Coconut oil doesn’t always need to be cold pressed to preserve quality. However, there is no denying that it is the healthiest option out there.
Many of my clients are becoming increasingly confused by all the jargon on the labels. This is why I am being constantly asked does coconut oil need to be cold pressed. Fortunately, my background in nutrition allows me to answer this once and for all.
The following posts takes a look at the pros and cons of the oil to help you come to a decision. Let’s get started!
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If you are wondering what all the fuss is about with cold pressed coconut oil, it all comes down to one thing. The cold pressing process allows the resulting coconut oil to maintain more nutrients. As only heat is used during the extraction process there is no heat to destroy any healthy components.
Therefore, it can be argued that cold pressed coconut oil is the healthiest of all coconut oils. In turn, there is an increased chance that you will be able to enjoy the following health benefits:
If you are trying to lose weight, cold pressed coconut can make it easier to reduce fat around the stomach specifically. Not only does this help with weight loss, but can actually contribute to improved heart health. This is because fat around the abdominal area has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease.
Coconut oil has been shown to be especially helpful against candida fungus, one of the most common causes of fungal infections in humans. Best of all, there is proof that it may actually be more effective than prescribed medications. This makes it an excellent all-natural solution.
Coconut oil is great for improving the skin barrier of your skin. When applied, it forms a protective layer on the surface of your skin, preventing water loss from that area. This comes in especially useful for people suffering from skin conditions such as xerosis.
This oil works quite well to protect your hair from all kinds of damage, including damage caused by pollution. You can also use it as a prewash to ensure that your hands don’t break or get damaged when they are wet.
While cold pressed coconut oil certainly has its uses, there are a couple of downsides associated with it as well.
The cold press method of processing does help to retain various nutrients, but it also produces a lower yield of coconut oil. This means that manufacturers have to use more natural resources to produce the same amount of coconut oil as those using heat. Thus, you may often find that cold pressed coconut oil is more expensive.
The other thing that you should be aware of is that cold pressed coconut oil has a lower smoking point – around 350°F. This means that it may work for baking and light frying, but doesn’t do well at high heat. As a result, you can’t use it for searing, sautéing, or deep frying.
When shopping for coconut oil, you are often bombarded with so many different titles, labels, and jargon. It can be quite difficult to know how to tell the difference between all these terms and to be certain of what you are actually buying.
Remember that just because a brand maintains that it is virgin coconut oil, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is cold pressed oil. Both expeller pressed and cold pressed coconut oils can fall under the category of virgin coconut oil, but they don’t produce the same results.
Like cold pressed coconut oil, expeller pressed oil only uses pressure to extract the coconut oil. Unlike with the cold press method, though, the temperature isn’t monitored or maintained during the expeller press process. As such, the natural heat produced during the procedure will have an impact on the final result.
With the cold press method, the temperature is carefully monitored and controlled so that it never goes beyond a certain point. This helps to ensure that not of the nutrients or components are denatured in any way.
If you are serious about getting the most nutrient rich coconut oil, then this is something that you should check on. If the information isn’t on the label, you may want to check with the manufacturing website.
Then, what is the final conclusion – does your coconut oil have to be cold pressed?
Well, not necessarily. Now, cold pressed coconut oil is certainly healthier for you and can give you the kind of health benefits you are looking for. It is also great for sensitive and damaged skin.
However, it isn’t always the right option. For instance, if you are looking for a cooking oil for deep frying or cooking on high heat, this oil will not work.
Therefore, the decision rests with you. At the end of the day, regular old virgin coconut milk should do the trick just fine.
Technically, you can make cold pressed coconut oil at home, but it does take several coconuts, causing the cost of the process to rise. You will also need to find a machine that has enough power to extract the oil from the coconut meat.
There is also a fair amount of time and effort involved and you can’t always guarantee the quality of the end result. It is actually cheaper and easier for you to simply purchase the cold pressed coconut oil from a known brand.
So, there you have it – all you need to know about whether or not cold pressed coconut oil is actually necessary for you.
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