FAQs
Let's nut out the facts and answer some of your most frequently asked questions!
We have done a lot of research over the years and our advice is simply to try it. Starting with the list below learn why we love Coconut oil so much or even do some reading of your own and decide if it's something that might work for you too. We promise once you start you'll see how well it performs and why we call it ridiculously versatile!
Coconut oil naturally has a highly variable composition. It will begin to solidify at temperatures below 24C and clumps may appear. Bubbles may also appear and may resemble dark spots. Both bubbles and clumps are normal, and do not mean the oil is spoilt.
Coconut oil is made up of several different fatty acids and these fatty acids have slightly different temperatures at which they solidify or melt. Because of this, you can get some interesting shapes form when the oil melts or solidifies. Sometimes the surface can look 'chalky' but it is completely safe and perfectly normal for this unique oil. These changes do not mean your oil has spoilt at all, they simply mean the temperature has been variable in your home! Go ahead and use with confidence in cooking and on your skin.
What types of Blue Coconut oil are there?
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Virgin
Virgin coconut oil is coconut oil that has the coconut taste. It has not had any processing to remove the flavour.
Blue Coconut sources only cold-pressed, organic virgin coconut oil, as this is what our customers ask for!
The term 'cold-pressed' means the oil has been extracted using low or no heat.
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Refined
Our other type of coconut oil used is refined oil. The technical term is refined, bleached and deodorised, or 'RBD' oil.
Removing the coconut flavour allows the oil to be more versatile as a cooking oil (eg. your fried eggs just taste like eggs, not coconut eggs!) as well as for use in skincare products or soaps.
At Blue Coconut, our refined oil is produced using a process referred to as 'physical refining'. This process relies on physical clay filtering methods instead of using hash chemical methods.
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MCT
MCT Coconut oil is derived from Coconut oil, but has been processed to remove the long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) and retain the medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).
MCTs are a type of saturated fat that are metabolised differently than LCTs, providing a quick source of energy for the body and brain. MCT Coconut oil has a number of potential health benefits, including improved cognitive function and increased energy. Ideal as a dietary supplement or cooking oil too.
Plus it will remain in a liquid state regardless of the season or temperature.
Coco facts
Where does our Coconut oil come from?
Blue Coconut sources coconut oil from our Pacific Island neighbours. We work closely with communities in several Pacific Islands to ensure a high quality, sustainable coconut oil supply.
These village communities, from Rabaul in the North to Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji in the East benefit from your decision to purchase Blue Coconut Oil.
You can see which Pacific Island your oil is from by entering the batch number on your tub on our about page.
Why is my oil lumpy or change in appearance?
Coconut oil naturally has a highly variable composition. It will begin to solidify at temperatures below 24C and clumps may appear. Bubbles may also appear and may resemble dark spots. Both bubbles and clumps are normal, and do not mean the oil is spoilt.
Coconut oil is made up of several different fatty acids and these fatty acids have slightly different temperatures at which they solidify or melt. Because of this, you can get some interesting shapes form when the oil melts or solidifies. Sometimes the surface can look 'chalky' but it is completely safe and perfectly normal for this unique oil. These changes do not mean your oil has spoilt at all, they simply mean the temperature has been variable in your home! Go ahead and use with confidence in cooking and on your skin.
Keep reading to deep dive into the science.
The reason for the differences in appearance of the oil is related to the fatty acids that make up coconut oil. Like any other fat or oil, coconut oil has its own combination of fatty acids - its 'signature'. Each one of these fatty acids (10 in total) have a different melting point. The melting point of coconut oil is generally quoted as being 24 degrees celcius, but this is a generalisation. If you melt or cool the oil very rapidly, you will see the change from solid to liquid (or vice-versa) occur at around 24 degrees C. If you melt or cool the oil very slowly, you may see the coconut oil have both liquid and solid parts for a time, as the different fatty acids melt or solidify at their particular melting point temperature.
The important point to understand is that coconut oil is just as good for you, whatever the consistency.
If you really want a smooth oil, just gently melt it then put it in the fridge to quickly solidify.
How is our RBD Coconut oil refined?
Our most popular Coconut oil with no taste is our Blue Coconut RBD oil. RBD stands for refined, bleached, deodorised. This can mean a lot of things and for many seed oils the RBD process involves a lot of harsh chemicals. Because Coconut oil is by nature a robust oil that is heat tolerant, processing can be kept to a minimum.
At Blue Coconut we use a very simple 'physical refining' process rather than chemical refining. Citric acid is the only chemical used in our refining process - the same substance that naturally occurs in citrus fruit!
The Blue Coconut refining process
- Coconuts are collected, air dried and processed into oil by the villagers. This is a very simple and traditional process where the oil is mechanically 'squashed' out of the coconuts, without the use of chemicals or heat. This is performed by villagers using traditional machinery.
- The coconut oil travels to New Zealand, where it is refined.
- Firstly, it is passed through absorptive clays to remove impurities.
- It is then heated in a vacuum to separate the more volatile flavour oils, which are then removed by distillation.
Blue Coconut refined coconut oil meets very high European standards for pharmaceutical grade coconut oil. This means it can be used with babies, or the very sick, with confidence.
What to look out for when choosing a Virgin Coconut oil.
Unlike the Olive oil industry, the Coconut oil industry does not have any regulations regarding the use of the word 'Virgin'. While it is generally considered to mean coconut oil that has not been altered or processed in any way, this is not necessarily so.
