COCONUT OIL AROUND THE WORLD – FACTS AND DATA
Coconut oil is considered a panacea for all ills in India. It is used for various purposes starting with its application on our heads for healthy hair, as the preferred oil for cooking in some parts of India or to apply it on a bruise for faster healing. It is indeed a life saver for millions in India, a first aid of sorts – but let’s dive a little deeper and see if science backs this up.
Around the world
It will probably surprise you to learn that India is neither the greatest producer nor the biggest consumer of coconut oil. Those plaudits go to the Philippines, which happens to be the largest producer of Coconut Oil in the world followed by Indonesia and India. Over 70% of the global Coconut Oil production comes from the Philippines and Indonesia. 42% of the world’s exports are from the Philippines. When it comes to consumption, the US, and EU are major consumers in addition to the Philippines and India with a whopping estimated 3.5 MT consumed per annum.
According to a report published by Allied Market Research, the Global Coconut Oil market was estimated at $3.44 Billion dollars in 2020 and expected to hit $7.39 Billion dollars by 2030. That’s a CAGR of 5.1% from 2021 to 2030. The Virgin Coconut oil segment is projected to grow even faster at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2021 to 2030.
The miracle oil
Coconut Oil is made by pressing Copra (dried or fresh coconut flesh). It needs to be stored in a cool place in a sealed container or in the fridge. The shelf life depends on the type of processing and storage and could vary from a few months to a few years. It has been classified into 1) Virgin and 2) Refined Bleached and Deodorized (RBD) Coconut Oil. Virgin Oil is recommended due to it being less processed than RBD.
Clinical trials have shown that Coconut oil, which has high saturated fat content, of approx. 83%, was found to increase HDL and LDL (both good and bad) Cholesterol levels in participants compared to non-tropical oils such as Sunflower Oil, Olive Oil, Canola Oil and other tropical oils such as Palm Oil. Its impact on Cholesterol indicates that consumption of Coconut Oil in large quantities is not ideal for good heart health. This is a revelation to a lot of us who believed Coconut Oil was the next best invention to sliced bread.
However, the saturated fat in Coconut Oil is made of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which metabolize differently in our bodies than long chain triglycerides. This is a crucial difference which makes Coconut Oil a better choice since MCTs go directly to the liver and burn as fuel instead of being stored in the body as fat.
Coconut Oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids with a composition of 50% Lauric Acid, 7% Capric Acid, 8% Caprylic Acid and 0.5% Caproic Acid. Studies have shown that Lauric and Capric acid displayed anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties against bacteria related to acne inflammation. Lauric Acid also has anti-microbial properties that help in decreasing plaque when coconut oil is used for Oil Pulling.
Coconut Oil delivers a plethora of health benefits through its anti-viral, anti-thrombotic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties. Since it is not easily soluble, it helps attacking wet membranes that protect fungal cells. Virgin Coconut Oil has been known to help in reduction of blood clots. Coconut Oil has an SPF of 4 and can provide a little protection from the sun although not as much as traditional sunscreens with higher SPFs. No wonder then that Coconut Oil has been called as a “Drugstore in a bottle”! Grandma, you were right all along!
Cold pressed Coconut Oil - Let’sLive Products
Let’sLive Coconut oil is for all seasons. This miracle oil is extracted from coconuts that come from certified organic farms in Tamil Nadu. Sparkling & Pure, this coconut oil has versatile uses. It can be used as a natural personal care product to protect your hair and as a moisturizer to get glowing skin
Shop Cold-pressed Coconut Oil today!
About Let’sLive
Let’sLive is a social empowerment enterprise committed to enhancing and improving the livelihoods of tribal and farming communities. We work directly with small-scale farmers so that our customers can get access to products that are natural, pristine, and picked from the lap of nature. We encourage and provide advice for practicing ethical farming and eco-friendly methods to all those who partner with us.
At Let'sLive we are passionate about bringing 100% all-natural and healthy products directly from the farming and tribal communities to your doorstep like Pure Raw Honey, Traditional varieties of rice, etc. We want our consumers to enjoy and have direct access to the products that are pristine and picked directly from the lap of nature. The mandates by which we operate are:
* Value every life around us by encouraging ethical farming
* Leverage local knowledge and promote legacy harvesting practices with high hygienic standards
* No preservatives or artificial processing on any of our products
* Each product can be traced to its origins and the people involved in its making
* Educate consumers on the importance of consuming rich and natural local produce
To know more about us read here