Paradise Island's Virgin Coconut Oil: Why it's good for you
Oscar Nava (right) at one of the cart
branches of Paradise Island Virgin
Coconut Oil.
Oscar Nava, owner and leading manufacturer of premier brand Paradise Island's Virgin Coconut Oil has for a year been an advocate of healthy food consumption. Upon discovering the advantages of virgin coconut oil from thorough research, he subsequently learned that these type of oil is not only a good alternative to other fats and oils but is arguably the best oil from a health standpoint.
Virgin coconut oil is now being widely used for various reasons. It is more than just a healthy oil being used for cooking purposes as its benefits range from medical to personal use. It now gradually replaces massive producers of dangerous saturated fatty acids mostly found in butter, fast foods, processed junk foods and pastries, and cooking oils among others. These saturated fats are blamed for raising cholesterol, and cholesterol is now being viewed as an evil enemy for it is responsible for the increased rate in heart diseases and different ailments in the body.
But why call it as Virgin Oil? How is it different from vegetable or any cooking oils being popularly used? How is this used and what are its benefits?
Nava explains that there are a very wide variance in terms of coconut, the manufacturing process used to make the oil, the effectiveness and quality and the major impact different coconut oil creates in one's health.
Fred Garcia holding a bottle of Paradise
Island Virgin Coconut Oil.
Most commercial coconut oils are RBD- refined, bleached and deodorized. They contain chemicals used in processing. Certified organic, Virgin Coconut Oil is a truly unrefined coconut oil. It has no GMO (genetically modified) ingredients and did not undergo a process of bleaching, deodorizing, purification and hydrogenation. Most commercial oils are made from "copra", the dried up meat from coconuts. Using cheap copra-grade coconut means that the oil extracted is not sanitary and certainly not suitable for human consumption. Virgin Coconut Oil is made out from organic coconut palms grown and processed without harmful fertilizers, additives or chemical solvents and are immediately used within 24 hours after harvest. "Our supply of coconuts come from Guimaras, Janiuay, and Leganes and they are immediately transported to our factory after harvesting. According to my research, there are 7 possible methods to derive virgin coconut oil but I used one particular way to ensure my products' quality, effectiveness and healthiness," says Nava. His is called the settlement method. The oil harvested before the 24 hour period is used for drinking while the ones produced after 24 hours are processed for topical use such as massage oil, moisturizing, and tanning. Then it goes right through a special micron filter. "It normally takes 2 to 3 days to filter a pail of oil. And we re-filter again for another 2 to 3 days." After which it goes through the settlement process where the filtered oil will stay for 3 weeks. Why? "After filtering it twice, it can already be bottled but the oil still has microscopic water molecules and after 3 weeks it is still separating. When water is being eliminated from the oil, the process is called decanting." The process is necessary, he explains, for the product to have a longer shelf-life, and have a high quality. After 3 weeks of decanting, the oil will again be filtered and will already be good for bottling and labeling. "It's a long painstaking process but we have to be extra careful and diligent to maintain our standard. The packaging itself is world-class. For a local manufacturing firm, I am proud to say that we can compete globally with other products."
The common types of oil commonly being called for in recipes are vegetable, olive oil, butter and canola but according to research, it is not the healthiest to cook with due to its chemical structure and contains largely of polyunsaturated fats. One of the main differences of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) and refined oil is its taste and scent. VCO retains a distinct fragrance and taste of coconuts because it is not refined.
Now Virgin Coconut Oil is being considered as the healthiest oil on earth due to the enumerable benefits it creates to the body. These include, preventing premature aging while rejuvenating your skin, improves conditions in those with diabetes and chronic fatigue, provides a stronger immune system, optimizes level of cholesterol, boosts your energy level, prevents infections due to harmful bacteria and significantly helps you lose weight. VCO is also good for your heart because it does not contain trans-fats. "It is also one good source of lauric acid," says Nava. A nutritious compound similar to a mother's milk. "It helps fight dangerous micro-organisms and helps you become less susceptible to bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and molds."
Nava himself attested that since he started using his product he became less vulnerable to common sicknesses like colds. Fred Garcia, a balikbayan from the US, also has something to say when it comes to the healing miracles VCO has done. "I used to be really sick for a while. I have undergone 6 months of chemotherapy. After that I became over sensitive to the sun and my skin developed blisters whenever I get exposed to it. I started using Virgin Coconut Oil and within 5 days my rashes disappeared without taking any medications. This worked for me and it has helped me a lot. Now whenever I go back to the States I always bring a lot with me.
Nava says his product is now being gradually exported to Canada. But he still wants to concentrate on getting a wider market here. He now has 3 cart branches in SM City, SM Delgado and the Atrium. There you can see different arrays of Paradise Island's Virgin Coconut Products from cooking oil, moisturizers in different enticing scents, tanning lotions and a lot more. Yet, he says he will not stop there. He plans on creating more products but in the future he wants to produce an essences line for women. "Maintaining this kind of business is not easy. You always have to keep your nose above water but being into several enterprise ventures already, I now have a broad idea of what I am going to do." Being a graduate of chemical engineering, Nava is now on his way to success.