milk fat and other milk solids with the addition of nutritive sweeteners and other
permitted non-dairy ingredients. The said product may contain incorporated air and
may be frozen hard or frozen to a soft consistency (FSSR 2011). Coconut oil, natural
or modified, have high solid fat content at 0
C, low melting point, and bland taste,
hence preferred as a fat source in frozen desserts.
7.8 Alternative Applications
One of the major non-edible applications of coconut oil is in the soap industries; one
important chemical derivative of coconut oil is methyl esters of coconut fatty acids,
which are produced by treating coconut oil with methyl alcohol. These methyl esters
constitute an important raw material for the chemical industries as they are more
stable and are easier to separate by fractional distillation. Coconut oil has many other
industrial uses in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics, rubber substitutes, synthetic
resins, etc. Coconut oil has also been found useful for mixing with diesel. This
mixture in the proportion as 30:70 has given excellent road performance of diesel
vehicles. Methyl esters of coconut oil fatty acids are also being used as lubricants and
biodiesel in the aviation industry.
7.9 Conclusion
Coconut has been an intrinsic part of the diet of Asia, Africa, Central America, and
the South Pacific Islands since ancient times. Apart from its health attributes, it has
been used in various food and non-food preparations. In the past few years, coconut
has been criticized for increasing the rate of heart diseases as it is rich in saturated
fatty acids. The tide has turned, and now its health benefits especially VCO’s health
benefits have been exploited. Moreover, further research is needed to claim its health
benefits. A different part of coconut should be studied for application in other foods
too which can be useful in inventing new functional products that can be future
scope for the miraculous fruit.
References
Agero AL, Verallo-Rowell VM (2004) A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra
virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis. Dermatitis
15:109–116. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00309ew.x
Al-Adhroey AH, Nor ZM, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Amran AA, Mahmud R (2011) Evaluation of the use
of Cocos nucifera as antimalarial remedy in Malaysian folk medicine. J Ethnopharmacol
134:988–991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.01.026
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
183
permitted non-dairy ingredients. The said product may contain incorporated air and
may be frozen hard or frozen to a soft consistency (FSSR 2011). Coconut oil, natural
or modified, have high solid fat content at 0
C, low melting point, and bland taste,
hence preferred as a fat source in frozen desserts.
7.8 Alternative Applications
One of the major non-edible applications of coconut oil is in the soap industries; one
important chemical derivative of coconut oil is methyl esters of coconut fatty acids,
which are produced by treating coconut oil with methyl alcohol. These methyl esters
constitute an important raw material for the chemical industries as they are more
stable and are easier to separate by fractional distillation. Coconut oil has many other
industrial uses in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics, rubber substitutes, synthetic
resins, etc. Coconut oil has also been found useful for mixing with diesel. This
mixture in the proportion as 30:70 has given excellent road performance of diesel
vehicles. Methyl esters of coconut oil fatty acids are also being used as lubricants and
biodiesel in the aviation industry.
7.9 Conclusion
Coconut has been an intrinsic part of the diet of Asia, Africa, Central America, and
the South Pacific Islands since ancient times. Apart from its health attributes, it has
been used in various food and non-food preparations. In the past few years, coconut
has been criticized for increasing the rate of heart diseases as it is rich in saturated
fatty acids. The tide has turned, and now its health benefits especially VCO’s health
benefits have been exploited. Moreover, further research is needed to claim its health
benefits. A different part of coconut should be studied for application in other foods
too which can be useful in inventing new functional products that can be future
scope for the miraculous fruit.
References
Agero AL, Verallo-Rowell VM (2004) A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra
virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis. Dermatitis
15:109–116. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00309ew.x
Al-Adhroey AH, Nor ZM, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Amran AA, Mahmud R (2011) Evaluation of the use
of Cocos nucifera as antimalarial remedy in Malaysian folk medicine. J Ethnopharmacol
134:988–991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.01.026
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
183