Coconut Oil? Help!!!

[nikkiend]

I just started LC'ing again after slipping for a few months (gained back 10 lbs) :o
I recently found info on the internet about Virgin Coconut Oil. I thought it sounded like a perfect addition to the diet to add fat. It's supposed to boost your metabolism and help lose weight and also supposed to be very healthy for you. The instructions are to ingest 3.5 TB per day. I started the first day with 1 TB and the 2nd day with 2 TB. I have not lost one single pound yet. Normally when I get myself on Induction, I lose 2 - 3 lbs. the first day. This is the only food that I can think of that could be inhibiting my weight loss. Has anyone else experienced this, or heard of it? I did also start working out with the Body Flex tape and bar the day I started LC'ing again, but I can't imagine that I would have built up muscle already as the first day was just breathing and stretching exercises.
I am going to stop taking the oil for a few days to see if I start losing, but I hate to delete it from my diet if it is so healthy for me. Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[nikkiend]

I did forget to say that I was in Ketosis the 2nd day, although it's a very light pink.

[ladyfunk25]

I don't know about the coconut oil but something to keep in mind is that lc'ing is often less effective the 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) time through. Most people lose the most the first time they do it, and if they start it again later, it is usually much harder to lose. this could be the problem.

[Lessara]

When I first started taking coconut oil (for my wacked out thyroid) I initially gained 2-3 lbs for the first week or so. But then I started losing but what a benefit! I stopped being cold all the time but better yet, my skin, my lips, my hair are all shiny and healthy! :thup:

[nikkiend]

Thanks, Lessara. I didn't take it today and I'm going to see what happens when I weigh myself tomorrow. I do think that the benefits of it are too good to stop using it from everything I've read, so I think once I lose a couple of lbs., I'll start taking it again. Are you losing steadily since you started with it?

[Lessara]

Honestly, I believe that the added fat to my diet has caused me a steady weightloss. It was a major factor. I wish you the best.

[nikkiend]

I lost 2 lbs. after not taking the Coconut Oil yesterday. I think I may wait a few days before taking it again, if only for psychological reasons. I don't want to get discouraged because I'm not losing. Thanks.

[acohn]

Beyond weight loss, coconut oil offers a number of health benefits. It's 50-65% (depending on what source you read) medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). MCTs are a great source of energy for the body. MCTs are broken down almost immediately by enzymes in the saliva and gastric juices so that pancreatic fat-digesting enzymes are not even essential. Therefore, there is little strain on the pancreas and digestive system. Once in the digestive system, MCTs go directly from the intestines via the portal vein to the liver, without the intermediate packaging steps other fats require. The liver breaks down MCTs into ketones, which the body burns/oxidizes for energy. Very little, if any, MCTs get stored as adipose tissue.

Coconut oil is high in lauric acid. The body converts this to monolaurin, which has anti-microbial properties. It's been effective in keeping my eczema and the occasional mouth sore (herpes type II) in check.

I’ve put coconut oil into my body by drinking it, (warmed in a microwave), sautéing with it, topping food with it (it melts at 76°), rubbing it on after a shower/bath, and even as a deodorant. It has also done wonderful things for my skin in general.

Since I appear to be well-suited (45 lbs. lost in 10 weeks) to a high-fat (65% of calories) diet, it would not be fair for me to say that coconut oil is essential to everyone, but it is a remarkable substance.

For a more complete (though technical) discussion of coconut oil's benefits, visit the Weston A. Price Foundation'sweb page (http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/coconut_oil.html) on the topic. www.coconut-info.com has some more readable information on coconut oil's benefits.

[nikkiend]

Thanks for the info. I've figured out that it must not be the Coconut Oil because I've only lost 3 lbs. in the past 11 days of induction. I believe it's just because I've gone off and on this WOE so many different times and my body is going to be stubborn. I started working out with Body Flex the day I started back and it requires you to measure every 7 days. Since I lost 7 3/4 inches the first week, I'm not worried about my weight anymore. I started back with the Coc. Oil yesterday.

[AlluraD]

Hello~
Does the coconut oil have to be from the web site mentioned.......I have also checked that out but it is so expensive...........do you think an unrefined tpe from the health food store would work fine as well????

