Eat Coconut Oil to Lose Weight


Posted by SoundHealth on Monday, November, 01 2010 and filed under Nutrition
Key topics: Coconut Oil Weight Loss Fat Saturated Fat

Yes, that's right - eat fat to lose weight. But not just any fat - coconut oil contains a form of saturated fat that it is digested and processed differently from other fats. This amazing oil is made up of the most concentrated natural source of medium-chain fatty acids available - this structure is responsible for coconut oil's health-giving properties. Substituting coconut oil for other vegetable oils in your diet will help promote weight loss.

What Makes Us fat?

Basically, we gain weight by consuming more food than our bodies need. The food we eat is converted into energy, which powers metabolic functions and physical activity. Any extra calories are converted into fat and packed away into fat cells all around our body, so the more we eat, the bigger we get.

Why We Need fats

Fats are important food components that contain essential nutrients. Some fats are considered essential because our bodies cannot make them from other nutrients. It is through the fats in our food that we obtain and absorb the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K and beta-carotene). These nutrients help to protect us from many diseases, including cancer and heart disease, so a fat-restrictive diet can lead to nutrient deficiencies and increase the risk of degenerative diseases.

Instead of reducing fat intake, simply chose a fat that does not contribute to weight gain. Instead of polyunsaturated fats, such as processed vegetable oils, eat more saturated fat in the form of coconut oil.

Coconut oil Produces energy, Not fat

Most forms of fat are not only high in calories, but also contribute the most to body fat. When we eat fat, generally it is broken down into fatty acids and deposited directly into our fat cells.

However, medium-chain fatty acids, such as those found in coconut oil, are digested and utilized differently. Instead of entering the bloodstream, they are sent directly to the liver, where they are converted into energy - just like carbohydrates. But unlike carbohydrates, the fatty acids in coconut oil do not raise blood sugar, so coconut oil is safe for diabetics.

In other words, when you eat coconut oil, the body uses it immediately to make energy rather than store it as body fat. It has been documented in numerous studies that replacing traditional sources of dietary fat, which are composed mainly of long-chain fatty acids, with medium-chain fatty acids results in a decrease in body weight gain and a reduction in fat deposition. The simplest way to do this is to use coconut oil in the preparation of your food.

Coconut oil Speeds Up metabolism

The medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil have been found to speed up the body's metabolic rate, so that you burn more calories. This makes coconut oil a dietary fat that can actually promote weight loss, as long as calories in excess of the body's needs are not consumed. The medium-chain fatty acids are easily absorbed and rapidly burned and used as energy for metabolism.

Besides increasing your energy level, there are other very important benefits of boosting your metabolic rate: it helps to protect you from illness and speeds healing. When metabolism is increased, cells function more efficiently, injuries are healed quicker, and even the immune system functions better. Increased metabolic rate therefore provides increased protection from degenerative and infectious illnesses.

Researchers found that by replacing all the oils in your diet that are made of long-chain triglycerides, such as soybean oil, canola oil and the like, which an oil that contains medium-chain triglycerides, such as coconut oil, you can lose up to 36 pounds of excess fat a year. This is without changing your diet or reducing the number of calories you eat. All you have to do is simply switch to coconut oil.

Adding coconut oil to your diet is a great way to help you lose excess body fat. But if you over-eat you will still gain weight. The best way to lose weight with coconut oil is to add it to a healthy diet.

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