FAQs
Why is Melt® Organic good fat?
By “good fat” we mean that Melt® Organic is the perfect blend of the healthiest fats and oils that have been carefully chosen to be totally delicious and to deliver real health benefits. Melt® Organic delivers an ideal combination of healthful saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats for optimal nutrient content as recommended by lipids (fats) experts. Rich & Creamy Melt® Organic supports healthy weight when replacing other fats in your daily diet. Melt® Organic’s unique blend of organic ingredients also supports thyroid function, heart health and digestive health. Melt® Organic has no PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED or HYDROGENATED oils and, therefore, no TRANS FATS.
Why does Melt feature Virgin Coconut Oil as a primary ingredient?
Our organic Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is possibly the healthiest and most versatile dietary oil in the world. It is unprocessed, healthy saturated fat that is a robust source of Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs). More than any other vegetable oil, VCO is the optimal natural source of lauric acid, which strengthens our immune system and inactivates many viruses. Virgin Coconut Oil is rich in plant-based, good saturated fats essential to good health just like the Omega 3, Omega 6 and Omega 9 fatty acids found in fish. The MCFAs in virgin coconut oil have been shown to boost metabolism, promote healthy weight, increase thyroid activity, strengthen the heart, protect the liver from the toxic effect of drugs and alcohol, support the healing of digestive disorders, and are vital for absorbing nutrients like Omega 3s and Vitamins E, A, D, and K.
Why does Melt® Organic list Virgin Coconut Oil instead of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil on its label?
Unlike olive oil, which is extracted from repeated pressings of the meat of the olive hence creating extra virgin (first pressing) or virgin (second pressing) oil, virgin coconut oil is extracted using a wet-milling method; where the oil is extracted from fresh coconut meat without drying first. Coconut milk is expressed first by pressing, and the coconut oil is then separated from the water. There is NO industry standard for Extra Virgin Coconut Oil as there is for Virgin and Extra Virgin Olive Oil because there is no such thing as repeated pressings to extract the oil. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is just marketing speak.
What is the difference between Virgin and Refined coconut oil?
Most commercial grade coconut oils are made from copra, or the dried kernel of the coconut. If standard copra is used, the unrefined coconut oil extracted from copra is not suitable for consumption and must be purified, or refined, because the process is not sanitary. This coconut oil is referred to as RBD which stands for Refined, Bleached and Deodorized. More modern methods also use chemical solvents to extract all the oil from the copra for higher yields. RBD oil is also sometimes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated. HYDROGENTATED oils contain trans fatty acids. Melt® Organic has never contained Refined Coconut Oil. We strongly believe that only the highest quality organic Virgin Coconut Oil is acceptable.
Why is Melt® Organic Soy Free?
We set out to create a blend of oils that are better for you when optimally combined so each of us can choose a great tasting product that is also good for you. We chose only those ingredients that add to the overall health benefits of our products. The ideal ratio of Omega 6s to Omega 3s is between 2.5:1 and 1:1. Soy oil is almost completely composed of Omega 6 polyunsaturated fat and almost completely absent of Omega 3s ALA’s. It is widely recognized that Americans over-consume polyunsaturated fats made of Omega 6s and are deficient in Omega 3s. Including soy oil dilutes the healthful benefits of our flaxseed oil because it increases the ratio of Omega 6s to Omega 3s. Melt® Organic’s Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio is 2:1. We chose hi-oleic sunflower oil and sunflower lecithin instead, so that people who are allergic to soy can also enjoy Melt® Organic.
What are the important other organic healthy oils in Melt® Organic?
Palm Fruit Oil: Our palm fruit oil is produced from the fruit of the palm not the palm kernel. Palm fruit oil is a healthy replacement for hydrogenated oils and is known for being the most concentrated source of tocotrienols in existence – a form of Vitamin E generally found in very low levels and potentially more effective as an anti-oxidant than tocopherols. Tocotrienols are showing promise with preventing stroke-induced injury, reducing risk of breast cancer, reversing pancreatic and prostate cancers, reducing risk of diabetes type II, and reducing cholesterol. We ONLY source palm fruit oil that is certified Eco-Social and Fair Trade by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to ensure that it is produced using ethically and ecologically sound practices and is not linked to the deforestation of rain forests.
Flaxseed Oil: Flaxseed oil is the richest source of Omega 3s in the plant kingdom. Clinical studies have shown that dietary deficiencies of Omega 3s are linked to diseases such as weight gain, heart disease, cancer, inflammatory diseases, and arthritis. Organic flaxseed oil is an essential part of Melt® Organic, ensuring you receive the perfect balance of Omega 6s to Omega 3s, a ratio of 2:1. When combined with virgin coconut oil, the Omega 3s found in our flaxseed oil are optimally absorbed, improving your digestive healthy, heart health, and energy levels. Eating organic, flaxseed oil may reverse the negative effects of consuming foods with hydrogenated oils and trans fats.
Hi-oleic Sunflower Oil: Our hi-oleic sunflower oil is almost entirely monounsaturated fat, which decreases your risk of heart disease. Hi-oleic oils are naturally developed through traditional methods of plant breeding and hybridization; they are NOT genetically engineered. This hybridization enhances the fatty acid profile of the oil by making it higher in monounsaturated fat and lower in polyunsaturated fats. That means it’s good for your heart. Hi-oleic sunflower oil is also a source of vitamin E and a natural source of plant sterols, which have been shown to lower cholesterol.
