Coconut oil capsules are one of the latest forms of consumption of coconut oil. For a long time, efforts have been ongoing to make this oil available in easily consumable forms.
For this reason, coconut oil capsules came as very good news for the ultra-busy people who did not want to compromise on their health. They are portable, easily consumable supplements, and have many of the benefits of coconut oil, if not all of them. Let’s learn a bit more about these beneficial capsules.
What are Coconut Oil Capsules?
These capsules are like any other medicinal capsules, pills, or tablets. They have a concentrated form of coconut oil extract that fills starch capsules. Coconut oil capsules may or may not contain other herbal extracts and/or medicines and vitamin supplements. These pills can be based on pure, refined, virgin, or organic coconut oil (this one is doubtful as, after so much processing, there is hardly any organic material left).
Organic coconut oil is also available in soft gel form. Some companies sell coconut oil soft gel pills, and a few of them sell virgin coconut oil pills as well. These companies suggest a daily dosage of 4-6 capsules or a specific amount directed by physicians. However, it may be difficult to swallow soft gel pills directly.
Many consumers are interested in coconut oil pills because of their purported health benefits. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Benefits and Uses of Coconut Oil Capsules
Coconut oil capsules are good for:
- Weight loss [1]
- Treating Candida
- Reducing bad cholesterol [2]
- Increasing good cholesterol
- Treating hair loss
- Improving metabolism
- Keeping the skin attractive and healthy
- Treating problems with digestion
- Fighting microbial infections
Coconut oil supplements in the form of capsules and soft gels have the following advantages:
- Easily portable and consumable.
- Dosages can be easily managed since each has a fixed quantity and nutritional value.
- Coconut oil soft gel pills relieve you from the taste and odor of other drugs.
Cost of Coconut Oil Capsules
In places where coconuts are scarcely available, coconut oil pills can be a good and economical alternative to actually buying and eating a costly coconut. However, opting for them is certainly not a wise decision in certain coastal areas and islands in Asia and the Indian subcontinent, where fresh coconuts and pure coconut oil are available in huge amounts. In that case, they will cost you more.
Why we need Coconut Oil Pills or Capsules?
People have become accustomed to pills these days. Taking drugs in the form of pills is convenient and time-saving. But does that mean coconut oil should also be consumed in the form of pills? Since consumers, ignorantly, demand coconut oil pills, especially virgin coconut oil pills, some manufacturers package coconut oil for them in that form.
However, as mentioned earlier, these capsules are good for people living only in places where fresh coconuts or coconut oil are scarcely available and very costly. However, we doubt whether these capsules can really match the quality of fresh coconut oil or a fresh coconut. The reasons for that belief are quite simple.
- They are highly processed, so they lack that natural and pure element of normal oil.
- The taste and flavor are removed. You may not like the taste and smell of the capsule’s outer shell.
- They will lack many volatile nutrients which actual coconut oil contains, due to the high degree of processing.
- You cannot perform massages with these capsules, unlike with coconut oil.
Have you tried coconut oil capsules? They are great for people who don’t want the intense taste, but the benefits of coconut oil. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Availability
There are many companies that do not produce coconut oil soft gel capsules. The reason given by these companies is that daily consumption of about 3 tablespoons is recommended by experts. That means about 50 g of coconut oil. Even if you only consume 1 tablespoon, that is about 15 grams. Now if you take this oil’s capsules, which generally contain about 500-1000 mg coconut oil, you will have to consume at least 15 capsules per day to equate to one 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. That’s far too many. These capsules are also very costly when compared to regular coconut oil.
Furthermore, most gel capsules are made from animal gelatin. Therefore, if you are a vegan, you will want to stay away from them. Also, if you prefer to buy 100% organic products, you also have to ensure that the capsule is made from organic animal gelatin. Preparing soft gel capsules also involves the use of mineral oil, which is not permitted in organic foods, although there are some companies that claim to prepare soft gels without mineral oil. [3]
Do you agree?
Imagine that you are very busy with no time to even eat your favorite food, let’s say ice cream. You were then given a capsule and told to gulp it down with some water. You did it. And then you were told that it was a capsulated form of ice cream (or any other delicacy you can imagine). How would you feel? Or, rather, will it be anywhere close to the same experience? The answers are mixed. First of all, you will severely miss the taste, the flavor, and the sheer pleasure of eating your favorite dish, bite after bite. Beyond that, the extensive processing involved in converting the original stuff into the capsulated form will rob it of many micronutrients. In other words, it is better than nothing, but it is nowhere close to the real thing.
According to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the purpose of a supplement is to supplement the daily diet, when needed. You have to make your own choices depending on your lifestyle, but the real thing will always be a far better choice. [4]
