Coconut Oil Survey & Resources

Compiled and written by Jackie Ahlstrom, moderator of Bee's Candida Support Group, October 2005, and revised June 28, 2008.

This is the result of a non–scientific coconut oil survey taken of Candida Support Group members. They were asked for the name of their favorite brand(s) of coconut oil, to describe its taste, aroma, texture, and where they buy it, along with any other comments they wanted to offer.

Please order unrefined coconut oil through these sources,
to help Bee support her website:

Mountain Rose Herbs Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil.
Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.
iHerb, Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, get $5.00 off your first purchase if you have not ordered from iHerb before, by giving them Bee's Rewards Number.

Coconut Oil Properties & Benefits

Coconut oil is rich in medium–chain saturated fatty acids which have numerous health–giving qualities. Coconut oil is about 50% lauric acid, a rare medium–chain fatty acid found in mother's milk that supports healthy metabolism and is now being studied for its anti–fungal, anti–viral, and anti–bacterial health–protecting properties. Overall, coconut oil contains 92% saturated fats, and only 1% Omega 6, the fat most people get way too much of.

Ideal as a high–heat cooking oil, a "better than butter" spread for bread and steamed veggies, or a tasty and nutritious substitute for shortening in baking, coconut oil is solid at room temperature, melts at 75° F (25° C). It will keep up to two years without being refrigerated. Coconut Oil should be a pure white color in its solid form and it becomes clear when melted.

Purchase a Good Quality Coconut Oil

Make sure you purchase a good quality "Virgin" or "Extra Virgin" coconut oil, and NOT one that is Refined, Bleached, Deoderized (RBD) or hydrogenated. Good quality oils have a distinctive coconut flavor and aroma. Some brands of coconut oil have a stronger odor and/or flavor than others. Taste is a matter of personal preference.

Besides being used as a nutritional supplement, many people use coconut oil as a skin–care product. Coconut oil is readily absorbed through the skin, so just as you would not want to ingest a lower quality RBD coconut oil, it is important that you not use it externally either. You should buy the same top quality coconut oil for external use as you consume internally.

A non–scientific coconut oil survey was taken of our Candida Support Group members. They were asked to share the name of their favorite brands of coconut oil, to describe its taste, aroma and texture, where they buy it and any other commentary they wanted to offer.

Coconut Oil Survey Results & Resources

Below is a list of Coconut Oil sources and specific brand information obtained either from brand websites or members of the group, including comments by group members.

Garden of Life

Website: Garden of Life

The Garden of Life company produces nutritional supplements, specialty foods and personal care products.

Garden of Life 100% Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is 100% vegetarian, non–GMO, not hydrogenated, bleached, refined or deodorized. It is produced using the same methods farmers have used for centuries. Coconut meat extracted from only the freshest, organically grown coconuts is shredded and cold–pressed to make coconut milk. The milk is left to ferment 24–36 hours, during which time the oil separates. The end product is a high quality oil with natural coconut flavor and aroma.

Candida Support Group members who use this oil like its taste, stating that it has a smooth & creamy texture, a mild coconut flavor and hardly any coconut aroma.

They offer Extra Virgin Coconut Oil in 16 and 32 ounce glass jars.

Garden of Life products are available at retail outlets throughout the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico, as well as many online retailers. See their website store locator for assistance in finding a retailer near you.

Garden of Life
5500 Village Blvd., Suite 202
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Phone: (551) 748-2477

Green Pasture's

Website: Green Pasture

Green Pasture is a distributor for Blue Breeze Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. They also sell Butter Oil and Cod Liver Oil.

Blue Breeze Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is processed in an old–world cold–pressed method using only choice fresh coconuts and packaged in a unique small batch process. Their quality assurance procedure ensures a consistent creamy textured, fresh, mild flavored coconut oil.

Blue Breeze Organic, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is available in 26 ounce and 1 gallon size containers.