Some virgin coconut oils are not suitable to consume! Because Virgin Coconut oil may not have been heated or processed, it may carry pathogens such as mould or bacteria; coconut shell may also be present.
Blue Coconut screens all batches of our Virgin Coconut oil to ensure they meet strict food safety criteria. We also use very fine filters to catch any tiny shell fragments.
Allergies and dietary
Gluten free
Yes! Blue Coconut oil is naturally gluten-free, with no additives just 100% pure Pacific Island Coconut oil.
Nut free
Yes! Did you know despite the name a Coconut is not a nut, but rather a type of fruit called a drupe. As a result, coconut oil is considered nut-free and is safe for people with tree nut allergies.
Keto friendly
Yes! Coconut oil is a popular choice for people following a ketogenic diet as it is a rich source of healthy fats and contains zero carbohydrates. Coconut oil is also known for its medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are easily converted into ketones by the liver, aiding in weight loss and providing energy for the body.
Vegan friendly
Yes, our coconut oil is both vegetarian and vegan! Coconut oil is a plant-based oil that is extracted from the meat of mature coconuts, and does not involve any animal products or byproducts in its production.
GMO free
Organic
Health benefits
Weight loss
Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are metabolised differently than other fats and may help boost weight loss efforts.
Skincare
Coconut oil has many nourishing properties that can help moisturise your skin and reduce inflammation. Use as a as a body moisturiser for dry skin, a makeup remover or as a natural lip balm.
It can also be used as a hair conditioner to help nourish and strengthen hair.
Dental
Gaining popularity in recent years oil pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing oil in your mouth for for 10-15 minutes, then spitting it out. Used as a natural way to improve oral health. Some of the potential benefits of oil pulling include:
- Improved oral hygiene: Oil pulling can help reduce plaque and bacteria in the mouth, which can lead to fresher breath and healthier gums.
- Teeth whitening: Coconut oil has natural whitening properties that can help remove stains and brighten your smile.
- Reduced inflammation: Oil pulling with coconut oil can help reduce inflammation in the mouth, which may also have a positive impact on overall health.
- Better digestion: Some people believe that oil pulling can help improve digestion and detoxify the body by removing harmful toxins from the mouth.
Heart
Our pure Coconut oil contains no additives, contaminants or trans-fats and is naturally cholesterol free.
This makes it the ideal butter or alternative oil substitute to help improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
What's all the talk about Saturated Fats?
According to Dr. Mary Enig, PhD, a world expert on fats, the research over the past 40 years has been quite clear: coconut oil has been shown to be beneficial for heart and health. Dr. Enig reports that the only exception to this has been when hydrogenated coconut oil has been used in studies. We now know that any oil that is hydrogenated oil is bad for us, due to the formation of trans-fats.
Unfortunately for the humble coconut, although its fat composition is unique among oils*, it is high in a unique type of saturated fat (medium chain triglycerides). The vast majority of research on saturated fats has been done on different types of saturated fat (long chain triglycerides), and usually animal saturated fats that contain cholesterol as well. In a way, coconut oil has been guilty by association, or nomenclature.
For over half a century the usual advice given about fats is to reduce them altogether and, in particular, to reduce saturated fat intake. It is no wonder that this is what most people still believe. About 10 years ago I went to a lecture where a very qualified doctor and scientist explained that saturated fats were not only good for us, but vital for our health, I thought they were mad!
In 2011 we have far more bits to the puzzle regarding saturated fats and health. This is largely due to the completion of some very large scientific studies that have debunked our longstanding beliefs. Tribute must also go to the many very brave scientists and nutritional experts who have publicly argued that saturated fat is beneficial, despite the consensus.
In the past 2 years, two huge reviews of the available research regarding diet and heart disease were published.
They both showed no evidence that saturated fat was associated with heart disease. Total fat intake was also not associated with heart disease risk.
What was shown:
- Trans fats are very very bad
- Omega 3 oils are very beneficial to heart health
- High glycaemic index foods are bad for heart health
- Vegetables, nuts and a Mediterranean diet are beneficial
- Monounsaturated fats are beneficial to heart health
- Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease. Siri-Tarino PW, Sun Q, Hu FB, Krauss RM. Am J Clin Nutr.2010 Mar;91(3):535-46. Epub 2010 Jan 13.
- A Systematic Review of the Evidence Supporting a Causal Link Between Dietary Factors and Coronary Heart Disease. Andrew Mente, PhD; Lawrence de Koning, MSc; Harry S. Shannon, PhD; Sonia S. Anand, MD, PhD, FRCPC. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(7):659-669. (Over 5000 research papers reviewed)
With regard specifically to coconut oil:
A review of the published literature (c 1988 - Blackburn et al) regarding coconut oil’s effect on serum cholesterol and atherogenesis (= plaque formation in arteries) showed that when coconut oil is eaten as part of a balanced diet with adequate amounts of omega 3 oils, coconut oil is neutral in terms of atherogenicity.
(By the way, the fat in arterial plaques is around 74% unsaturated and only 26% saturated fatty acids).
So, as part of a balanced diet, review of research shows coconut oil is does not contribute to clogged arteries.
Key research leads
The British Medical Journal - Results of randomised clinical trial conducted over June and July 2017.
coconutoil.com - Website based in the Philippines with good general research and information.
The Coconut Research Centre - Research about many topics surrounding coconuts.
Have your own question or still not too sure if Coconut oil is right for you?
Ask away using the form below, we'll gladly answer all your queries so you can start thriving on your heath journey asap.