I'm very strict with my diet. I eat only organic foods, practice CRON (calorie restriction with optimal nutrition), eat minimal carbs and lots of nutrients. I've tested 7 brands of organic coconut oil -- Nature's Way, Nutiva, Spectrum Naturals, Bronner's, Ziggy Marley Organics, VivaLabs, and 2 small scale raw food companies. Nature's Way and VivaLabs are the best so far.
The aroma of Nature's Way and VivaLabs both are wonderful. The texture is much fuller than the other brands. This coconut oil has bolder taste and less watered-down feeling than the other brands. I know that the way coconut oil (and all oils for that matter) is processed is very important. Better processing methods preserve more nutrients, increase the natural flavor and aroma, and improved digestibility. So if you're looking for a good organic coconut oil, this is one by Nature's Way is excellent, as is VivaLabs brand too.
Now for some quick facts about how amazingly healthy this stuff is:
1) Medium chain fatty acids --> Digest very easily without requiring the gall bladder to do much work. Most fats require the body to work harder for digestion. Medium chain fatty acids energy the blood stream very quickly, with less digestion time than slow or long chain fatty acids, found in other oils. This makes coconut oil excellent for people missing gallbladders, having digestive problems or suffering from chronic fatigue.
2) Converts to usable energy very quickly. Coconut oil is a much more balanced and less manic energy than any carbohydrate (fructose, lactose, glucose, etc). Carbohydrate break down quickly and elevate blood sugar and insulin levels rapidly. This creates the surge and crash. With coconut oil, the energy is delivered more slowly and evenly than carbs. Many people feel deeply nourished by coconut oil, like the food energy goes deeper within the body.
3) Anti-viral, anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal. Coconut oil keeps your digestive system very clean inside. It will destroy candida, and common cold bacteria and flu viruses. This helps to balance intestinal (probiotic) bacteria and gives the immune system support. Less sickness and more energy!
4) Longer lasting energy without insulin levels being adversely affected. Fats are the cleanest burning energy for our body. Carbohydrates cause insulin levels to raise and crash, which is what creates the "eat every 3 hours" cravings that so many people this is hunger. Healthy fats, like this oil, will not affect insulin and give us much more stable energy that last longer in the body.
5) Tastes great. Smells great.
6) Can be used topically to make the skin very soft. Coconut oil is absorbed directly into the skin to nourish it (like a food for the skin), unlike most cosmetic moisturizers create a coating on top the skin. These often leave residue or cause long-term dryness by unbalancing the body's innate skin oil balance. Coconut supports the skin's natural oil balance. This also helps to reduce wrinkles!
7) Great for hair and can be used as a leave-on conditioner. Like it's skin use, coconut oil will not imbalance the hair's natural oils.... unlike chemical-based conditioners. Plus, because coconut is anti-"everything bad" it will keep the hair clean too. Because there are so many different types of hair (dry, cracking, split ends, oily, curly, straight, etc) experiment with what works best. Try applying the oil only the the ends for extra protection from split ends. Or only to the scalp to stop dandruff (caused by scalp bacteria, often candida) or prevent hair loss.
8)Natural soap for the body. Myself, some of my friends and others use coconut oil as a soap for the body. Most bar soaps and liquid bath soaps remove the skin's natural oils and create dry skin. In fact, most people have dry skin and fail to see that the bath soap is causing it! We still need to clean our skin, but using coconut oil is better than soap in many cases. You may want to soap under the armpits, between the legs, on the hands and feet. But for the arms, legs, and torso (areas prone to dryness) try using only coconut oil.
Here's the protocol that I use. 1) Dry skin brush my entire body before stepping in the shower, to remove dead skin cells and increase blood flow to the skin (redness is good). 2) Rise the body with hot water to open the pores and increase blood flow to the skin. 3) Use a wet cloth or your hand to rub the skin rinse clean any loose skin cells. 4) Turn off the water and use your fingers/hands to rub a light layer of coconut oil everywhere (minus your head hair). A light layer is all that is needed. Apply with your skin still wet and you'll see the water bead up. 5) Turn back on the water, this time to warm/cool, and rise off the excess coconut oil. Run your hand lightly over your skin to spread the excess coconut oil into places that may have less, and to help remove the excess altogether. Lightly is the key - you don't want to remove the oil completely. 6) Exit the shower and lightly tap dry your skin with a towel (do not rub your take off the oil) or air dry. The skin will absorb the coconut oil in a few minutes. Your skin will be soft to the touch and not oily. Don't worry, coconut is not like other oils - it won't stain your clothes or make them smell rancid.
9) Sunscreen and suntan lotion. Coconut oil protects the skin from the effects too much sunlight. Technically, coconut oil does not block the sunlight, like a UV sunblock would. Instead it prevents the harmful chemical reaction skin bacteria and skin fungus can have when exposed to the suns UV rays. It also moisturizes the skin, reflects back some light (the shine), and prevents sunburn. Personally, I lay out in the summertime sun in Arizona, Florida and Hawaii and when wearing coconut oil I can be out for 4-6 hours and not burn. In these powerful suns, 30 minutes to 1 hour of exposure without coconut oil and my skin is red and will peel days later. Although coconut oil does not block UV, it does wonders to protect the skin and create a great tan.
10) Can be used as a sexual lubricant. Coconut oil is a natural anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial lubricant which helps keep these organs clean and reduce the spread of unwanted problem.
11) Coconut oil detox cleanse. The medium chain fatty acids make this and ideal food for detox cleanses because the energy is available with minimal digestive effort, plus all of it's anti-"everything bad" properties. The detox cleanse is a 3 to 7 day process where all carbohydrate foods are removed and coconut oil is eaten as the primary energy source (approx. 14 Tablespoons each day). The oil can be combined with organic lemon water as well. You can find the instructions by Googling "Natural News Coconut Oil Cleanse". This is a very powerful detoxification because the bad guys are being killed by the oil. So be mindful.
That's it! I hope you enjoyed this review. The bottom line is that coconut oil is simply amazing! Nature's Way and VivaLabs brands are the best I've found so far. Enjoy!
*** Update: I found a good website for coconut oil information and recipes. It has summaries of many studies on coconut oil. Visit coconutdiet (dotcom)
Product contains at least 95% organic material.
As certified by
USDA Organic
USDA Organic
USDA Organic certified products are required to be produced using farming practices that maintain and improve soil and water quality, reduce the use of synthetic materials, conserve biodiversity, and avoid genetic engineering, among other factors. Crops can be certified organic if they're grown without prohibited substances such as most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for three years prior to harvest. Livestock are raised on pastures and treated humanely without growth hormones or antibiotics. Organic products do not contain GMOs or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. USDA Organic products contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and use the USDA Organic seal.
