Organic coconut oil

Organic coconut oil, also known as copra oil, is a type of vegetable fat obtained by pressing the pulp of the coconut, the fruit of the coconut palm, an iconic tree of tropical regions.
This oil is particularly rich in saturated fats, which is why it tends to solidify at low temperatures and remains in liquid form when the temperature exceeds 25°C (77°F). Thanks to its thermal stability, organic coconut oil retains its properties even at high temperatures for extended periods.

Properties of coconut oil

Coconut oil is characterized by the presence of medium-chain saturated fatty acids, mainly found in milk and coconut oil itself. Among these, lauric acid makes up about 50%, followed by caprylic acid. These components give coconut oil several beneficial effects on the body. Let’s take a closer look:

• antiviral and antibacterial [1] – lauric acid stimulates the production of antimicrobial monoglycerides in the human body, which are essential for neutralizing harmful viruses and bacteria;
• antifungal [2] – caprylic acid is effective in fighting various fungal infections;
• energy-boosting [3] – medium-chain saturated fatty acids are metabolized more quickly and are not stored as body fat;
• moisturizing – coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer for dry skin and damaged or dry hair.

Types of coconut oil

The extraction of coconut oil can be done by dry or wet methods, which determine the type of final product.
In the dry method, the white pulp of the coconut is first dried by heat and then processed until the oil is obtained.
In contrast, the wet method involves grinding fresh pulp to extract oil. The resulting varieties of coconut oil include:

• raw – obtained by directly pressing the dried coconut meat, this oil has a vibrant red/orange color and is usually refined for food use or employed in the oleochemical industry to produce lauric acid;
• refined – after undergoing deodorization and decolorization, crude oil becomes refined coconut oil. It has high heat resistance and is excellent for cooking.
• virgin – pressed from fresh coconut meat, this oil has lower heat resistance, making it less suitable for high-temperature cooking but widely used in cosmetics.

Uses

Coconut oil is a natural and highly versatile ingredient, appreciated both in cooking and in beauty care thanks to its many benefits and wide range of uses. Let’s look at a few.

In cooking

Coconut oil is a healthy and flavorful alternative in the kitchen:

• as a replacement for butter or margarine in both sweet and savory recipes;
• can replace olive oil for frying;
• its high smoke point makes it ideal for frying;
• if added in quantities of one or two tablespoons to smoothies or coffee, enriches these drinks and makes them more nutritious.

In cosmetics

In the world of cosmetics, coconut oil is well known for its multiple properties and is a real beauty booster:

• deeply nourishes dry skin, helping to keep it soft and smooth;
• repairs damaged hair and split ends;
• tt’s also an excellent massage oil.

Looking for an importer of organic coconut oil?

Since 1956, Padovana Macinazione has been an importer and distributor of organic products, food ingredients, herbs and vegetable oils and fats such as BIO coconut oil. For years, the company has selected only the best companies with certified, traced and safe biological supply chains to guarantee a wholesale of organic products of the highest quality for: processing industries, food industries, food laboratories, shops, wholesalers and retailers. There is also a shop for private individuals.

If you are looking for a supplier for your business or shop contact us!

Sources

[1] Antiviral and antibacterial properties
[2] Antifungal properties
[3] Energetic properties