[acohn]

Spectrum Naturals sells a organic coconut oil, which undergoes a brief, low-heat (200 degrees Farenheit, steam process) deordorization to remove the smell, at a reasonable price ($4.69/14 oz. jar in CA). If you have a natural foods grocery store nearby, they may have it or be willing to order it. If you can't get it locally, and you live on the west coast, you can order it from Azure Standard, either by the jar (http://www.azurestandard.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=shp.ProductDetails&ProductCode=OL013) or the case (http://www.azurestandard.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=shp.ProductDetails&ProductCode=OL032). If you live elsewhere, search the web for a distributor near you.

In his book The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil, Bruce Fife, N.D., recommends the Omega Nutrition (http://omegahealthstore.com/cgi-bin/omega?XwsSrvID=XOmega01,[a=01[b=31[c=01[d=gemotuna[e=00099451[f=xxxxxxxx[g=245-36873) brand, which is also deodorized. I am leery of oil stored in plastic containers, though; I prefer Spectrum Naturals' glass packaging.

In all the reading I've done (and that I can understand as a lay person), I can't find any reference to whether the oils used for research were completely natural or deodorized. So, try the deodorized oil first. If you notice no benefit, try the more expensive oil.

Spectrum Naturals used to market an organic, unrefined coconut oil at a reasonable price. They withdrew it, due to complaints about the strong smell. I and others have let the company know that there is a market for the unrefined oil. The official response is that the company is looking for a distributor for the unrefined oil. If you would like to call Spectrum Naturals and encourage them to sell organic, unrefined coconut oil. their customer relations number is (800) 995-2705 (PST).

[AlluraD]

Thanks~ I will give them a call..........Spectrum is what I bought this past week.
Felt slightly sick yesterday.......don't know if perhaps I overdid it a bit for a newbie~ Thanks for the advice~

[acohn]

I have read that due to coconut oil's anti-microbial action, people may experience a microbial "die-off" when first taking the oil. The microbes release toxins into the body as they die, making you feel like crap during the process.

Although I didn't experience that with coconut oil, I have gone through the "die-off" blues when I took antifungal medication some years back. I sympathize, and I encourage you to reduce your dose to 1 Tb./day for a week, and increase by 1 Tb./day at weekly intervals until you get to 3.5 Tb. Stay there for a couple of weeks, then go back to 2 Tb./day, and see if you notice any difference.

[nikkiend]

Thanks, Acohn. I've been feeling bad here & there for the past couple of days and was wondering if I wasn't eating enough carbs since I'm working out, but maybe your explanation is what's going on. Do you know how long it's supposed to take the toxins to leave your body?

[acohn]

Nikki,

I don't think there is a hard and fast rule about the effects of "die-off." My "die-off" blues were short-lived: 3 days. But, I don't know what's dying in your body. If, for example, the monolaurin (what your body converts the coconut oil's lauric acid to) is killing a systemic yeast infection (as in candida), it may take awhile. I'm sorry that I can't be more specific.

I also regret ignoring your workouts. You don't mention how intense your workouts are, but glycogen depletion *might* be contributing to your feeling out of sorts. As a rule of thumb, the more intense the exercise, the more glycogen the body will want to use. Here's a short essay on the topic by a smarter person than I from another forum in which I participate.

--------------------------------------------------------------
When we exercise muscles, they have access to different energy systems. The primary energy systems are:

1. Phosphagen

2. Glycolysis, of which there are two types: fast glycolysis and slow glycolysis

3. Oxidative system (an aerobic process, i.e., requires oxygen)

Phosphagen
Basically, about 0-6 seconds worth of stored ATP plus creatine phosphate and enzymes to create ATP. Very high intensity.

Fast Glycolysis
Energy source is glucose. Commonly called the anaerobic system, although glycolysis itself does not depend on oxygen. However, the glycolytic rate and presence of oxygen determine whether fast or slow glycolysis is used. With insufficient oxygen, the end product pyruvate is converted to lactic acid.

Slow Glycolysis
Also uses glucose for energy. However, the difference here is the rate. A slower energy production rate and suffficient oxygen allows the end product pyruvate to be transported to the mitochondria and enter the Krebs cycle. Thus no lactic acid is produced.

Oxidative System
The oxidative system utilizes fats or proteins or the pyruvate endproduct from glycolysis. In the muscle mitochondria, these substances also produce energy via the Krebs cycle.

