Coconut Oil Vs. Olive Oil

Coconut oil has emerged recently as a new alternative in healthy eating. The oil has similar qualities to butter and some studies show that it improves various body functions. Olive oil, on the other hand, is a completely different kind of fat and is known for its ability to be used more effectively by the body and the antioxidants that purer versions of the oil possess. While there are many foods that can be prepared with one or the other, some recipes required coconut oil to be effective (such as low-fat ice creams) while others cannot be made without olive oil.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an extract derived from coconut meat, the white and edible part of the coconut. The oil can either be skimmed from coconut milk, which is created using a mixture of coconut meat and water, or pressed directly from coconut meat that has been shredded and dried. Virgin coconut oil differs from virgin olive oil, and refers simply to oil made from fresh coconuts instead of older samples that have been dried.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is an extract produced by pressing olives until they release, along with their moisture, a particular kind of oil. This oil is then purified and bottled. There are many different grades of olive, with the finest or extra virgin olive oil being the oil first produced by squeezed olives and most free of contaminants, while later grades are darker and considered less pure.

Uses for Coconut Oil

Fats and oils differ based on what forms they take at room temperature. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature, and unsaturated fats take the form of oils. Coconut oil is a rare exception to this general principle: below 76 degrees Fahrenheit it is usually a solid, but above that it becomes an oil, blurring the line between the two types of fat. Since saturated fats are less healthy than unsaturated, interest in coconut oil remained minimal until new research showed signs that coconut oil's unique structure may be more easily dissolved by the body than polyunsaturated fats. These digestion-friendly features, along with thyroid and anti-fungus benefits also claimed by proponents, have led to an increase in coconut oil interest.

Uses for Olive Oil

Olive oil has been considered a healthy source of fats for many years. It is composed of approximately 75 percent monosaturated fats and only 13 percent saturated fats, which allows the human body to more easily absorb and use the fat productively. Olive oil has also been shown to have ant-oxidant properties, especially in its purer forms. In the past, people have used olive oil for a variety of bathing activities in addition to cooking, and today olive oil is still used as a home remedy for damaged hair and as an alternative to synthetic wood cleaners.

Comparisons

Coconut oil does not become rancid and provides a large number of health benefits, including improved thyroid function. Olive oil is more common and has a wider range of applications (currently), but is in fact a completely different kind of oil, composed of monounsaturated fats. While both options appear to be healthier than consuming fully saturated or polyunsaturated fats, their spheres of application do not completely intersect, and there are unique uses for each.

References

• Olive Oil And Coconut Oil
• Coconut Oil: Why it is Good For You
• A New Look at Coconut Oil