Coconut oil/shredded, wild berries

[spockafina]

I bought some Coconut oil and shredded coconut yesterday, but am unsure if they are raw.
The shredded coconut is from Woodstock Farms. It's only ingredient is organic coconut. It was in the refrigerated section of the store.
The oil is made by Spectrum Naturals. Ingredients: 100% expeller pressed naturally unrefined organic coconut oil.


My other question is this: we just found out (after my family has been living in this house for 30 years) that we have dozens upon dozens of wild blackberry and raspberry vines all surrounding our property. Today, I picked almost 8 cups of blackberries! Do you have to wash these wild berries as you would store-bought berries?


Thanks much!

[spockafina]

anybody?

.

[PixieGreen]

I thought Spectrum only distributed a refined [non-raw] coconut oil but I see they offer an organic non-refined variety now. Have you tasted it? Does it taste/ smell coconutty? From what I read on Spectrums website *may* be raw. It depends on how hot the press gets when extracting. It is not cold pressed, meaning [on their word] extracted at temps below 122 degrees. Their refined version is *not* raw because it isn't *naturally* expeller pressed.

"What is Expeller Pressing?
Expeller pressing is a chemical-free mechanical process that extracts oil from seeds and nuts. This method of oil extraction is an alternative to the hexane-extraction method used for many conventional oils. The temperature reached during pressing depends on the hardness of the nut or seed. The harder the nut or seed, the more pressure required to extract the oil, which in turn creates more friction and higher heat. There is no external heat applied during the expeller pressing."

http://www.spectrumorganics.com/index.php?id=32

I've been using the raw refined and virgin coconut oils from tropical traditions. It is really fantastic. Not having tried the expeller pressed Spectrum oil I can't offer a comparison.

Christa

[spockafina]

thank you. I didn't even think to Google it to see if there was a website

[spockafina]

oh, Pixie - I made fudge balls from your recipe that I found on this forum(nuts, cacao, agave, coconut, vanilla) except I used raw carob powder. Anyways, I made them yesterday - soooooooo yummy!

I gave one to my mother to try (a serious choco-holic) and she said they were delicious - I didn't tell her it wasn't real chocolate or raw!

[PixieGreen]

I'm glad you enjoyed them! I save them for pms, they really hit the spot. :)

Christa

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Christa,

I use to buy tropical traditions coconut oil until someone pointed out question #22 on their FAQ. It states "Yes, Tropical Traditions VCNO is slightly heated at the end of the processing prior to packaging. This is to ensure that no moisture is present, and to draw all the oil out of the curds that are formed by the fermentation process. This heat is very low (less than boiling temperatures), and is for a very short duration (10-15 minutes)."

http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/faq.htm#22

They also go on to say way it's okay that it's heated.


I now get mine from Wilderness Family Naturals. They have 2 types of virgin coconut oils which states:

"Our Extra Virgin Centrifuged coconut oil is made from fresh coconuts opened within 48 hours of being picked from the trees. They first shell the coconuts and then chop the flesh, placing it in an cold expeller press, yielding a 0.1 % Moisture content and 53% Lauric Acid content. It does not see heat above room temperature in the Phillipines and the resulting coconut milk emulsion does not exceed (29° C or 84° F)."

and

"Unlike other Philippine oils processed by fermentation, this oil has a 0.1% moisture content and a 53% Lauric Acid content, contains no acids of fermentation, and it is not heated. It does not see heat above room temperature in the Phillipines, the resulting coconut milk emulsion does not exceed (37° C or 98° F). This oil has live micro nutrients and enzymes that remain intact."

http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[PixieGreen]

Helen, I hadn't remembered reading it before. I find TT's explanation quite reasonable. Since coconut oil does not contain enzymes, coconuts in the tropics reach and internal temp of well over 100 degrees, and their coconut oil is heated at a low temperature so the chemical makeup is not altered I will continue to use their oil. [http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/faq.htm#23 to read explanation]

For my raw journey I choose to ask myself whether the strictest definition of raw for certain items misses the point of why I am raw. For example, some fermented foods will reach temps higher than 115 degrees in the natural act of fermentation. Since we need the probiotics fermented foods provide I choose to eat them. Similarly if a whole, natural food like coconut oil does not contain enzymes my primary concern is not whether it is heated below a strict 115 degrees but whether it is processed or heated to a degree that would alter it's natural nutrients and healing properties.

Thank you for sharing the link, it made me consider this issue more thoroughly than I had before. :) And I certainly respect your decision to choose another coconut oil.


Christa