David & Barbara Wetzel
Mail Orders: P.O. Box 443, O'Neill, NE 68763
Phone: (402) 858-4818

Herbs of Light

Website: Herbs of Light

Herbs of Light produces GMO-free, living foods, herbal blends and extracts. They offer an Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. One member of our Candida Support Group that has tried it describes it as "delicate" and "by far the best tasting coconut oil I've ever slapped a lip on!"

Herbs of Light coconut oil has not been heated above 113°F or 45°C while the organic coconuts are processed within 1 1/2 hours of being opened.

Herbs of Light Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil is available in 15 ounce amber colored glass jars.

Herbs of Light coconut oil is available at select retail outlets. See their website store locator for a location nearest you.

Herbs of Light, Inc.
PO Box 1648
High Springs, FL 32655
Phone: (800) 313-3001
Fax: (800) 837-2244
Email: info@herbsoflight.com

Mountain Rose Herbs

Mountain Rose Herbs has consistently delivered exceptional quality certified organic products since 1987, with a strict emphasis on sustainable agriculture. They offer bulk organic herbs and spices, essential oils, herbal teas and a wide variety of other products. See this list of Mountain Rose Herbs – Products Recommended by Bee.

Mountain Rose Herbs sells two kinds of coconut oil. A "Refined" Organic variety and an "Unrefined" Organic Virgin variety. Buy the "Unrefined" Organic Virgin Coconut Oil and not the "Refined" Coconut Oil.

Group members like the taste and price of Mountain Rose Herbs coconut oil. Their customer service is reported as being exceptional.

Their Unrefined Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is Cold–Pressed. It is a truly a spectacular oil with a deep, and mildly intoxicating scent of pure Coconut pulp. It is available in 1 gallon size only.

Mountain Rose Herbs
Eugene, OR 97405

NOW

Website: NOW

NOW Foods is a manufacturer of award-winning health-related products including vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements and natural foods. They offer two food-grade coconut oils and one coconut oil suitable for use on the skin.

NOW Virgin Coconut Oil is a high grade, unrefined premium nutritional edible oil obtained by an innovative wet-processing of fresh coconut milk from the kernels of Non-Genetically Engineered coconuts, obtained from the first cold-pressing of organic coconut (Cocos nucifera). It is certified organic and labelled as 100% vegetarian.

NOW Virgin Coconut Oil is available in 12 and 20 ounce jars.

NOW products are available at health food stores throughout the USA and Canada. There are also many online retail outlets to be found on the internet.

NOW Foods
395 S. Glen Ellyn Road
Bloomingdale, IL 60108

Nui

Website: Nui

African Pacific is a dedicated Australian Fair Trade Co. focusing on the production of certified organic virgin coconut oil and wild harvest products in the South Pacific. They offer a range of body care and food products using 100% certified organic virgin coconut oil under the Nui brand name.

One Candida Support Group member who uses Nui brand coconut oil says it has a mild coconut flavor and a medium coconut odor.

Nui Coconut Oil is available in 440ml, 1litre, 10 litre and 20 litre brown plastic jars.

You can find Nui coconut oil at a wide variety of retail outlets throughout Australia. See their website for store locations in your area.

African Pacific Pty Ltd,
PO Box 99
Spit Junction, NSW, 2088
Phone: 61 2 9938 3741 or 1300 667 668
email: sales@africanpacific.com
for Europe and UK sales click here.

Nutiva

Website: Nutiva.

Nutiva sells Certified Organic, non-GMO, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

Certified organic and non-GMO, Nutiva coconut oil is processed within two hours of the coconuts being chopped. The oil is cold-pressed at below 104°F and expeller-pressed within two hours of chopping. Nutiva coconut oil is unrefined, chemical-free, unfermented, unbleached, undeodorized and unhydrogenated.

*Please note that any tiny brown specks found at the bottom of Nutiva's Coconut Oil are from the coconut fiber and are indigenous to extra-virgin coconut oil.