All Systems, All the Time
The key point to understand is the body is commonly accessing all of these energy systems. It is not like we use "fat-burning" until it switches off and then we start "carb-burning." At no time, during either exercise or rest, does any single energy system provide the complete supply of energy. During exercise, the degree to which anaerobic and oxidative systems contribute to the energy being produced is determined primarily by exercise intensity and secondarily, by exercise duration.

At 50% of VO2Max, roughly 80% of the total energy is supplied from fatty acids and the remainder from glycolysis. At 100% of VO2Max, the ratio is roughly reversed: about 80% of energy comes from glycolysis. However, we are still burning fat -- we are actually burning much more fat at the higher intensity. However, the glucose usage skyrockets so much that the percentage of energy produced from fat drops.

In the long run, it depends on our training purpose and goals. Long exercise durations of low to moderate intensity teach the body to prefer to burn fatty acids for fuel and spare (keep in reserve) its glycogen. Performing the same amount of work, but in a short and intense bout will train the body to primarily use glycogen for the energy.

If the work amount is identical, we need the same amount of ATP, leading to the old saying of "a calorie is a calorie". However, how we burn that calorie has a big impact on which energy system the body uses to perform the work.
-------------------------------

[nikkiend]

Whoa! Lots of terminology there I don't understand. I'll have to read it when I'm more awake (getting ready to go to bed now). The workout I'm doing is fast and fairly intense as far as oxygenating the body. I start out with intense aerobic breathing along with stretching exercises. Then I do a short cool down of deep breathing. Then I do more aerobic breaths, then a workout with the Body Flex bar which are resistance exercises, then more aerobic breaths. The entire workout only takes about 20 minutes. So I'm thinking I'm burning off the glycogen. I have a stupid question....what's that? I don't know what it is or how I replenish my body with it. I'm learning alot here. Thanks so much for your help.

[abbey]

the short answer is glycogen = energy stored in your body which is usually synthesized from carbohydrates, but can be converted from proteins if the body is in need.

It takes a while to get used to living with such low levels though, so hang in there and things should get better on that front.

[nikkiend]

Thanks. I did do a search of Glycogen after I did that post and found that I want to burn it to lose fat, if I read right. I may simply not be eating enough calories throughout the day. I'm going to up my caloric intake a little and see if that helps.

[acohn]

Nikki,

Your muscles are asking for glycogen as immediate fuel during your workout. Supplying it (by eating more healthy carbs) will not help you burn fat during your workout, but *after* it, as your muscles recover. Here's an explanation from an experienced bodybuilder in another forum in which I participate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Regardless of the type of exercise, you actually burn precious little fat while you're actually performing the exercise. As far as "fuel" usage goes, your body prefers using fatty acids for energy when you're just kicking back doing nothing. Another thing to keep in mind is that your muscles are what burns your fat. Lastly, intense weight training leads to the highest rate of fat burning during recovery. Basically, your muscles require a lot of energy, most of which comes from fatty acids, when you're recovering from an intense workout.

Cardio is useful for water maintenance when getting ready for competition, especially for drug using competitors (most "supplements" cause significant water retention). Essentially, it helps people sweat out the water between the muscle and the skin which can obscure definition. Other than that cardio can actually be counterproductive. This occurs because cardio, especially if your diet and recovery are poor, can actually end up using up more muscle tissue than fat as fuel.

So, if your goal is fat loss then you have to focus on maximizing the intensity of your weight training. The most effective way for most people to lose fat is to focus on (1) nutrition, (2) weight training, (3) recovery, and lastly (4) cardio. Adding some cardio is okay... but never at the expense of your weight training intensity.
-------------------------------------------------------

Please remember that these comments are from a serious bodybuilder. For us lesser athletes, cardio can be useful if we don't achieve our training heart rates (http://kirtland.cc.mi.us/~balbachl/trainrat.htm) for most of our weightlifting sessions. Also, cardio exercises integrate body parts (just like life outside the gym), whereas weight lifting isolates them.

