottom. Oil, having a lower density, will rise to the surface and solidify at a low temperature. You need to withstand the oil for at least 8 hours, preferably 12. The best option is to leave the jar of coconut pulp overnight, in the morning everything will be ready.
8. Once the butter has set, simply peel off the top layer and place it in a separate bowl. The oil is ready, but to make it convenient to use, it can be melted again. To do this, heat a container with pieces of oil in a water bath. At the same time, be careful not to bring the oil to a boil - it will become useless.
9. When the butter has melted, strain it through a strainer or cheesecloth to get rid of the smallest coconut flakes and fibers. Pour the liquid oil into a jar of cream and refrigerate to harden.
10. The oil can be stored at room temperature, but it is best to keep it in the refrigerator. Coconut oil melts with the warmth of your hands – it doesn’t need to be specially heated. It is very oily, soft and pleasant to the touch. You can use freshly prepared oil for about a month, then it will begin to lose its beneficial properties. About 60 grams of a natural product is obtained from one medium-sized coconut.

After cooking the butter, you will be left with coconut flakes and water. You don't need to throw them away - they can bring a lot of benefits. It is not recommended to use coconut flakes for food, because it is not peeled - there are many coconut fibers left that are inedible. It is better to use cake as a body scrub. Your skin after such peeling will look renewed. But it is better to rinse your hair with healthy water after washing your hair. This procedure will give them smoothness, shine and incredible softness.

Most often, coconut oil is used in cosmetology. To make a coconut hair mask, you need to take some oil and warm it in your hands. After that, dip the pads of your fingers in healing oil and go through the massage movements on the head and hair roots. Then dip a large-toothed comb into the oil and comb through your hair. Thoroughly dip the tips in oil - often they need nutrition the most. After that, collect the hair in a bun, cover with a bag and wrap with a towel. After an hour, the mask can be washed off.

Apply coconut oil to cleansed, and preferably steamed skin. The oil is not suitable for oily skin types with enlarged pores. But coconut moisturizes dry skin perfectly. Just apply a little oil on your face like a cream, and after an hour, remove the remaining oil with a dry cloth. You can only wash yourself in the morning. If you want to soften the heels with oil, grease your feet with it and wrap it with polyethylene or tracing paper. Put on socks and leave overnight. In the morning, your feet will be like a baby's - soft and smooth.

Products fried in coconut oil are absolutely harmless - the oil does not release toxins during frying. Coconut oil can even be eaten in sandwiches - it tastes like butter. One tablespoon of coconut oil per day can improve the functioning of the whole body.

Coconut oil is a unique product that, in terms of its healing power, can only be compared with dates or rose hips. Do not buy a finished product of dubious origin. Making your own coconut oil is so much fun!

Video: homemade coconut oil

Among the inhabitants of Thailand, Indonesia, India and other countries of Southeast Asia, coconut oil has been well-deservedly popular since ancient times because of its healing properties, known to Cleopatra and used in traditional Indian medicine.

Methods for obtaining coconut oil and its types

There is no doubt that the oil called coconut oil is obtained from the fruits of the coconut palm. To do this, take the copra (white flesh) located under the hard shell of the coconut. It is dried in the sun, crushed and pressed to obtain oil. Pressing can be hot, and then the yield of oil from 1 kg of raw materials is at least 300 g. With cold pressing, oil is obtained much less (only 10% of the possible volume), but its value is much higher, as well as the cost.

Coconut oil melts, becoming transparent, yellowish at 25-27 degrees Celsius, and at a lower temperature it solidifies, turning into an oily granular mass. Due to the peculiarities of the chemical composition, it does not oxidize for a long time and retains all its properties.

Coconut oil is produced unrefined (unrefined, with a pleasant sweetish aroma) and refined (refined under high pressure). The latter is distinguished by its transparency and lack of odor.

What is coconut oil made of?

The nutritional value:

• Calories: 899 kcal
• Fat: 99.9 gr

• Water: 0.1 gr
• Saturated fatty acids: 90 gr
• Unsaturated fatty acids: 1.8 g

Macronutrients:

• Calcium: 2 mg
• Phosphorus: 2 mg

Vitamins:

• Vitamin E (TE): 0.7 mg

The most significant component of coconut oil are saturated fatty acids. It is they who determine its useful properties.

As a result of chemical analysis, the following substances were found in coconut oil:

What are the health benefits of coconut oil?

Coconut oil, due to its unique properties, has found wide application in medicine, everyday life, veterinary medicine, cooking, soap making, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. It is included in the formulation of many traditional medicines.

Regular use of coconut oil is indicated in the complex therapy of the following diseases:

• infectious diseases of the skin, organs of the respiratory and genitourinary systems, liver, having a viral, fungal or bacterial origin;
• diseases of the heart and blood vessels: ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, etc.;
• pathology of the endocrine glands (, pancreas);
• diseases of the digestive system: Crohn's disease, and gastroduodenitis, ulcerative colitis;
• diabetes mellitus type II;
• diseases of the osteoarticular apparatus: osteoarthritis, arthritis, polyarthritis, osteochondrosis, etc.;
• urinary and cholelithiasis, fatty degeneration of the liver;
• immunodeficiency states;
• constant stress and chronic fatigue;
• pathology of the nervous system (Alzheimer's disease, convulsive conditions);
• oncological diseases.

How can coconut oil harm the human body?

100 grams of coconut oil is almost 900 kcal! Agree that a lot. This should be taken into account first of all by those who closely monitor their weight. You should not exceed the recommended daily intake of coconut oil (up to 2 tablespoons) for oral intake, otherwise the calories will turn into extra pounds.