Learn the difference between virgin and fractionated coconut oil, and why HempMy Pet™ opts to use the former as the base of their hemp extract.
The demand for coconut oil is on the rise due to consumer ideologies that coconut oil can aid in weight loss, immunity support, cardiovascular support, and memory enhancement. While there’s certainly something to be said about all of these benefits, coconut oil is also a fantastic source of medium chain triglycerides3, and virgin coconut oil is currently being researched for its medicinal properties including its ability to act as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulatory, and hypolipidemic agent1.
What is “virgin” coconut oil?
Any form of coconut oil is technically processed since the oil needs to be extracted from the milk of the coconut.4 Coconut oil is considered “virgin” if it’s left unrefined after the extraction process.4 Virgin coconut oil is the lowest refined and processed option available on the market, and must be taken from a fresh coconut as opposed to the copra – the kernel of the coconut fruit.4 Virgin coconut oil displays a stronger lipid profile for the body to ingest and an increased antioxidant profile compared to coconut oil.2,4 Since virgin coconut oil goes through a shorter refinement process compared to coconut oil, more of the bioavailable phytonutrients remain in the final product.4
The truth about fractionated coconut oil
Fractionated coconut oil is a frequently used carrier oil that many companies utilize when creating hemp products for animals. Also known as “MCT oil” fractionated coconut oil is an extremely refined product that comes in a liquid form.4 During the refining process, lauric acid – the key ingredient in coconut oil – is removed.4 Lauric acid is a saturated fatty acid that contains significant antimicrobial properties, and makes up approximately 50% of the coconut oil.4 Once lauric acid is removed, all that is left is a liquid oil with a much lower melting point, and no coconut flavor or smell.4
Coconut oil & HempMy Pet™
HempMy Pet™ chooses to use organic, sustainably-sourced virgin coconut oil as a carrier oil for their 100 mg and 500 mg concentrations of full spectrum hemp extract. When a hemp extract is “full spectrum”, it means that the entire cannabis plant is utilized including the flower, leaves, stem and sprouts to create synergistic effect on the body known as the entourage effect5. HempMy Pet™’s owned genetic line of cherry abacus full spectrum hemp extract combines CBD, CBG, CBC, Terpenes, Flavonoids, Tocopherols, and under 0.3% of THC to create a cultivar specific product full of bioactive, human-grade, and vegan ingredients that are beneficial for animals. They go above and beyond to obtain a certification of analysis for their organic virgin coconut carrier oil, so customers know exactly where the oil originates from. Each batch is third party analyzed and tested to ensure purity, potency and safety for every pet.
HempMy Pet™’s organic coconut oil can be utilized as a preventative maintenance supplement for your patients. Pet parents can offer it to their animals by adding it to their food, or by encouraging them to lick it directly off their hands. The team at HempMy Pet advises against allowing pets to lick the product right out of the jar or off the dropper, as the introduction of saliva into the product could potentially lead to contamination and cause degradation of the product (the same as any human products).
References
1Nair, S. S., Manalil, J. J., Ramavarma, S. K., Suseela, I. M., Thekkepatt, A., & Raghavamenon, A. C. (2016). Virgin coconut oil supplementation ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced systemic toxicity in mice. Human & experimental toxicology, 35(2), 205–212. https://doi.org/10.1177/0960327115578867
2Teng, M., Zhao, Y. J., Khoo, A. L., Yeo, T. C., Yong, Q. W., & Lim, B. P. (2020). Impact of coconut oil consumption on cardiovascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition reviews, 78(3), 249–259. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz074
3Sankararaman, S., & Sferra, T. J. (2018). Are We Going Nuts on Coconut Oil?. Current nutrition reports, 7(3), 107–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-018-0230-5
4Shilhavy, B. (2015). What type of coconut oil is best? How to choose a coconut oil.
5Uziel, A., Gelfand, A., Amsalem, K., Berman, P., Lewitus, G. M., Meiri, D., & Lewitus, D. Y. (2020). Full-Spectrum Cannabis Extract Microdepots Support Controlled Release of Multiple Phytocannabinoids for Extended Therapeutic Effect. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 12(21), 23707–23716. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c04435