[Lessara]

Coconut oil is high in lauric acid. The body converts this to monolaurin, which has anti-microbial properties. It's been effective in keeping my eczema and the occasional mouth sore (herpes type II) in check

My eczema is pretty much 75% gone, it only flares near my TOM. I wondered why. I also noticed my cuticles around my nails are healthier and also I don't have so many dark circles under my eyes.. though this could be due to my better sleep :)

[dex]

Spectrum Naturals used to market an organic, unrefined coconut oil at a reasonable price. They withdrew it, due to complaints about the strong smell. I and others have let the company know that there is a market for the unrefined oil. The official response is that the company is looking for a distributor for the unrefined oil.

Interesting. My local Marlene's has Spectrum Naturals unrefined coconut oil--for the same price as the refined stuff, even.

[Talon]

Wow, I found this thread very intersting. With all the data swimming in my head, I can think of one question:

Is refined or unrefined coconut oil better?

[Lessara]

Coconut Oil (http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm)

[nikkiend]

Lessara,
That's what I'm using.

[acohn]

I spoke with Christopher, one of the owners of Radiant Life, about the differences, if any, between unrefined and refined coconut oil (both organic). Without mentioning brand names at this point, he's going to send me the results of a vitamin and mineral assay that compares the product they sell (organic, unrefined) with a nationally-known brand (organic, refined). If the comparison is interesting, I'll post it. He also related another story about testing the purity of coconut oil. When he carried the Tropical Traditions oil, he sent it to a lab for purity testing in a food-grade plastic bucket. The testing revealed the presence of PCBs. After some investigation and retesting of other samples, the lab determined that the source of the PCBs was not the oil, but the bucket. Apparently, despite coconut oil's inherent stability (relative to more volatile oils, like cod liver or flax), plastic is not a good storage material for it.

He went on on to say that although the Tropical Traditions product (which he used to carry) is a fine product, it is processed over an open fire, so that it may have a slightly smoky taste, which also means that the oil may capture some of the carcinogens in the smoke. The brand he carries is produced in a centrifuge, without heating. He and his customer taste panel compared the two, and they preferred the flavor of his new product unanimously.

Unfortunately, due to the SARS epidemic, he won't get his next shipment in until late May at the earliest, and it will be more expensive than listed in the catalog (http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/RLWebCatalog.pdf). If you're willing to buy at least two half-gallons (the largest size that he ships in a glass container), though, he can arrange a price break.

[JKMOM]

acohn you mention bodybuilding sites..Which are your favorite?

[AlluraD]

I have checked out that site......my only reservation is that it is sooooo expensive and all sizes are on backorder~ Wish there was another place to get a comparable grade of oil~

[Lessara]

On the "Traditions" site they say the cold-press the coconut oil...
He may or may not be right... what I do know is the positive things their coconut oil has done for me. :thup:

[acohn]

Lessara,

How does the TT product taste? Any smokiness?

I didn't mean to imply in my last post that I'm attached to any particular brand of coconut oil; I've never tasted either product. I just thought the story was interesting.

BTW-- cold-pressed has no legal or regulatory meaning. It can mean anything the marketer wants it to mean.

[acohn]

JKMOM,

The quote I gave is from someone on the Protein Power BBS (http://bbs.eatprotein.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi), in the "Fitness For All" section. A few people there consistently display a good deal of knowledge on the topic of fitness. I don't hang out at dedicated bodybuilding sites, since my interests in resistance training are to promote a fat-burning metabolism and preserve my body as it ages, not bodybuilding per se.

[nikkiend]

I have been using the Tropical Traditions Coc. Oil. It does not taste smoky to me at all. My jar I ordered is glass. It's 32 ounces and if you order that size or under, you have a 30 day money back guarantee to return whatever is left, no questions asked. I paid $25 for it. The taste isn't exactly pleasant, but you get used to it. It's definitely much more pleasant than Flax seed oil which I tried once. :Puke:
I did get the sample of the other one, and honestly, I haven't even opened it yet. Guess I should try it. The TT oil is Virgin oil, so I don't know what difference that is from the others.

[CarolynC]

I also have the 32 oz. glass jar of Tropical Traditions coconut oil. It takes like coocnut to me. No smoky taste at all.

[acohn]

Thanks for the feedback on TT coconut oil. Unfortunately, their web site says that they're out of stock. I can't reach them live, either; the answering machine says something about a high response to a Woman's World article. I guess I'll have to make do with what's available locally for awhile.

[vicrock]

Check your local health food stores - I got a glass jar of Spectrum Naturals there for 4.99 for 14 oz.