Nutiva coconut oil is a popular and well-liked oil among our Candida Support Group members. They describe it as having a medium to strong coconut flavor and a medium to strong coconut aroma.

It is available on Bee's website at: Nutiva or through iHerb, get $5.00 off your first purchase if you have not ordered from iHerb before, by giving them Bee's Rewards Number.

Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is available in 15, 29 and 54 ounce PET jars (safe plastic container). Bulk 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes are also available.

Nutiva
P.O. Box 1716
Sebastopol, CA 95473
1-800-993-4367
General Information: inquiries@nutiva.com

Omega Nutrition

Omega Nutrition offers two varieties of coconut oil; one they call "100% Organic" and the other is "Virgin Coconut Oil". They describe the "Virgin Coconut Oil" as a "full flavor aromatic" oil.

Certified organic and kosher, Omega Nutrition's organic Virgin Coconut Oil is full of flavor and aroma, and is extracted from fresh coconuts. Omega's Virgin Coconut Oil is made within a maximum of three hours and is processed at temperatures so low that it is suitable for a raw food diet.

Dr. Bruce Fife, highly respected author of "The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil", describes Omega Nutrition Coconut Oil as "a very good quality, flavorless, all purpose cooking oil."

One Candida Support Group member who uses this oil says that it has virtually no coconut taste or aroma. The company literature states that it is "aroma free." While another list member describes it as having a medium-strong coconut aroma and flavor and yet another member describes the flavor as mild and sort of "smokey."

100% Organic Coconut Oil is available in 16 and 32 ounce brown plastic jars. Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is only available in the 16 ounce size.

Omega Nutrition products are available at a variety of retail locations in the US and Canada. Their website will soon have a store locator for your convenience. You may also call their toll free Customer Service number (1–800–661–3529) to find a store near you. They also have retail outlets in Canada, England and Japan.

Puritan's Pride

Website: Puritan's Pride

Puritan's Pride is a mail order and online catalog company that sells a wide variety of nutritional supplements and personal care products under their own brand name. Due to their consistent quality and low cost they have a loyal customer base.

Made from organically grown coconuts, Puritan's Pride Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is non-GMO, 100% vegetarian, unrefined and non-deodorized.

Puritan's Pride coconut oil is well-liked by Candida support group members who use it. They say the coconut flavor is mild-medium and the aroma is medium-strong. They like the smooth, silky, buttery texture of this oil and appreciate the affordable price.

Puritan's Pride sells only one variety and one size jar of coconut oil: 16 ounce in an opaque white plastic jar of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. They frequently have sales that offer a substantial discount, i.e. 2 for 1, 3 for 1, 60% off, etc. Check their website for the latest offers. Ordering can be done by mail, phone or through their online catalog.

Puritan's Pride ships domestic and internationally-including Canada and Mexico.

Puritan's Pride
Oakdale, NY 11769
Phone orders: 1-800-645-1030

Simply Coconut

Website: Simply Coconut

Simply Coconut, LLC is a distributor of Aloha Nu and Coconut Pacific brand coconut products. Aloha Nu Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a premium quality oil. It is 100% raw. Aloha Nu Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is made from fresh, rich coconut cream. Coconut oil is separated from the cream using a centrifuge with no added heat. The highest temperature the oil sees is 104° F. This is well below the heat living and growing coconuts experience on the trees in the hot tropical sun. Consequently, all the nutrients, such as vitamin E, remain in the oil. This is a living oil full of nutrition, the way nature made it.

Coconut Pacific coconut oil is Certified Organic, Extra Virgin, Raw Coconut Oil immediately cold pressed from fresh coconuts after being picked from the tree. Packaged in glass jars to maintain purity.

Candida Support Group members who have tried their coconut oil describe it as having a creamy texture and light coconut aroma and flavor.

