How to Choose the Healthiest Coconut Oil

Like olive oil, you’ll probably find various kinds of coconut oil at your health food store. But since you’re targeting the healthiest type because you wish to gain the most health benefits from, then choose organic virgin coconut oil.

It provides the greatest health benefits for it is extracted in a way that involves low temperature to help preserve as much beneficial properties as possible, and also without the use of chemicals.

However, there are so many different brands of organic virgin coconut oil out there. Which one should you choose then?

You may have to perform trial and error, but at least with some guidelines I’m offering over here based on my years of experience so you get to find the healthiest coconut oil you need for good health quicker without having to spend as much time and money as I did before.

1. Glass Jar

You want the healthiest coconut oil, right? Then concentrate on those brands that store coconut oil in glass jar since glass does not react to the slightly acidic (pH 5) oil.

If you get the plastic jar, there’s a chance that toxic chemicals may leach into the oil. And that will do more harm than good.

But glass is brittle so you have to handle with care. And it’ll cost you a bit more.

2. Observe the Color

If the store that sells organic virgin coconut oil has a temperature below 76 °F, then you would see the oil in its solid form. The color should look snowy white. Not a tinge of yellow or brown.

But if it happens to be above 76 °F, that would be easier for you since it is in liquid form. It should then look crystal clear like water with some sediment at the bottom.

That’s a high quality virgin coconut oil you should choose because the sediment is actually the essence extracted during the cold pressing. It’s an indication that the coconut oil has relatively more health benefits, which aligns to your search for the healthiest coconut oil.

If it looks somewhat murky, that does not mean the oil has turned bad. It probably appears as such due to the shaking here and there during handling, transporting or shelf-stocking.

3. Smell It

Now, this is the part where you really have to apply the trial-and-error method unless the store owner is so kind that he or she allows you to take a sniff before you buy.

Virgin coconut oil should give off a fresh coconut scent. Some brands give off a mild scent while others a bit stronger. That will depend on your preference.

If you’re able to get recommendations from friends or from the web on which organic virgin coconut oil to choose, easier for you. If not, then you’ll have to depend on luck and hopefully the first one you get would be the one you like.

Last but not least, please read the label carefully to check for the facility it uses to package the oil. It’s particularly critical for people with an allergy.

For example, if the label states that the coconut oil is bottled in a facility that also packs peanut oil, and if you’re allergic to peanut, don’t choose that brand.

Also, you should buy the smallest jar (if it does have) of the particular brand you decide to go with first since you’re testing it out. Once you hook on the brand you like most, you’re free to get it in gallon in your next round to save more cost.