People usually think that there’s vitamin E in coconut oil. I don’t know about you, but I check the ingredients as much as I can when I buy a product. In the case of coconut oil, the label usually says it’s a source of vitamin E. So the answer seems to be pretty straight forward.
However, after some research, I realized that pure coconut oil does not contain naturally occurring vitamin E. The truth is that it’s been added during manufacturing!
Does it mean that pure coconut oil doesn’t contain any vitamins?
Coconut oil contains very small amounts of vitamin E
Coconut oil is known to be very nourishing to the skin and is especially useful in protecting the skin from the aging effects. But it doesn’t mean it’s a good source of vitamin E.
In a very interesting article entitled “Common Misconceptions about the Nutritional Value of Coconut Oil: Exposing Three Common Myths” (source), Health Impact News Daily Editor Brian Shilhavy says:
One of the most propagated myths regarding coconut oil we are seeing on the Internet today is that it is a good source of Vitamin E. This is simply not true – not even in virgin coconut oil. A search in the USDA database for coconut oil will confirm this fact, and we also tested Virgin Coconut Oil in the lab to determine its nutritional qualities, and we found very small amounts of Vitamin E. We suspect that people are saying this because coconut oil is known to be very nourishing to the skin.” – Health Impact News Daily Editor Brian Shilhavy
Vitamin E is added to coconut oil
The truth is that vitamin E is added to coconut oil. Manufacturers add vitamin E to coconut oil to improve the absorption of this vitamin!
When vitamin E is combined with oil, it’s more readily absorbed by the skin and transferred to organs such as the heart and liver.
Is coconut milk healthy? (Optiderma.com)
Coconut oil may reduce the need of vitamin E
The good news is that coconut oil may reduce our need for vitamin E.
Physiologist and biochemist Ray Peat, Ph.D. considers coconut oil to be a great antioxidant, due to its stability and resistance to oxidation and free radical formation.
According to him, it reduces our need for the antioxidant protection of vitamin E.
coconut oil vitamin Content
Pure coconut oil contains two vitamins: vitamin E and vitamin K. That being said, the amount for both vitamins is really not significant (source)
As you can see, vitamin K is found in coconut oil in very small amounts. Vitamin K is an essential nutrient necessary for responding to injuries and it regulates normal blood clotting. In addition, by assisting the transport of calcium throughout the body, Vitamin K may also be helpful for bone health.
But in 100 grams of coconut oil, there’s only 0.5 micrograms of vitamin K…
According to Nutrition Data, coconut oil also contains a little bit of choline, which is a vitamin B.
Choline is the precursor molecule for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is involved in many functions including memory and muscle control.
But once again, the amount of this vitamin is very low in coconut oil.(source)
What makes coconut oil unique for skin?
We now know that coconut oil doesn’t contain lots of vitamins. So what is it good for?
Coconut oil is good for fighting free-radicals because it contains lots of strong antioxidants.
The only way our body has to fight free-radicals that damages molecules is with antioxidants. This is why it’s good to have plenty of antioxidants in our cells and tissues to protect our skin.
Also, many experts believe coconut oil can help restore more youthful-looking skin because of its small molecular structure which allows for easy absorption through the skin.
In fact, it makes an ideal ointment for the relief of dry, rough and wrinkled skin, and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep connective tissues strong and supple.
Extra virgin coconut oil
is ideal for skincare and can be used as a skin moisturizer, helping with dry skin, and it also helps reduce protein loss when used in hair.
Conclusion
Even if there isn’t much vitamin E in coconut oil and it’s not a significant source of other vitamins neither, it doesn’t mean it’s not good for you. Studies show it’s one of the best oils for many reasons.
A lot of confusion and contradictory evidence exists on the subject of coconut oil and its content of saturated fats. Coconut oil is about 2/3 medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs. The truth is that these types of fatty acids produce a whole host of health benefits.(source)
Dr. Joseph Mercola explains it well in this video:
Also, coconut oil contains a high amount of lauric acid, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-protozoa properties. It’s a powerful virus and destroyer of bad bacteria.
Coconut oil, especially when it’s not refined and organic, can help with so many health issues.
Extra virgin coconut oil has many amazing health benefits, so feel free to use it for cooking, for oil pulling, and apply it abundantly on your skin!
However, make sure you use Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil to get the most health benefits. Some products use a highly refined vegetable oil devoid of all natural protective antioxidants. It’s best to avoid refined oils…
Coconut oil for psoriasis: a cheap and effective moisturizer
- Sources
- Disclaimer
Article by
J. Beck
Sources for this article include:
- (1) https://healthimpactnews.com/2011/common-misconceptions-about-the-nutritional-value-of-coconut-oil-exposing-three-common-myths/, Health Impact News
- (2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil
- (3) https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fats-and-oils/508/2
- (4) Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage (pdf), https://journal.scconline.org/pdf/cc2003/cc054n02/p00175-p00192.pdf, Journal of cosmetic science
- (5) https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/22/coconut-oil-and-saturated-fats-can-make-you-healthy.aspx
DISCLAIMER
The information provided on Optiderma.com is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified practitioner.
If you are allergic to the foods, herbs, essential oils, any remedies listed here, you must of course avoid them. For example, consuming food that you’re sensitive to will only cause more (not reduce!) inflammation.
Please consult a practitioner (such as Naturopath, Homeopath, Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Dermatologist, ...) to follow the most appropriate treatment to heal your skin. All legal mentions »
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