While refined and unrefined coconut oil have essentially identical nutrient profiles, they’re otherwise remarkably different.

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Some people apply coconut oil to their hair to increase shine and protect it from damage. It may penetrate the scalp better than mineral oils. Fats and oil provide essential nutrients, but people should always use them in moderation. If people use coconut oil, they should look for extra virgin coconut oil. So, the increase in LDL (bad) cholesterol levels outshines the benefits. That’s why the AHA advises against using it for heart health ( 40). This plant-based fat has some properties that other cooking oils don’t. For instance, because it’s mostly made up of saturated fat, it’s solid at room temperature rather than liquid.

However, rather than applying these oils directly to your skin, they need to be combined with a carrier oil. Soapmakers are taught that to make a good bar of soap, you need to choose several oils. Olive oil is a common one, as is shea butter, but probably the most common is coconut oil. The idea is that coconut oil soap is very hard and very bubbly but that it can be overdrying, so you need to balance the recipe with milder oils. This recipe blows away that principle and shows you how to use just coconut oil to make a really good bar of soap.

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Coconut oil may help reduce hunger, improve oral health, possibly reduce seizures, and more. However, while coconut oil does have several potential benefits, it may not be great for your heart health. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an oil to use in salad dressings or drizzle over prepared food, extra-virgin olive oil is the best option, because it’s mild-tasting and liquid at room temperature. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Coconut oil has a very high saturated fat content. In fact, about 87% of its fat is saturated ( 7). One study also suggests the possible role of coconut oil, particularly the MCT lauric acid, in reducing secondary diabetic complications ( 35). SummaryFurther research has determined that it may actually significantly increase LDL (bad) cholesterol levels — which increases the risk of heart disease ( 1, 37, 38). However, some people may be more concerned with diet quality than macronutrient content. For example, for people who follow diets consisting of minimally processed foods, unrefined coconut oil would be the better option because it’s less processed. Summary http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/PreventionTreatmentofHighCholesterol/The-Skinny-on-Fats_UCM_305628_Article.jsp#.WcG90tOGNE8 A study comparing two products found that coconut oil was less likely to trigger diabetes and weight gain in mice. Some have interpreted this as meaning coconut oil can help people lose weight.

Coconut Oil: Nutrition Information, Health Benefits and Risks Coconut Oil: Nutrition Information, Health Benefits and Risks

Store.LocalizedDisplayName}} | {{TimeSlotReservationDisplay}} Book Collection Slot Book Collection Slot View Slot Book Collection Slot Book C&C SlotHowever, the original study did not use coconut oil, but a special oil that was 100% MCT. The MCT content of coconut oil is around 14%. Butter is about 9.2% MCT. It may also reduce the severity of mild to moderate symptoms of atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin disease characterized by skin inflammation and defects in skin barrier function ( 18, 21, 22). Summary

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Findings from a 2009 animal study suggested that MCTs, present in coconut oil, may help preserve insulin sensitivity. The review also listed the specific beneficial health effects of MCT oil, not coconut oil, in 29 studies. When the lye solution and oils are both about 100°F (38°C), pour the lye solution into the pan of oils. Pour the lye solution against a spoon held in the oils as this will reduce air bubbles in your final bars. Coconut oil has a number of emerging benefits for your health, both when you add it to your diet or use it for cosmetic purposes. Because unrefined coconut oil has a strong coconut taste and scent, refined coconut oil may be a better choice for baking. If you use refined coconut oil, the resulting baked good will be free of a coconut taste and smell that could otherwise clash with its flavors.Depending on what you need the oil for, one type may be better suited for you than the other. Regardless, because of their similar nutrient content, both refined and unrefined coconut oils are great sources of healthy fat.