Food Miracle: Coconut Oil

It's important to prefer extra-virgin coconut oil using fresh coconut meat or what is called non-copra (see below for a definition of copra). Chemicals and high heating are not used in further refining. The method used in the Philippines to produce extra virgin coconut oil from coconut milk is fermentation. The coconut milk expressed from the freshly harvested coconuts is fermented for 24 to 36 hours. During this time, the water separates from the oil. The oil is then slightly heated for a short time to remove moisture, and filtered. The result is a clear coconut oil that retains the distinct scent and taste of coconuts. This traditional method of coconut oil extraction that has been used in the Philippines for hundreds of years. Laboratory tests show that this is a very high-quality coconut oil, with the lauric acid content being 50-53 percent. This oil is not mass produced, but made by hand much as it has been done for hundreds of years. Since the producers of the oil live in the community where the coconuts grow, they personally guarantee that the best organic coconuts available are used in producing this extra virgin coconut oil, and that no chemicals whatsoever are used in the growing or processing of the coconuts.

Most commercial grade coconut oils are made from copra, which is the dried kernel (meat) of the coconut. Copra is made by smoke drying, sun drying, kiln drying, or a combination of these methods. If standard copra is used as a starting material, the unrefined coconut oil extracted from copra is not suitable for consumption and must be further refined. This is because the way most copra is dried is very unsanitary. Most of the copra is dried under the sun in the open air, where it is exposed to insects and molds. The standard end product made from copra is RBD coconut oil. RBD stands for refined, bleached, and deodorized. Both high heat and chemical solvents are used in this method. The RBD oil is also often hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated. Thus, it is not a very good product.

From Jordan Rubin, "Patient Heal Thyself"