I just bought some coconut oil and it wasn’t what I expected. For one, it seems to be a solid white, almost buttery substance, not an oily liquid like I was expecting. Is this normal or does this mean I have some shitty refined product?
If this is normal what are some good ways to incorporate it into my diet? Should I do spoons of it similar to doing shots of olive oil? Would it be a good idea to put it into my breakfast shake (milk, frozen fruit, cinnamon and whey - I’m not sure about mixing fats with protein and carbs is why I ask)?
The melting point is in the room temperature range, so when conditions are at the cooler end of that it is solid, or at the warmer end it will be liquid.
You can add it whatever way you like. Except that adding to a cold beverage – which includes cooler room temperature – will not work so well as it will solidify or stay solid.
Oh I see, that makes sense. I’ve had it in the fridge so that makes sense, I’ll set it on a counter and see if that changes anything. You mention adding to a cold beverage would be a bad idea, but if I blend it (like my breakfast shake) would that still be a problem?
[quote]JLu wrote:
Oh I see, that makes sense. I’ve had it in the fridge so that makes sense, I’ll set it on a counter and see if that changes anything. You mention adding to a cold beverage would be a bad idea, but if I blend it (like my breakfast shake) would that still be a problem?[/quote]
It’s not a problem in the sense that you won’t get the benefit because it will dissolve in the body.
The “problem” is that you may have small pieces in your shake. I’ve overcome this by adding it to the liquid first and blending at very high speed before adding other ingredients.
I’ve tried of a couple of different types. Some cheap and some expensive. The cheaper versions were kind of yellowish, while the expensive version was bright white. How much does the color indicate quality?
[quote]sestvold wrote:
Any recommended brands of coconut oil?
I’ve tried of a couple of different types. Some cheap and some expensive. The cheaper versions were kind of yellowish, while the expensive version was bright white. How much does the color indicate quality?[/quote]
I’m interested in this as well, since mine is bright white and I got it in the “international” aisle at the grocery store.
Coloration can only be due to presence of a substance that is not coconut oil. This might be an extremely small amount and trivial, or I suppose it could also be an indicator of being overall shoddy. I’ve never seen it: the brands I’ve bought have always been white.
[quote]JLu wrote:
sestvold wrote:
Any recommended brands of coconut oil?
I’ve tried of a couple of different types. Some cheap and some expensive. The cheaper versions were kind of yellowish, while the expensive version was bright white. How much does the color indicate quality?
I’m interested in this as well, since mine is bright white and I got it in the “international” aisle at the grocery store.[/quote]
When your buying stuff like coconut oil you want to make sure you get the purest form, which unfortunately is going to be the most expensive.
You want to get “virgin unrefined coconut oil”, which will be the whitest in color. Other cheaper versions are made using using the left over kernels that have already made virgin/unrefined coconut out, these kernels are put through extreme chemical and heat processes, and most of the time produce hydrogenated oils. Refined versions are usually diluted with other oils and waxes as well, making them cheaper (and also yellowish in color), and essentially negating the array of benefits that coconut oil provides.
Find other places to go cheap, for coconut oil though stick with the highest quality ones.
Thanks for the advice. I’ve only used the yellowish stuff as a backup if I ran out of the good stuff. I figured it probably wasn’t good. I just asked because of the possibility of saving me a lot of money.
FYI: The white oil is from “Jungle Products” and the yellowish is from “LouAna”.
In cold months, it stays solid here. I spread it on toast in place of butter. Add it to protein shakes. Cook with it. And sometimes just take a tablespoon of it when solid, and eat it that way. Mmmm!
I use a white pure form of it. Nutiva�® Certified Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Quality brand!
[quote]JLu wrote:
I just bought some coconut oil and it wasn’t what I expected. For one, it seems to be a solid white, almost buttery substance, not an oily liquid like I was expecting. Is this normal or does this mean I have some shitty refined product?
[/quote]
Of course it’s normal didn’t you realize it’s almost entirely saturated fat, which as we all know is not a bad thing at all.
[quote]SolidGround wrote:
Of course it’s normal didn’t you realize it’s almost entirely saturated fat, which as we all know is not a bad thing at all.[/quote]
There are different kinds of saturated fat. Coconut oil has a significant fraction of medium-chain-triglycerides, which are metabolized differently than the longer chain fatty acids that are usually portrayed as dietary villains.
[quote]jwillow wrote:
SolidGround wrote:
Of course it’s normal didn’t you realize it’s almost entirely saturated fat, which as we all know is not a bad thing at all.
There are different kinds of saturated fat. Coconut oil has a significant fraction of medium-chain-triglycerides, which are metabolized differently than the longer chain fatty acids that are usually portrayed as dietary villains.[/quote]
I think SolidGround’s point was this, saturated fats, regardless of what kind, tend to be solid at or near room temperature. Saturated fats are why you have a stick of butter and not a jar of butter.
