Fatty Acid Composition:
Coconut Oil’s benefits are due to one its fatty acid composition, which includes a high concentration of medium-chain saturated fatty acids like lauric acid. These benefits fight inflammation caused by unstable polyunsaturated fatty acids.
They are easily digested. They put up a powerful fight against pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungal infections.
If you’re looking for the benefits of coconut oil’s fatty acids, you’ll find them equally in the refined and the unrefined (virgin) versions.
The taste of refined coconut oil is more practical:
Most people don’t want coconut flavour invading their fried eggs or their steak and chips.
Sensitive Digestion and Allergies:
As proteins will have been removed in the refining process, the refined version is more suitable for people with sensitive digestion, and for those with allergies. Refined oil is odourless and flavourless. (Ref)
Stability:
A refined oil is more stable than an unrefined one. Refined coconut oil doesn’t degrade as quickly at high temperature and it has a better shelf life. To rephrase that in techno-speak, the refined version has lower levels of free fatty acids .. an unhealthy component of edible oils. Notwithstanding all the above, many folks prefer an oil which is natural and unprocessed.