Our highest quality Organic Cold-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil is a health supplement, natural cosmetic, superior cooking oil and potent herbal medicine all-in-one due to it containing the highest known source of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA’s) with more than > 50% lauric acid. Taken internally it has a light fresh taste and on the skin it has superior moisturizing properties with quick absorption.

Known as the “tree of one thousand uses”, the coconut has allowed humans to live and thrive in harsh tropical coastal environments. The mature coconut fruit provides the main ingredients that provide the rich creamy flavors found throughout Malay and tropical Asian cooking; coconut oil and coconut milk and (the recent gluten-free development) of coconut flour. The unique medium chain fatty acids found almost exclusively in coconuts contain no cholesterol, are heat stable and have been found to possess multiple health benefits, antimicrobial effects and powerful antioxidants that protect us from a range of health problems prevalent in modern life. Coconut water from young coconuts are considered the perfect rehydration liquid. Additionally, the coconut flowers provide the healthiest of all sugars, coconut sugar, with a low glycemic index of only 35 and is uniquely rich in nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Finally, no tropical house is complete without some product made from the coconut palm fronds or coconut wood. The coconut palm is truly a miracle tree that the benefits of which can now be utilized all over the world.

Virgin Coconut Oil has been shown to:

1. Boost energy levels and is useful in chronic fatigue syndrome
2. Prevents LDL cholesterol oxidation and inflammation in the arteries
3. Support the immune system and has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties
4. New research reveals a preventative role in Alzheimer’s Disease, Epilepsy and protection of the nervous system and brain from the effects of aging
5. Support thyroid function, raises metabolism & promotes weight loss
6. Help reduce hypoglycemic cravings & improves symptoms of digestive disorders
7. Promote strong, dark hair (prevents greying) and has moisturizing and protective properties for the skin
8. Possesses a gastrointestinal & anti-inflammatory effect
9. Anti stress and antioxidant effect

To understand the many health benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil one need only research the positive health effects of the main ingredients found within the oil, known as Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA’s) in particular, Lauric acid. VCO is composed of more than 65% MCFA’s.

Q: How to Choose the Best Quality Virgin Coconut Oil? 

A: Virgin coconut oil means that the oil is extracted from fresh coconuts, preferably organic certified coconuts. There are several processes used for making Virgin Coconut Oil  to separate the oil from the coconut meat and water. The terms “extra virgin” and “virgin” are the same, as this distinction only applies with Olive Oil because Virgin Coconut Oil is only pressed once. The main medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) in Virgin Coconut Oil is Lauric Acid and this makes up approximately 50% of the oil irregardless of the specific extraction technique used. Pure Virgin Coconut Oil should have the following properties:

1) Made from fresh coconuts via cold pressing to produce an oil that contains the optimal balance between the medium chain fatty acids and more sensitive polyphenols and vitamins.

2) It should be reasonably priced. Avoid exorbitantly priced brands as they offer no actual advantages and may in fact be of inferior quality.

3) A transparent colour when liquid. Virgin Coconut Oil will solidify below 24 degrees centigrade and become a white colour when solid. To return Virgin Coconut Oil to a clear liquid, simply place the container in hot water. Commercial processed / refined coconut oil normally has a slight yellow colour.

4) No detectable water or sediment or sour smell. When in liquid form always inspect the bottom of the container as this is where excess moisture will be present as a white layer on the bottom of the container. Pure Virgin Coconut Oil will keep for several years without problem, however excess moisture content will reduce the shelf life considerably and give an “off” sour smell. We have observed that many Virgin Coconut Oil products produced by centrifuge process have a higher than desired water content and has a sour fermented smell. Virgin Coconut Oil produced by the traditional fermentation method has a very sour smell and is not acceptable for modern consumers.

Virgin Coconut Oil and Skin Health and Beauty

Virgin Coconut Oil contains unique properties; phytonutrients and medium chain saturated fatty acids that act as free radical scavengers that absorbs topically into the skin, provides intense moisturization and slows down skin ageing. This occurs by preventing the damaging effects of sunlight UV radiation and pollution on the skin down to the deeper layers of the dermis. Almost all moisturizers sold by expensive brands contain numerous toxic ingredients that provide only a superficial feel of softness while adding more toxic residue and exhausting the skins own repair and antioxidant enzymes, accelerating skin ageing. Virgin Coconut Oil is, of course, used by all traditional cultures in tropical Asia for maintaining smooth skin and luxuriant hair, without the need for any costly multinational cosmetic products.

