Coconut Oil Old School Style

As I sit to write this review about Tropical Traditions’ Gold Label Virgin Coconut oil  I literally do not know where to begin. So I thought I would begin by my discovery of coconut oil and all of its health benefits.
My first interest in coconut oil was simply for beauty purposes. What I gathered from the whisperings of hair forums and individual reviews was that coconut oil was a wonderful oil for hair and could penetrate the hair shaft as opposed to coating it. So I went on a journey to discovering all of its uses for hair. What I found instead was list, after list, of health benefits that go beyond hair, I was overwhelmed by the healthy prospect of what this oil could do for me and my loved ones. 
Thus began the hunt for coconut oil!
When I found a refined coconut oil at my local grocery store, I was beyond thrilled, and tore into the stuff as soon as I could. But then, something was very wrong when I tried to apply it topically, it didn’t “work” the way I read it was supposed to. There was no coconut taste or smell and I begin to question whether coconut oil was a hype. This organic, refined, expeller-pressed oil left me asking a vital question every health conscious person needs to ask  - HOW WAS THIS PRODUCT PROCESSED?

How Coconut Oil Is Processed

 Expeller pressed - Expeller pressing (also called oil pressing) is a mechanical method for extracting oil from raw materials. The raw materials are squeezed under high pressure in a single step. When used for the extraction of food oils, typical raw materials are nuts, seeds and algae, which are supplied to the press in a continuous feed. – Wikipedia.com
Refined - Refined coconut oil or RBD coconut oil is the type of coconut oil that goes through refining, bleaching, and deodorizing.  It may be coconut oil organic or non-organic. Organic coconut oil is extracted from a coconut that is grown without the use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and other modern technologies in farming. RBD oil comes from the dried kernel of coco fruit.  Since drying of the coconut meat and extracting of the oil can be unhygienic, the crude oil undergoes sanitizing methods.  RBD oil then, becomes tasteless, colorless, and odorless. – http://www.2-clicks-coconutoil.com
While Expeller pressed coconut oil is not bad in and of itself, I don’t understand the point in calling a refined product organic, especially when the process involves the addition of solvents. It defeats the purpose of why the coconut is organic in the first place. The problem with adding solvents to coconut oil is that it creates bad fat, better known as Trans fats, which is harmful to heart health. 
Here’s the beauty in Tropical Traditions Black Label Virgin Coconut Oil it is raw, unrefined if you will, hand-made-with-care, oil that simply is unparalleled in the coconut oil industry. The first of it’s kind, Tropical Traditions produces their Black Label oil by small family farms on Mt. Banahaw of the Philippines, where the coconut is harvested and grown in volcanic, nutrient-rich soil.  This oil as opposed to the methods previously listed is NOT mass produced, but made in small batches. On Tropical Traditions website they explain:

“She said there was a method the older generation used to extract the oil by grating the fresh coconut, extracting the coconut milk, and then letting the coconut milk stand in a covered container for about 24 hours. After about 24 hours, the oil naturally separates from the water producing a crystal clear oil that retains the full scent and taste of coconuts. So we started making our coconut oil that way and using it for our cooking needs with our three children.” – How We Discovered This Unique Oil

I have to say any company that can serve their own children the products they sell is a company that at least has my respect. What allows Tropical Traditions to  boast of their Black Label status is the independent laboratory results that clearly put them above the rest in the large amounts of phenolic antioxidants present .

How Have I used Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

Oh my goodness, where do I begin? Since I’ve read about VCO wondrous ability in weight loss, I have been taking 3 tablespoons a day. I can tell you, my energy levels have increased. I do have to say I see a slight toning in my body, particularly my thighs, but I haven’t been taking it long enough to see the needle on my scale dip, but so far so good! I’ve taken it in solid form, refrigerated, with sweetened Yerba Mate tea, which I LOVE (!!!) so yummy!
I’ve used it in oatmeal,on pancakes, for sautéing,  in place of butter and other oils. I’ve used it on my skin, on my scalp and hair. I used it to soothe diaper rashes. I’ve used it as an odor deterrent.  Yes that’s right, slather it on the armpits, it seems to prevent smell. I had to reapply as necessary, but FAR better than the Aluminum stuff found in store-bought deodorant.  I’m always saving jars for my herbs, and removing the glue on the labels can be, well…sticky (pun intended) a dab of coconut oil removes that stuff with no problem! 

Breast milk & Coconut Oil

As a breast feeding mom, I truly appreciate this knowledge, the same ingredient found in breast milk, Lauric Acid is found in coconut oil!

“The benefits of coconut oil are mainly from the nutrient value of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). The best comparison in nature as to the percentage of MCFAs being consumed in a diet is human breast milk. To equal the amount of MCFAs a nursing infant would receive in one day, an adult would need to consume about 3.5 tablespoons of coconut oil a day according to researchers”. – Read More

When all is said and done, I LOVE this product, it was a pleasure to review and experience it. My husband and family LOVED it. This exquisite all purpose oil is so various in its uses that I have brought my children to fits of laughter when I’m cooking with it at the stove, eating it and rubbing it on my skin! Thanks to Tropical Traditions for this amazing product. The only negative thing I have to say is that I’m almost out of my VCO :(


You can purchase your own coconut oil at the link below!


32-oz. - Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil - 1 quart 






























 **Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a sample to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product. The reader is encouraged to do their own research on Tropical Traditions Black Label Virgin Coconut oil. The reader expressly acknowledges the information presented in this post is on an informative basis and does not take place for professional opinions. Visit Tropical Traditions’ FAQ page for further information.