The Science Behind Coconut Oil

THE SCIENCE BEHIND COCONUT OIL

Coconut oil is high in fat and about 86% of that fat comes from saturated fat. Saturated fat is not exactly the best fat to be consuming in high amounts.

Right there you may think that you that means coconut oil is bad for you. However, there is more to the story–isn’t there always when it comes to science and nutrition?

A high percentage of the saturated fat that is found in coconut oil is made up of medium-chain triglycerides(MCTs) verses long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) typical in other saturated fats.

MCTs are processed in the liver and are burned off as fuel for your body quicker than LCTs. There is also evidence to suggest that they SLIGHTLY raise your metabolic rate. This means that they are less likely to be circulated in your blood stream and deposited in fat tissues.

Okay, so that sounds good. Higher metabolic rate, fuel for your body….

Not so fast.

DEBUNKING THE MYTH BEHIND COCONUT OIL

The following are claims (and my argument against these claims) made about coconut oil and how it is made out to be a miracle product.

• Coconut oil raises your HDL–the good cholesterol. This is true, but according to WEBMD, it also raises your LDL–the bad cholesterol. So no real value there.
• Coconut oil can curb your appetite. Yes! Guess what? Any fat can!! Your body needs fat to function properly, break down nutrients, and feel full. Nuts will do the same thing.
• Coconut oil reduces improves Alzheimer’s. Every medical website I looked at, said there is ZERO proof of this.
• Coconut oil has no cholesterol. True. But because it is high in saturated fats, olive oil is a better choice when if comes to nutrition.
• Coconut oil helps you lose fat. There is no evidence to the fact that adding coconut oil to your diet will help you lose weight. Being more aware of what you eat and replacing highly processed foods with more natural foods (which does include coconut oil) will certainly help you become healthier overall, and may contribute to weight loss in time.
• Coconut oil is better than trans fat. Hands down, yes! There is no reason to include trans fat in your diet, even in moderation.

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