The many uses of cold pressed coconut oil

Yes, coconut oil has been around for a long time; it is believed that the history of coconut oil goes back almost 4000 years and if you look at the culinary history of all the south Indian states and even other tropical nations, you will see that coconut oil has a role to play in it. But then, the fact that coastal areas are where coconuts grow in abundance would be a main reason why coconut oil is so commonly used in their cooking. 

I have friends from all over – India and other countries too, and so many times, I get this line from them – “but I don't know how to use cold pressed coconut oil”. 

Another line I get to hear is; “doesn’t coconut oil have this smell?”

Well, for starters, you can use coconut oil, especially the cold pressed versions, just like you would any other oil. 

Moreover, the smell is actually an aroma that you will enjoy, when you start using it in our cooking. 

And yes, there are plenty of benefits of using pure, unadulterated coconut oil and we have listed just some of the ways you can consider using it too! But before we can get into that, let’s take a quick look at the types of coconut oils.

Here are the types of cold pressed coconut oil for cooking and beyond

1. Virgin or cold pressed – When coconut meat is pressed, without using any kind of heat, coconut milk is gained. The oil is then separated from the milk and what you get is the purest form of coconut oil. This unprocessed, all natural oil has all the nutrients intact, making this a really good choice for your home. 
2. Refined – This version of coconut oil is often made with dry coconut, but it often has to be subjected to really high temperatures and there is often the addition of preservatives and additives, mainly to increase shelf life. 
3. Hydrogenated – Hydrogenation is a process that converts unsaturated fats into saturated fats, by the addition of hydrogen into the oil at a high temperature. This type of oil has a longer shelf life, but might lack nutritional value. 
4. Expeller-Pressed – The basic method of extraction is the same as cold pressed oils – high pressure is used, but also friction and heat. These oils are good for cooking, but are low on nutrients. 
5. Fractionated – In this process, only two medium-chain fatty acids are maintained and all other types of fatty acids are removed. This kind of oil is mostly used for topical use and rarely for consumption. 

Now let’s get into the uses of cold pressed coconut oil

While there are a number of ways in which you can use cold pressed coconut oil, but these are probably the easiest and best ways. However, as is the case with all things good - coconut oil is also best used in moderation. There can be too much of a good thing too!

• Cook with it – Yup, the easiest way to enjoy all the benefits that this oil can offer is to use cold pressed coconut oil for cooking and yes, you can use coconut oil for all types of dishes, not just south Indian. Of course, you can use the oil for sambar and tempering of coconut chutney, but you can also make Thai green curry or some delicious fudge! You can use this oil for roasting and grilling veggies and your chicken fry can also be made using the same oil. From salad dressings to fish curries, from cakes and breads to frying chips, there is so much that you can do with cold pressed coconut oil. 
• Drink it up – I obviously don’t mean that you gulp down a bottle of oil, but you can actually add it to your drinks. Whether you are making yourself a cup of healing turmeric tea or your post workout smoothie, add a spoonful of cold pressed coconut oil to it. Here are just some ways you can add oil to your drinks:

• Heard of bullet coffee? Well, you don’t always need ghee, because a spoon of cold pressed coconut oil will work just as well. Bullet coffee is considered a good way to keep your energy levels high and is an easy way to include coconut oil in your regular routine. 
• There are benefits to drinking warm water, first thing in the morning (at least that is what most people tend to be saying) and if you add a spoon of coconut oil, you are getting your dose of good fats. 
• There are those who will tell you that simply drinking a small spoon of cold pressed coconut oil every day is good for you, because it can improve your overall health and well-being. 

• Use it for oil pulling – Now, there has been a lot of chatter regarding oil pulling and the benefits and although the process has been around since centuries, it has seen a resurgence in the recent past. It is believed that oil pulling can not only help maintain basic oral hygiene, it will also help reduce inflammation in the gums and stains on teeth. If you are considering oil pulling, try it with coconut oil – take a teaspoon of oil in your mouth and swirl it around in your mouth for about 15 minutes or so, without swallowing it. Once you spit the oil out, you can rinse your mouth and then brush your teeth. This of course is not meant as a substitute for regular dental hygiene procedures, but you can consider this an ‘add-on’!
• Turn it into toothpaste – Oh yeah, did you know that you can make toothpaste at home? So, here is another one of the uses of cold pressed coconut oil – in about 6 large spoons of coconut oil, add 4 large spoons of baking soda, about 20 drops of food grade peppermint oil and the same amount of oregano oil. Once you have a smooth paste, store in a jar and simply dip your toothbrush in it and use like you would your normal toothpaste. Because there are no harmful chemicals and edible ingredients, there is nothing to fear – if nothing else, try it out as a fun experiment at home! 

In case you are wondering which cold pressed coconut oil is best for all these purposes, I suggest that you check out Gramiyaa, because this pack of oil comes with the guarantee of purity, aroma and flavour!