- Where does most coconut oil come from?
- Is coconut oil nutritious?
- Is coconut oil gluten free?
- Is coconut oil a common food allergen?
- Is coconut oil low fodmap?
- Water footprint of coconut oil?
- Water footprint of coconut oil?
- Is coconut oil sustainable?
- Is coconut oil vegan?
- Does coconut oil have human rights issues?
What are coconut oil benefits and side effects? Is coconut oil gluten free? Acidic or alkaline? Is coconut oil low fodmap? Vegan? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here are coconut oil pros and cons: all the info on coconut oil that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Food is something we consume every day. If you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on coconut oil benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about coconut oil benefits and side effects. This will include coconut oil benefits for your health and potential risks, coconut oil water footprint and carbon footprint, sustainability, if coconut oil is vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if coconut oil is good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about coconut oil benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Coconut Oil Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Coconut oil benefits for health may include:
- boost metabolism
- increased brain function
- quick energy to your body and brain
- reduced hunger
- reduced seizures in children with epilepsy
- heart health
- kill harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi
- lowered risk of heart disease
- raised HDL (good) cholesterol
- reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol
- reduced risk of heart disease
- fat burning
- improved dental health and reduce bad breath
- moisturize dry skin when applied topically
- prevent mouth infections if used as a mouthwash for “oil pulling”
- protect hair from sun damage by lightly blocking UV rays
- reduced belly fat
- reduced symptoms of eczema
Coconut oil side effects may include:
- diarrhea
- headache
- increased levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol
- increased cardiovascular risk
- weight gain
Additionally, coconut oil is…
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen, coconuts are not “nuts” and therefore do not effect those with nut allergies
- Low Fodmap
Environment
Water footprint: moderate, it takes 4,490 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of refined coconut oil / 538 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of refined coconut oil
Carbon footprint: moderate, 2.1 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of coconut oil, a car driving equivalent of 5 miles or 8 kilometers
Destruction: moderate, coconut oil production is moderately sustainable, there is no significant damage to air or water but land, soil and forests may be affected, growing coconuts doesn’t require pesticides or herbicides, and coconuts are harvested by hand, instead of by tractor, however monoculture farming is an issue where coconuts are grown, this means deforestation and farmers replacing native plants and biodiversity to meet the demand for coconuts, can reduce soil quality and ultimately lead farmers to use chemical fertilizers to boost their productivity *be sure to buy organic and sustainably sourced coconut products
Coconut oil is…
- Moderately Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, coconut oil production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, coconut oil production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: possibly monkeys, in some regions of the world (notably Thailand) monkeys are intentionally bred and trained to harvest coconuts, they may be punished, are always tethered to their handler and are not permitted to eat the coconuts they collect, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Coconut oil is…
- Vegan but may involve monkeys to harvest coconuts
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Coconut oil…
- May have laborer issues
Where does most coconut oil come from?
The world’s top coconut producing country is Indonesia, followed by Philippines and India.
The world’s top coconut oil exporting country is Philippines, followed by Indonesia, Netherlands, Malaysia, USA, Sri Lanka, Germany, Vietnam, Spain and Sweden.
Is coconut oil nutritious?
Coconut oil contains vitamin E but also saturated fats.
Is coconut oil gluten free?
Yes, coconut oil is gluten free. Coconuts do not contain gluten.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Is coconut oil a common food allergen?
No, coconut oil is not a common food allergen. Coconuts are drupes, not actual nuts. Some people may experience allergic reactions to coconuts but it is not part of the big 8 food allergen categories.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Is coconut oil low fodmap?
Yes, coconut oil is low fodmap, a food you can eat if on a low fodmap diet.
A low FODMAP diet may help those with bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
It’s all about knowing your body. Observe what works and what doesn’t. You body might even react negatively to a low-FODMAP food simply due to intolerance. Everyone is different! Be mindful and patient. Take time to get to know what’s best for your physical health and overall wellbeing.
Water footprint of coconut oil?
Coconut oil has a relatively moderate water footprint compared to other foods.
It takes 4,490 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of refined coconut oil / 538 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of refined coconut oil.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of “water footprints”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Water footprint of coconut oil?
Coconut oil has a moderate carbon footprint.
It takes around 2.1 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of coconut oil, a car driving equivalent of 5 miles or 8 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping…
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Is coconut oil sustainable?
Coconut production is moderately sustainable.
There is no significant damage to air or water but land, soil and forests may be affected. Growing coconuts doesn’t require pesticides or herbicides and coconuts are harvested by hand, instead of by tractor.
However, monoculture farming is an issue where coconuts are grown, which means deforestation and farmers who replace native plants and biodiversity to meet the demand for coconuts. This can reduce soil quality and ultimately lead farmers to use chemical fertilizers to boost their productivity. Be sure to buy organic and sustainably sourced coconut products.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
Read more about ‘What Makes Food Sustainable Or Unsustainable?’
Is coconut oil vegan?
Yes, coconut oil is vegan. Coconut oil is made from the kernel or meat of mature coconuts and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food. However, in Thailand monkeys are likely used to harvest coconuts.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
Does coconut oil have human rights issues?
At this time, there are no known specific reports of worker mistreatment regarding coconut farming but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Coconut oil may or may not have labor issues.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
This post was all about coconut oil benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Harvard, The Nutrition Source, Coconut Oil
Oil, coconut – FoodData Central – USDA
Coconut Brands That Don’t Support Monkey Labor | PETA Asia
Coconut Oil – Healthy or Unhealthy? | HealthySD.gov