Canola Oil: Organic canola oil is a bred (NOT genetically modified) variety of rapeseed and is part of the mustard (or Brassica) family whose other members include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and mustard greens. We only use organic canola oil that is expeller-pressed (hexane-free), and tested for GMOs and rancidity in every batch. Its monounsaturated fat content (similar to levels found in olive oil) and relatively high Omega-3 content make canola oil beneficial for heart health, particularly when combined in moderate amounts with healthy saturated fats like virgin coconut oil. In general, we believe Americans consume excessive amounts of oils high in Omega 6s, which is why canola oil is not a dominant ingredient in Melt, but included as an important source of monounsaturated fats and Omega 3s.
How is Melt® Organic better than other butter blends or spreads?
Melt® Organic is the only butter alternative that is both good tasting and good for you. Each of our organic ingredients has been carefully chosen and combined into the perfect blend so the benefits of each healthy oil is enhanced. Melt® Organic is superior in its range of offered health benefits to butter (regular, whipped or blended), margarine, and other buttery spreads.
Melt® Organic vs. Butter or Whipped Butter: Melt® Organic has a rich & creamy taste that easily replaces butter in all of your favorite recipes because it tops, sautés and bakes just like butter. With half the saturated fat of butter, Melt® Organic has only 80 calories per serving, is rich in healthful Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs), and has a perfectly balanced ratio of Omega 6s to Omega 3s. Our bodies convert MCFAs to energy instead of storing them as fat, unlike the long chain fatty acids found in butter, which require more effort for the body to break down. Good saturated fat strengthens the heart and is vital for absorption of calcium and fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin E, D, A, K, and Omega 3s. Melt® Organic also has naturally occurring plant sterols that have been shown to be heart healthy.
Can I cook and bake with Melt® Organic?
Our perfect blend of organic healthy oils and fats also means that Melt® Organic spreads, tops, sautés, cooks and bakes just like butter. Melt® Organic has a similar melt point to butter making it ideal for baking and cooking. Please visit Tips and Recipes for tasty suggestions and recipes using Melt® Organic in place of butter, olive oil and other fats in your daily diet.
Is each variety of Melt Organic certified Organic, Kosher and non-GMOO? Are the organic virgin coconut and palm fruit oils that you used certified Fair Trade and Ecosocial?
Yes, yes, yes and yes. Melt® Organic is certified Kosher and certified Organic. Melt® Organic is currently in process of being certified non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project. All of our oils are ethically sourced to ensure optimal healthful qualities, social responsibility and sustainable farming practices. In particular, our palm fruit and virgin coconut oils are certified Fair Trade and Ecosocial and the other oils are sourced in Europe where ecosocial practices are already in place. Our ingredients are non-GMO, certified Fair Trade, are eco-social and none contribute to deforestation practices.
Is Melt® Organic vegan/non-dairy?
Our perfect blend includes a small amount of grass-fed organic butter carefully in balance with our other ingredients for flavor and healthful qualities, so Melt cannot claim to be vegan or dairy free. Our NEW Honey Melt® Organic is a lightly sweetened flavor that is Dairy Free.
Grass-Fed Butter: Instead of using a synthetic butter flavor, we use a very small amount of grass-fed, organic butter so you can experience the full flavor of butter without the guilt. The saturated fats in organic butter, especially pasture-fed organic butter, include Short-and Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs) that are healthy and support many necessary biological functions when eaten in moderation. Butter is also a rich source of Vitamins A, E, K and D. It is a rich source of butyric acid (a short chain fatty acid), used by the colon as an energy source. Grass-fed organic butter contains conjugated linoleic acid, which offers protection against cancer.
How much Melt® Organic should I eat to support healthy weight?
The health benefits from eating Melt® Organic are not linked to a specific amount. Simply replacing other fats and oils in your daily diet with Melt® Organic will benefit your health. It may be easier to remember: “It’s Hip to Be Square” One square of Melt® Organic each week, or a couple of servings per day, as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Are there artificial colors, flavors or preservatives in Melt® Organic?
Absolutely none! We ONLY use organic and non-GMO ingredients that are essential to the perfect blend or the healthiest fats and oils. Melt has never contained hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.
Why do Melt® Organic spreads include canola oil, which has been reported to have health concerns?
We only use organic canola oil that is produced through an expeller-pressed method, therefore solvents and hexane are not an issue or present in our canola oil. PLUS, manufacturers of organically certified canola oil, and ALL organic oils, are by law banned from using solvents for extraction. Because we are also concerned that organic canola oil sourced in North America is potentially contaminated with GMO seed (unless verified with genetic testing), the organic canola oil we source is from Europe, primarily the Netherlands. Plus, our organic canola oil is genetically tested in each and every batch to ensure GMO contamination is absent every time. As a side note, the Non-GMO Project does a great job of vetting organic canola oil sources by requiring genetic testing of GMOs. That is why we are currently in the process of obtaining our non-GMO certification with the Non-GMO Project. To learn more about our organic canola oil, please read the Melt Rapp, our founder’s blog, 5 Essential Facts About Organic Canola Oil in Melt® Organic Products, on this issue.
