VCO & Regular Coconut Oil - Differences

Coconut oil is oil extracted from the meat of a mature coconut (niyog); the young coconut (buko) does not have any oil. It is important for the consumer to know which coconut oil to use, in order to make an informed decision when buying the oil for use at home. Just keep in mind the following differences between these two oils in today’s market.

1.  Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO)

-    Extracted from fresh mature coconut meat (niyog).

-    Considered as pure oil because it has no additives.

-    Does not undergo chemical processing or intense heat.

-    This natural processing retains VCO’s high lauric acid content (see note below).

2.   Regular Coconut Oil--Refined, Bleached, & Deodorized Oil (RBDO)

-    Derived from copra (coconut meat that is dried either under the sun or in mechanical dryers then pressed for its oil).

-    Chemically processed using intense heat, with chemicals added to remove impurities and microorganisms, including bleaching and deodorizing to make it tasteless, odorless and colorless.

-    This chemical processing lowers its lauric acid content (see note below).

Note:

LAURIC ACID is the most important fatty acid that our body needs. Lauric acid is also found in mother’s milk, and is medically and scientifically proven to be a potent agent against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Unlike other vegetable oils, more than 50% of VCO's total volume is lauric acid; this lauric acid ratio is retained because of its natural processing, while much of RDBO’s lauric acid is lost because of its chemical processing.

Sources:

Dr. Conrado S., Dayrit, “The Truth About Coconut Oil.”

Cris C. Abiva, “The Coconut Facts Book.”