TENDER COCONUT WATER

Coconut water has been used for centuries as a remedy for a lot of ailments. Occasionally by itself, or often mixed with coconut milk, it has been used to treat intestinal worms and relives stomach and urinary problems. It is also said to diminish rashes caused by smallpox, chickenpox, and measles. It is also thought to be beneficial to the skin.
Celeste Tanchoco, nutritional science and technology division chief of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, explains: "I think it's because of the belief that saturated fat is hypercholesterolemic, and coconut oil is saturated fat. But what we should consider in classifying fats and oils is not just whether they are saturated or unsaturated, but it should be more on the fatty acid composition--whether it's short-chain, medium-chain or long-chain." Coconut oil is medium-chain, which is saturated.

More explanation: "Now, what has been considered before was that saturated fat raises blood cholesterol. Coconut oil is saturated, therefore it can increase hypercholesterolemia. And they backed this up with previous studies that when patient was given a diet that contained coconut oil, indeed his cholesterol levels went up. But they focused only on the change in the fat in the diet. They failed to consider the composition of the diet."

Now sweeping the Philippines is virgin coconut oil, which is said to be anti-viral and anti-bacterial and touted to treat the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids).

"Virgin coconut oil is coconut oil," explains Dr. Conrado Dayrit, professor emeritus of the College of Pharmacology in the University of the Philippines. "The difference is just that when you say virgin, it did not pass the copra process."

Generally, coconut oil is considered virgin when it is not heated, and when no additives or chemicals are used, according to Dr. Teresita M. Espino, director of the Laguna-based Biotech Institute. Once it has been heated or "cooked" and other materials are added to the mixture, the natural qualities are compromised and the oil may no longer be considered virgin.

The production of virgin coco oil, says Dr. Espino, starts from the grating process, followed by the extraction of the coconut milk. The extraction results in the leftover coconut meat called "sepal". This is mixed with enzymes that separate the oil from the aqueous matter.

The separated oil goes through a centrifugal (movement away from the centre) process and comes out pale yellow in colour. This is the colour one should look for in virgin coco oil. The entire process does not involve heat and takes place only in room temperature.

"This is the traditional method of coconut oil extraction that has been used in the Philippines for hundreds of years," points out Joey Villa, a businessman whose product - cold-pressed flavoured extra virgin coconut oil sold under the brand name "Wild Country"--is getting rave reviews and with orders from both the domestic and offshore markets.
"Laboratory tests show that (virgin coconut oil) is a very high quality coconut oil, with the lauric acid content measured at 54.9 percent, which makes it an excellent anti-viral, antibacterial and antifungal agent. This oil is not mass-produced, but made by hand just as it has been done for hundreds of years.

Coconut water has been used for centuries as a remedy for a lot of ailments. Occasionally by itself, or often mixed with coconut