Get the Most Out of Coconut Oil

3 tips for choosing the best stuff

Coconut oil seems to be all the rage right now, and with good reason. It contains healthy fatty acids, which have been shown to help brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s, and it can actually help you burn fat. Plus it holds up to high temperatures, making it an excellent cooking and baking oil.

But not all coconut oil is created equal. Here are 3 tips for making sure you’re getting the most out of this superfood.

1. Expeller vs cold pressed

You’ll see both of these types of coconut oil next to each other on the grocery store shelves. This has to do with how the oil is extracted from the coconut. Expeller processed uses heat to extract the oil, while cold pressed never goes above 120 degrees F. Cold is better because fewer health benefits are lost during extraction.

2. Organic is best

You definitely don’t want any weird chemicals floating around in your otherwise healthy coconut oil. Make sure to get organic so you can have only the purest stuff in your body.

3. Refined or unrefined

This is another label that confuses people. Refined coconut oil has no taste or odor, so you may think it’s a perfect oil to use when cooking so you don’t impart additional flavor to your dish. But in reality you lose a lot of the health benefits of coconut oil when you go this route. Look for the words “unrefined” or “virgin” when you buy.