Simply Coconut offers Aloha Nu Certified Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil in plastic and glass jars in 16 and 32 ounce, and 1 gallon sizes. A 5 gallon size is also available.

Simply Coconut products are available by mail order or internet order only. In the past, Simply Coconut has offered free samples of their coconut oil. Contact them for availability.

Simply Coconut, LLC
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: (719) 596-4875

Spectrum

Herbs of Light

Spectrum actually sells three coconut oils. Two are Spectrum Naturals Organic Refined Coconut Oil and Spectrum Naturals Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil (they come in 14 ounce glass jars), and are labeled as culinary oils. The other is Spectrum Essentials Organic Coconut Oil (comes in a 15 ounce plastic tub), and is labeled for skin and hair care. The unrefined coconut oils have a distinct coconut flavor and aroma and the refined coconut oil has a neutral flavor for a greater variety of applications.

Candida Support Group members give Spectrum coconut oil mixed reviews. Some people like it, others adamantly do not. Those that do like and use it say it has a mild–medium coconut taste and aroma.

Spectrum Naturals Organic Coconut Oils are available at a wide variety of retail health food store locations throughout the USA. They have limited availability in Canada. Use their website store locator to find a retail location near you. You can also buy Spectrum products from their online store or from a variety of other online retailers.

Spectrum Organic Products, Inc.
5341 Old Redwood Hwy., Suite 400
Petaluma, CA 94954

Tropical Traditions (TT)

Website: Tropical Traditions

TT sells many other products, including Organic grass–fed Beef and Bison meat, organic grass–fed raw cheeses, organic spices, organic oils, skin care products, household goods, etc.

Tropical Traditions is a popular and well–liked coconut oil with our Candida Support Group members. They say TT Organic Virgin Coconut Oil has a medium–strong coconut flavor and a medium–strong coconut smell. They like its creamy texture. The "Expeller Pressed" variety of coconut oil is odorless and tasteless. Tropical Traditions Expeller Pressed coconut oil has all the same nutritional benefits of their regular virgin oil. One list member loves TT coconut oil so much she describes it as "nectar of the Gods."

Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is a truly unrefined coconut oil. This coconut oil is made on Mount Banahaw and surrounding areas from organic coconuts. At this time the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is available in a special 16 ounce "trial" size jar OR in 32 ounce, 1 gallon and 5 gallon size containers.

Tropical Traditions Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil is a high quality machine–made Virgin Coconut Oil. Certified organic fresh coconuts are first dried and then the oil is cold–pressed out by machine. As with other Virgin Coconut Oils, this oil retains the scent and taste of coconuts. Our Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil is made in a central location in the Philippines under strict quality control procedures to produce a consistent product that meets stringent USDA organic certification standards. This high quality Virgin Coconut Oil is NOT made from copra, but from certified organic fresh coconuts that are processed shortly after they are harvested. After the oil is cold–pressed out of the dried coconut meat, no further refining is needed. Tropical Traditions Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil come in 32 ounce, 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes.

Tropical Traditions Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil is a high quality refined coconut oil. This oil is processed the "old" way by what is called "physical refining." The modern way of processing coconut oil is by chemical extraction, using solvent extracts, which produces higher yields and is quicker and less expensive. Tropical Traditions Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil DOES NOT use solvent extracts. It is made the "old" way by expeller–pressed mechanical extraction. This oil is also NOT hydrogenated, and contains NO trans-fats. It is a very good quality food–grade coconut oil.

Tropical Traditions Organic Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil is made from certified organic coconuts that have NOT been treated with chemicals or fertilizers. It is certified organic according to European and USDA standards. Our Organic Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil is high in the medium chain fatty acids, such as Lauric acid. Organic Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil is less expensive than Virgin Coconut Oil, and because it goes through a steam deodorizing process the taste is very bland, unlike Virgin Coconut Oil which retains the odor and taste of fresh coconuts. Some people prefer a bland, tasteless oil. This coconut oil is solid below 76° F. and liquid above that.

