What is virgin coconut Oil? Virgin coconut oil is a product extracted from fresh coconuts through a natural process, without the use of chemicals, additives, or preservatives. It is called "virgin" due to its pure, raw, pristine, and unadulterated state. What is the difference between cold pressed and cold processed? All oils are cold pressed. Not all oils are cold processed. “Cold pressed” does not mean that no heat was applied. There are so called “cold pressed” oils in the market who used low or high heat to produce their oils. “Cold processed” means that no low nor high heat was applied from the time the nut was harvested until the time the oil is bottled and shipped for retail. Ginoco is 100 % cold processed. How does virgin coconut oil differ from other coconut oils? Other coconut cooking oils are derived from copra and undergo chemical refining, bleaching, and deodorizing (RBD) processes prior to being sold. It is clear, yellowish, tasteless, and has lost its natural vitamin content. Virgin coconut oil is made from fresh coconuts and does not undergo RBD processes. Thus, it remains pure and clear, retains the aroma and taste of coconut and still contains natural vitamin E. In addition, Ginoco is cold processed all throughout the process. How does virgin coconut oil differ from other oils? Virgin coconut oil is saturated oil, made up mostly of medium chain fatty acids. Other oils such as vegetable oils (corn oil, soybean oil, safflower oil) contain mostly long chain fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated. Olive oil and canola oil are classified as monounsaturated. Medium chain fatty acids make virgin coconut oil unique in terms of digestion and metabolism. Unlike other oils which are digested using bile and pancreatic enzymes, virgin coconut oil goes immediately to the liver and is converted to energy. Is virgin coconut oil high in cholesterol? Is it bad for the heart? No. vegetable oils contain insignificant amounts of cholesterol; coconut oil contains the least cholesterol, around 0-14 ppm which is virtually none. Also, contrary to popular belief, virgin coconut oil is safe for those with heart disease. Studies show that coconut-eating people such as Bilcolanos and Polynesians have low serum cholesterol levels and have the least incidence of coronary heart disease. A study in New England showed that people who consume coconut oil had increased HDL (good cholesterol) because of the stimulatory effect on metabolism. What is the active ingredient of virgin coconut oil? It contains Lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid, which is responsible for many of its health benefits. Virgin coconut oil contains 48%-53% Lauric acid. It is similar to the fats found in mother's breast milk that confers immunity to babies. Which viruses and bacteria can be inactivated by Lauric acid? Lipid coated viruses such as HIV, Measles, Herpes Simplex, Vesicular stomatitis virus, Influenza virus, and Hepatitis C can be inactivated by monolaurin derived from Lauric acid. Lipid coated bacteria include H. Pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococci, and H. Influenza. Will I gain weight with virgin coconut oil? People of all ages can use or take virgin coconut oil, including infants (considering that Lauric acid is similar to that in breast milk). It is likewise safe for pregnant women specially those who take VCO to relieve constipation. Coconut oil has gained the reputation as being the world’s only natural low-calorie fat. A low calorie fat is a strange concept but coconut oil fits that description for three reasons. First. Coconut oil actually has fewer calories than other fat. Second, coconut satisfies hunger better than any other fat and you do not get hungry between meals. Third, it lifts metabolism to a higher level. As metabolism increases, calories are consumed at a higher rate. Since most calories are burned up, fewer are left to be converted into body fat. How does one use virgin coconut oil? There are many ways of using virgin coconut oil: Massage : It may be used topically on the skin, as a moisturizer or make-up remover. To condition hair, it may be massaged onto the scalp for 20 minutes then rinsed after. Nip ‘n Sip: It may be taken by the spoonful or mixed with warm food or drinks Cook It may be used in various recipes, for sauteeing and frying as a replacement for other cooking oils. It may be used as a substitute for butter or margarine in baking What is the dosage of virgin coconut oil? For maintenance purposes, take 2-3 tbsp a day. For therapeutic purposes, take 3-4 tbsp a day. What is the best time to take virgin coconut oil? In general, you may take it any time of the day as a single dose or in divided doses spread throughout the day. Take it before bedtime if the problem is constipation. Take it 30 minutes prior to meals to promote weight loss and increase satiety Are there side effects to virgin coconut oil? Is coconut oil safe? If the Medium Chain fatty Acid (MCFA) are powerful enough to kill bacteria, viruses and parasites, couldn’t they harm us as well? How safe is it? Are there side effects? Consider this: nature puts MCDA in mother’s breast milk. If it is safe enough for a newborn infant, it should be safe for anyone else. The fact that is in breast milk attests to its safety. Coconut oil has been maligned for so long that many people hesitate to use any coconut product for fear it might harm them. There are no harmful side effects to using coconut oil. Dr. John Kabara states that fatty acids and derivatives tend to be the least toxic chemicals known to man. Not only are these agents non-toxic to man but are actual food. One effect, however and it depends how you look at it, is that consuming too much coconut oil or coconut water can loosen the bowels. If you are troubled with constipation this could be a good thing. If you consume the oil along with other food, and not by themselves, the effect is greatly reduced.

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