Virgin Coconut Oil and Energy

Medium chain fatty acids are so small that they are digested quickly and the body uses them as an immediate source of fuel rather than packing them away in storage inside our fat cells. MCFA’s are used to produce energy similar to carbohydrates and therefore are not circulated in the bloodstream like Omega 6 vegetable oils (hence they do not increase the bad LDL cholesterol and lead to arterial deposits). Thus they supply energy without the need for insulin and are very suited for preventing blood sugar imbalances. They do not contribute to weight gain as they help to boost metabolism. In addition, MCFA’s contain powerful antimicrobial effects against many harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses. For a study on the many scientifically documented health benefits of coconut oil and other coconut products from the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, please click here.

Virgin Coconut Oil and Brain Function

Virgin Coconut Oil is now the being intensively researched for its effects on preventing and assisting in the treatment of nervous system diseases including; Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, epilepsy, dementia, even schizophrenia and autism. Much of the breakthrough work on this subject has been performed by Dr. Mary Newport. In her book titled, Alzheimer’s Disease: What If There Was A Cure?  Dr. Newport outlines how her husbands developing Alzheimer’s Disease has led her to finding the cure in virgin coconut oil.  Due to the groundbreaking nature of this discovery thousands of people are consuming Virgin Coconut Oil for Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative conditions and the positive patient testimonials are appearing online every day. Alzheimer’s disease is considered an incurable disease with no medical solution available, despite billions of dollars being poured into research. To understand how Virgin Coconut Oil is useful in Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurological disorders begins with understanding the all important ketones that are produced after Virgin Coconut Oil digestion, please click here for a step-by-step intro by Dr. Newport.

Virgin coconut oil is also being used as a more user friendly replacement for the stricter ketogenic diet in all those neurological conditions which have previously shown benefit from this diet, especially childhood and adult epilepsy and certain forms of cancer.

Virgin Coconut Oil prevents LDL Cholesterol Oxidation and Inflammation in the Arteries

The polyunsaturated oils we commonly use for cooking are primarily composed of Long Chain Fatty Acids (LCFA’s) that require LDL cholesterol (the bad one) to move the fat through the bloodstream contributing to arterial plaque build-up and fat storage because LCFA’s are rapidly altered by free radicals creating oxidized LDL cholesterol which is the main culprit in arterial disease. Furthermore, common vegetable oils contain a majority of Omega 6 fatty acids which are excessive in modern diets and play a role in arterial inflammation (not to be confused with the essential Omega 3 oils from oily fish and flaxseed oil which also help to counteract this). Virgin Coconut Oil is made up for more than 65% MCFA’s that are highly resistant to oxidation and with the lowest Omega 6 ratio of all vegetable oils . It is now being increasingly understood that only oxidized fats can end up as arterial plaque and the composition of 74% of this plaque comes from poly and mono unsaturated vegetable oils. Regularly consuming Virgin Coconut Oil also improves HDL cholesterol (the good one) thus improving the all important ratio between LDL and HDL.

Oil Pulling with Virgin Coconut Oil

The practice of swishing Virgin Coconut Oil in the mouth for oral health is a traditional folk remedy in India that has been gaining huge popularity worldwide with many thousands of testimonies to its benefit for a whole range of conditions. Clinical studies have also shown that Coconut Oil has a comparable antibacterial effect to modern chemical mouthwash as well as comparable antifungal effect to pharmaceutical drugs for oral-candidiasis. From Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying & Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing by Naturopathic physician Bruce Fife.

“The oil acts like a cleanser. When you put it in your mouth and work it around your teeth and gums it “pulls” out bacteria and other debris,” says Fife. “As simple as it is, oil pulling has a very powerful detoxifying effect. Our mouths are the home to billions of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites and their toxins. Candida and Streptococcus are common residents in our mouths. It is these types of germs and their toxic waste products that cause gum disease and tooth decay and contribute to many other health problems including arthritis and heart disease. Our immune system is constantly fighting these troublemakers. If our immune system becomes overloaded or burdened by excessive stress, poor diet, environmental toxins and such, these organisms can spread throughout the body causing secondary infections and chronic inflammation, leading to any number of health problems.”

The Rise of Virgin Coconut Oil

Diet is the single most important factor under our control in health and disease prevention. In sharp contrast to only 10 years ago, nowadays health authorities are recommending patients to replace their regular cooking oils with Virgin Coconut Oil to fight obesity, reduce the build-up of oxidized cholesterol in the arteries and to maintain their immune health. We are faced with a dietary crisis globally that has seen a full rethink on the outdated food pyramid model and food recommendations of the past 40 years. Everyone is in agreement that modern diets have excessive carbohydrates, in particular excess refined carbohydrates and sugars. At the cutting edge of this new understanding is the appreciation that Medium Chain Fatty Acids from Virgin Coconut Oil provide an essential component in modern diets and the inclusion of Coconut Milk and Virgin Coconut Oil in many health and dietary publications and cookbooks is testimony to this dietary revolution.

