How is your Organic Shortening made?

To make Spectrum Naturals Organic Shortening, we start with organic palm oil, extracted via manual pressing without the use of harmful chemicals. The oil is refined using a certified organic, chemical free process similar to Spectrum's other organic oils. The palm oil is then whipped using nitrogen, resulting in creamy consistency similar to conventional shortening.

 

Will Coconut Oil help me lose weight?

We do not market our Coconut Oils as weight loss supplements. It is true, however, that medium chain fatty acids tend to digest quickly, producing energy and stimulating the metabolism. But we believe that coconut oil is no better or worse for weight loss. Using coconut oil as an alternative to butter or trans-fat laden hydrogenated oils, along with a healthy diet and exercise plan, should help with your weight loss goals.

 

Why use Spectrum Naturals Organic Coconut Oil?

Spectrum Naturals Organic Coconut Oil is grown without the use of pesticides and is closer to nature than other coconut oils found on the market, which tend to be over-processed or hydrogenated. Organic Coconut Oil has subtle coconut flavor and is unrefined. Packaged in a wide mouth glass jar, it is typically found in the culinary oils section of the store. Coconut oil is extracted from the meat of the tropical coconut. It is 100% vegetable oil and vegan. Coconut oil's fatty acid profile consists of about 92% saturated fat, making it very stable and safe to store at room temperature. Because of its natural stability, Spectrum's Organic Coconut Oil is a good alternative to butter and shortening for medium heat baking and sautéing. Organic Coconut Oil is not suitable for use at high heat levels. In addition to its long and successful history as a tropical culinary oil, coconut oil has been used for centuries as a body care product that nourishes, moisturizes and protects skin and hair. Look for Spectrum Essentials Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil in an HDPE plastic jar in the body care section of your natural food store.

 

How is Organic Coconut Oil processed?

Fresh coconut when first crushed is a delicate pink color—not the white you might expect. The oil is filtered using earthen clays to naturally bleach out the pink hue. Pressing can generate heat beyond 180 degrees for 5 minutes or longer. Crude coconut oil needs to have its natural enzymes pasteurized and is heated to neutralize them. Otherwise, the oil will rapidly deteriorate. Because of its stable nature once pasteurized, use of heat does not compromise the oil's nutritional value. In fact, this step is essential, otherwise the oil goes rancid quickly in the tropical heat, where coconut milk remnants and any atmospheric moisture combine to create hydroperoxcidity in a form of free radicals. The nuts are not cooked, just mildly heat tempered. To further prevent hydroperoxides from forming, the oil is contained in a vacuum chamber to remove tramp moisture.

 

Does Coconut Oil have health promoting properties?

Coconut oil has been shown to have antiviral and antimicrobial properties due to the lauric acid fraction in the oil. Its fatty acid profile consists primarily of caprylic and lauric acids, which support immune function. Coconut oil is also used medicinally for candida and yeast infections. Its healing reputation is attributed to the caproic fatty acids found in high concentrations compared to other plant material.

 

What about Coconut Oil's high saturated fat content?

Spectrum recommends that you limit consumption of saturated fats and make sure those you do consume are of the highest quality. Our bodies need about ten percent of our fat calories from saturates, but we generally don't need to be concerned about incorporating them because the human body is capable of manufacturing saturates when needed. The best saturates are vegetarian based, not animal based; animal saturates contain cholesterol. Think of coconut oil, which has a reputation as a healthy oil in tropical regions, as a good alternative to other highly processed oils like hydrogenated oils and conventional shortenings.These unhealthy fats are processed with metal catalysts at very high heat levels and rapidly generate dangerous trans fats, now considered to be more harmful to the body than saturated fat. Organic Coconut Oil is a good alternative to butter, margarine and shortening for medium heat cooking and baking.