Tropical Traditions Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil, non–certified, is made from high quality coconuts in the Philippines. This is the "common" type oil that millions of people in Asia consume on a daily basis. It is less expensive than our certified organic Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil because it does not include the cost of organic certification. We get our Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil, non–certified, from unpolluted areas of the Philippines where pesticides and fertilizers for coconut palms are virtually unknown. The coconuts typically come from very rural areas in the Philippines, far away from major urban centers. It is also deodorized and processed the "old" way with "physical refining" that DOES NOT use solvent extracts. This is the most economical high–quality coconut oil we sell. Tropical Traditions Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oils are available in 32 ounce, 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes.

TT customer service has been given "rave" reviews by our Candida Support Group members who have been in contact with them.

TT products are available at select retail outlets in the US, Bermuda and Canada; see their website for a state and country list. Also available via their website or by mail:

Tropical Traditions, Inc.
POB 333
Springville, CA 93265

There is a separate European shipping outlet.

Wilderness Family Naturals (WFN)

Website: Wilderness Family Naturals

Besides coconut oil, WFN sells many other products such as herbs, spices, sea salts, berries, vinegar, probiotic foods, etc. See there website for a complete product list.

Wilderness Family Naturals Extra Virgin Centrifuged coconut oil is made from fresh coconuts opened within 48 hours of being picked from the trees. They first shell the coconuts and then chop the flesh, placing it in an expeller press, yielding a 0.16% Moisture content and 57% Lauric Acid content. It does not see heat above room temperature in the Philippines and the resulting coconut milk emulsion does not exceed (25° C or 78.8° F).

A pure, unrefined virgin coconut oil made by a Traditional Philippine Fermentation. Unlike other Philippine oils processed by fermentation, this oil has a 0.04% – 0.11% moisture content and a 49% Lauric Acid content, contains no acids of fermentation, and it is not heated. It does not see heat above room temperature in the Philippines, the resulting coconut milk emulsion does not exceed (37° C or 98.6° F). This oil has live micronutrients and enzymes that remain intact.

Wilderness Family Naturals offers a high quality Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil as an economical choice for high temperature cooking. This oil is mechanically expressed without the use of solvents or chemicals of any kind. It is an excellent quality food–grade coconut oil that is NOT hydrogenated and contains NO trans fatty acids. Expeller–pressed coconut oil has a neutral flavor (because it is refined), yet it contains the same healthy fatty acids as virgin coconut oil.

This Expeller–Pressed Coconut Oil is less expensive than virgin coconut oil because it can be mass produced. The coconuts are opened and quickly dried. The dried coconuts are then mechanically pressed to remove the oil, without using chemical solvents. Any free fatty acids are removed, the oil is run through diatomaceous earth, and lastly, the oil is steam distilled. This yields a very pure, uncontaminated coconut oil. Though not a virgin oil, it still melts at 76 � F, is very light and creamy smooth, containing the same medium chain fatty acids as virgin coconut oil. People in Southeast Asian countries, such as the Philippines, use this as their main cooking oil.

Wilderness Family Naturals is a well liked coconut oil by Candida Support Group members who use it. They say it has a mild coconut flavor and aroma and a creamy texture. The expeller–pressed variety has virtually no coconut aroma or flavor.

Extra Virgin Traditional Philippine Process coconut oil comes in 1 pint, 1 quart, 1/2 gallon, 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes.

Extra Virgin, Centrifuge Extracted coconut oil comes in 1 pint, 1 quart, 1/2 gallon, 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes.

Expeller Pressed coconut oil 1 quart, 1/2 gallon, 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes.

Sample sizes are available for all three of these oils.

They will ship outside the US.

Wilderness Family Naturals
Ken and Annette Fischer
Box 538
Finland, MN 55603
1-800-945-3801 (home office)
1-866-936-6457 (order line)