In Malaysia, one of the medical pioneers in recommending Virgin Coconut Oil to his patients is Dr Eng Ji Ba, a practicing thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon who obtained his medical degree from the University of Cambridge, England (see article here).  In an article entitled “Debunking the coconut milk myth” Dr Kamariah Long of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) has explained that coconut milk has been misunderstood as a contributor to unhealthy cholesterol levels and that scientific research shows the opposite to be true and that “It is high time to correct the negative perception about coconut milk and recognise the importance of this natural heritage that has been bestowed upon us“. (See article here).

A recent open clinical study conducted at University Science Malaysia tested the effects of Virgin Coconut Oil on weight loss, safety and blood parameters on 20 obese but healthy Malay (male and female) volunteers. The study was performed for only 4 weeks at a dosage of 30ml per day (2 teaspoons 3 times daily). The complete study paper can be downloaded here. What was interesting for this study was that the participants were instructed to eat normally and not to change normal physical activity. At the end of the 4 weeks, the obese men in particular showed a marked reduction in waist circumference (WC) of more than 1 inch on average (2.86 cm). All other blood parameters were normal. The researchers concluded that VCO is completely safe for use and especially effective for reducing waist circumference in obese men.

Virgin Coconut Oil is far superior to processed (refined, bleached and deodorized) coconut oil. To quote a recent study from the National University of Malaysia (University Kebangsaan Malaysia):

” Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has captured a lot of interest because of its possible role in enhancing body defense against oxidative stress. VCO is different from the ordinary coconut oil as the former contains a lot more biologically active components such as polyphenols, tocopherols, sterols, and squalene [11]. It has been established that the antioxidant activity in VCO is higher than refined coconut oil [12, 13]. VCO has been shown to enhance antioxidant enzymes activity and inhibit the lipid peroxidation in rats [14].

The beneficial effects of VCO have been investigated in various experimental models. Other than having anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects [15], coconut oil has an antiviral effect whereby it decreases the viral load and increases CD4, CD8 count in HIV patients [16]. The superior moisturizing property of VCO renders it to be more effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis compared to virgin olive oil [17].”

Those communities in countries consuming the highest amounts of coconut milk and coconut oil (and less consumption of regular vegetable oils) such as in Polynesia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and the Philippines have not only lower serum cholesterol but also lower obesity rates and lower coronary heart disease rates, in both prevalence and mortality.

We have seen first hand that those traditional Asian cultures that continue to use Virgin Coconut Oil and other Coconut products on a daily basis, enjoy excellent health and freedom from obesity and many modern diseases. This does not however, include those Asian cultures where the use of processed vegetable oils, margarine and hydrogenated vegetable shortening has become the norm (like Malaysia). It is commonly seen in this part of the world that as diets change from traditional to modern / processed, then they unknowingly increase their likelihood of suffering from diseases that were seldom seem by their predecessors such as; heart disease, cancers, diabetes, inflammatory, nervous and metabolic disorders. Indeed, the modern proponents of the “paleolithic diet” a.k.a Caveman Diet, are recommending a return to Virgin Coconut Oil, Coconut Flour and Coconut Sugar in replacement of their processed equivalents as part of the optimum diet in harmony with our genetic (pre-agricultural) legacy.

How do I take Virgin Coconut Oil?

Virgin Coconut Oil can be used in all your cooking, frying, barbecuing and baking needs to replace regular Omega 6 vegetable oils in your kitchen or taken as a food supplement directly or added to drinks, smoothies, yoghurt etc.

Children 2 to 6 years old:  1 teaspoon morning and night.

Children 7 to 12 years old: 2 teaspoons morning and night.

Adults:  Take 2 teaspoons 3 times daily. When first taking Virgin Coconut Oil start with 1 teaspoon with each meal. Rarely, people experience loose motions for a few days (this may be a sign of intestinal fungal infection or candidiasis as it is being destroyed).

Virgin Coconut Oil is both safe and recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding and is an excellent antioxidant rich massage oil to prevent stretch marks.

All Rainforest Herbs Virgin Coconut Oil products are Halal certified by JAKIM

Used in Cooking: Mix into salads or use as cooking oil, a healthy replacement for all processed polyunsaturated cooking oils that are easily damaged by heat. Can also be kept in a container in the fridge and used as a family spread on bread. If you prefer to try our Organic Coconut Oil that is odourless and tasteless then check out our page here.

Used Externally: Apply as moisturizer to hair & skin or on infected areas. For hair, apply once or twice a week for 20 minutes, then rinse, shampoo and condition as normal.

Download our Rainforest Herbs Virgin Coconut Oil Brochure Here

Rainforest Herbs Virgin Coconut Oil 500mls is available in either bottles or jars. As Virgin Coconut Oil will harden / solidify in temperatures below 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) you may order in Jar form for greater convenience in non-tropical climates. Kindly email us if you require your order in a bottle / jar without label.