Coconut trees can be found in almost all of the 7, 107 islands of the Philippines — a hot, humid, and tropical country located in Southeast Asia. For centuries, the inhabitants of these islands have turned to the coconut tree — the so-called Tree of Life — as a source of materials for shelter, food, and alternative medicine. The coconut tree is called Tree of Life because almost all of its parts can be utilized. The trunk is used as lumber; the woven leaves are used for roofing; and even midribs from the stems are brought together to form a native broom.
Another natural product that comes from the tree is the coconut oil. This oil is derived from fresh coconut meat to produce a food supplement known as Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO). Using the cold press method, the coconut oil is extracted by grating the fresh coconut and by squeezing the coconut meat. The coconut milk is put into a sanitary container, covered, and allowed to stand for about 24 to 36 hours. The virgin coconut oil which naturally separates from the water content of the coconut milk is then transferred to another container. At that stage, the VCO is ready for consumption without...