I wanted to check it out before investing in a large amount.

This brand is very mild - no real flavor at all - and the store had about 6 other brands!

[acohn]

vicrock,

At this point, I'm going to act according to my rule of thumb that the less processed a food is, the healthier it is. Spectrum's refined coconut oil may be mild because it's what the industry refers to as RBD (http://www.coconut-info.com/what_is_virgin_coconut_oil.htm) -- refined, bleached, and deodorized. Since the source coconut itself is grown organically, marketers can sell the oil, regardless of the processing methods, as organic. I'm not claiming that Spectrum does this (call their customer service at (800) 995-2705 to ask), but that it is possible.

[NURSEGAL]

Was reading this info on coconut oil, and its really expensive, so i tried looking it up in the VITAMIN SHOPPE and they have the 16 oz size for 11$. so i dont mind trying it for that price, if it works for me i ll let ya'll know

good luck to ya'll

[acohn]

Nursegal,

I believe that the Garden of Life coconut oil comes in a plastic container. Given the evidence I have heard and read about, I have concerns about the plastic leaching into the oil itself (see earlier post in this thread).

To be entirely safe, I recommend buying coconut oil in glass containers.

[NURSEGAL]

dear a.
you seem quite versed in coconut, so heres another question for u, or anyone else who knows, in all the research i did it states the process for retreiving the coconut oil is from coconut flesh, right? so i went to fitday and looked up the nutritional values on coconut flesh, and i went to the health food store and bought some coconut milk, in both of the latter case, coconut milk, in 2 oz (thats their serving size) has less than 1 g of carb, and 10 g of fat, NOW THE QUESTION, the sites all say u need to have 3-4 g of coconut fat per day, so ok, u have 1 oz, = 0.25g of carb, and 5 oz of coconut fat, and there fore a can (cost $1.79) gives u about 14 servings much cheaper than the processed oil, so in my thoughts why should i pay mega millions for someone to process the oil when i can incorporate the milk into all kinds of recipies making it EXTREMELY MORE palatable than the oil.

WHAT DO U THINK

thanks in advance.

[abbey]

Hi NurseGal,

As I said in response to your other post about this. you need 3 - 4 TABLESPOONS of oil per day for it to make a difference. Not grams. But, try it and see. Personally I love the coconut milk added to my morning shake instead of cream.. yumyum

[NURSEGAL]

hey abbey
i double checked the quanities, and this is what my labels said,

coconut oil: 1 tablespoon = 14g fat, no carbs

if u have to take 3 to 4 tbsp per day thats 42 to 54 g of fat per day,

coconut milk: 1/4 c (or 57 ml) =10 g of fat, <1 g of carb,
there fore if u need to ingest 42 g of fat, that would be 4 servings or 1 c per day, it would have at the most 3 gms of carbs in that whole cup,

u could make all kinds of stuff with it, as opposed to taking in the oil which is much harder to consume

does it make sense

ALSO the total calorie counts are about the same (give or take 50 cals)

[CarolynC]

Originally posted by acohn
He also related another story about testing the purity of coconut oil. When he carried the Tropical Traditions oil, he sent it to a lab for purity testing in a food-grade plastic bucket. The testing revealed the presence of PCBs. After some investigation and retesting of other samples, the lab determined that the source of the PCBs was not the oil, but the bucket. Apparently, despite coconut oil's inherent stability (relative to more volatile oils, like cod liver or flax), plastic is not a good storage material for it.
The surprising thing is that there were traces of PCBs in a food grade bucket. But, they should have been soluble and leeched out in any oil--corn, canola, olive, cod liver, coconut, etc. Solubility is governed by "like dissolves like". PCBs (polychlorobenzenes) are non-polar compounds, as are oils. So, any oil will leech PCBs. But, why were PCBs present in a food grade plastic bucket? That's what is disturbing.

[acohn]

Nursegal,

The information I have on the benefits of coconut oil are restricted to the oil; I haven't read anything yet on the benefits of either raw coconut or coconut milk. The literature may well exist; I just haven't come across it yet. The 3.5 Tb./day figure often quoted is based on very limited research, and I'm not convinced it has wide applicability, especially if one is already in generally good health.

With that caution, I can say that my GF eats raw, shredded coconut occasionally to help with digestive problems. I adore coconut-milk-based curries, and I usually end up slurping up a half-cup of the curry sauce instead of my evening dose of coconut oil.

In regard to the exact amount of coconut oil/milk one should take, I think this is an individual matter, based both on one's basic metabolic needs and current health status. I recommend experimenting by starting with the equivalent of 1 Tb. of oil/day, taken in divided doses, e.g., 1 tsp., 3x/day. Increase the amount at weekly intervals, until either you notice some bad effects or you reach 3 Tb./day. If you get to 3 Tb./day, reduce your intake weekly by 1 Tb./day until you notice a difference in the effects on your health. I know, that this is not a rigorously scientific method, but I think it's doable for most of us.

[acohn]

CarolynC,

Thanks for the chemistry lesson; it's very interesting.

Although some oil marketers may insure the quality of the plastic in their containers, I wonder if any do so on a continuing basis. I would rather remove that uncertainty from my purchases.

[NURSEGAL]

I was on a short term stall, notice the term WAS. Desperately i got a jar of the coconut oil, i cant stand the taste nor the texture, well im doing 1 c of coconut milk/day, for the cup of milk, it has the same amt of calories, same amt of "fat" which is coconut oil, the only thing is that it has 4 g of carbs for the cup, well, thats ok, cuz u know what im down again today, have been loosing wt again consistanly since introducing coconut into my diet.

U know what guys, coconut oil, is coconut oil regardless of the source, at least with my coconut milk, and unsweetened coconut flesh, im being filled up more, better sustained, and IM LOOSING WT. PLUS and this is a big plus, my way is dirt cheap.

HAPPY LOOSING :wave:

[acohn]

Nursegal,

That's great news! Thanks for being an experimenter. Now I have another way to introduce friends to the benefits of coconut oil.

[timco]

Still haven't heard anyone on this thread mention if coconut oil has actually helped them lose weight.

[madpiano]

I had a look on the Virgin Coconut Oil Website and apart from the fact, that it seems rather expensive, it is US based.

Anyone have any good sources for Coconut Oil in the UK ?

I live in London, so I have good access to caribbean and Asian food stores. Is there any particular brand which is good (unrefined, and as unprocessed as possible) ?

[madpiano]

here is a good link:

what refining does to oil (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2003/03/12/FD53073.DTL)

[AlluraD]

Hello~ *s* Just curious?..........the owner of my local health food store says that the reson coconut oil helps you lose weight is because of the Medium chain oil...............he says taking MCT fuel will do the same thing and that is why body builders use it to burn off fat and help maintain muscle.........does anyone know anything about that???

[LadyBelle]

Hmm, my oils mix had medium chain triglycerides (sp). If thats true maybe I don't have to grab some coconut oil :)_

[Prudential]

Drink vegetable oil once in a while, it surely will boost up your metabolism!

[LadyBelle]

Drink vegetable oil once in a while, it surely will boost up your metabolism

Maybe, and I will probably lose weight from vomiting up everything I had eaten in the last two days. Maybe even lose more weight from being to nausiated to eat for a day. Ilk :p

That is almost as bad as those people who eat an entire stick of butter rolled in sugar as a snack.

[nikkiend]

Madpiano,
If you're talking about the Tropical Traditions website, that's the only place I've seen that does ship to the UK. There's a place on the website that is for only ordering in the UK. I did try the Expeller pressed oil from Spectrum and I didn't care for it. I found a phone number on the TT website the other day and called it b/c I got an email that they were pre-ordering the Virgin oil again and that company doesn't sell the TT brand anymore. They sell 2 others that aren't heat processed. I decided to give them a try. I have not received it yet. I doubt they would ship to the UK, tho. They were a little Mom & Pop operation out of their house.

[virgincoco]

Nursegal,

I believe that the Garden of Life coconut oil comes in a plastic container. Given the evidence I have heard and read about, I have concerns about the plastic leaching into the oil itself (see earlier post in this thread).

To be entirely safe, I recommend buying coconut oil in glass containers.

I purchase Garden of Life coconut oil in a GLASS container from Whole Foods.

It has been an excellent, excellent product for me - I don't want anyone to be put off purchasing it by believing it comes only in plastic containers.

[Fhyreworks]

Mine is in glass containers, from Vitacost.

Debbie