This article aims to give you information about coconut oil and how it is beneficial for your weight loss goals. The belief that it helps in weight loss is based on the fact that it reduces hunger and suppresses appetite. Coconut contains healthy fats called medium-chain triglycerides, which are metabolized differently, increase the feeling of fullness, and enhance weight loss.
Research shows that medium-chain fatty acids need more energy for metabolization. This implies that comparatively more calories are burnt while trying to digest food prepared in coconut oil as opposed to those cooked in conventional vegetable oils.
Does Coconut Oil Help For Weight Loss:
- When I heard about coconut oil aids in weight loss, even my surprise knew no boundaries. Coconut oil can actually help you lose some extra pounds of your weight. This has been supported by various studies, researches, and trials. Unlike most other cooking oils, which are primarily composed of long-chain fatty acids, coconut oil is almost entirely made up of medium-chain fatty acids or triglycerides. These fatty acids are known to boost up metabolism and reduce appetite. Medium-chain triglycerides include caprylic, caproic, and lauric acid. (1)
- The chief Medium-chain triglyceride present in coconut oil is called Lauric acid, which are not stored as fat deposits due to the difference in their metabolic pathways.
- These boost up your energy levels quite effectively. Consuming approx three tablespoons of organic virgin coconut oil in a day would help you achieve a significant energy boost.
- The ketone bodies produced in the liver help in inducing a sensation of fullness and curbs hunger pangs. This, in turn, reduces your daily calorie intake. Additionally, coconut oil has been found to make the digestion better along with more efficient absorption of nutrients from the gut. So, even while dieting, you can extract maximum nutrition from your food and don’t end up feeling weak or tired all the time.
- Unlike long-chain triglycerides, Medium-chain triglycerides are absorbed entirely and rapidly into the bloodstream, and hence can be used as a source of immediate energy for the body. They are also less likely to be converted into storage fat than the long-chain ones.
- Various studies conducted on lab rats demonstrated that the rats fed on medium-chain fats gained almost 20% lesser body weight and fat as compared to the control group fed on long-chain fatty acids.
- Studies have found that coconut oil consumption also keeps your mood swings in check. So, you stay more positive and motivated to achieve your weight loss goals. This is so because the medium-chain fatty acids of coconut oil help in converting the cholesterol into a steroid called pregnenolone. This particular hormone triggers the smooth functioning of many other hormones related to weighing loss like digestion, better fat utilization, etc
- Out of the total family of vitamins, some are classified as water-soluble, Vitamin B complex and the others, including Vitamin A D E and K are fat-soluble. Coconut oil helps in better absorption of these fat-soluble vitamins. So, this leads to better skin texture, stronger bones, too, as an indirect effect of consuming coconut oil.
- Last but not least, coconut oil is easily absorbed and utilized by the body. It decreases the workload on the pancreas, too. The pancreas is the gland responsible for the product of insulin. So, a less stressed pancreas can handle blood sugar better.
- Research has shown that adding healthy fats like coconut oil to your diet may increase stomach volume and increase the feeling of fullness. It also increases HDL (good cholesterol) and improves insulin sensitivity, which leads to a decrease in sugar cravings.
- Coconut oil decreases inflammation and is supposed to have cardioprotective effects.
- Virgin coconut oil contains higher amounts of nutrients such as vitamin E and active dietary polyphenols and is generally considered healthier than coconut oil extracted from mature copra.
- Coconut oil increases metabolism and helps in burning down fat. In a study, it was observed that the intake of coconut oil led to a decrease in waist circumference in males. It decreases abdominal fat and accumulation of fat in the body and thus aids in weight loss.
See Also: Is Coconut Water Good For Weight Loss
How To Use Coconut Oil For Weight Loss?
- Coconut oil may be incorporated into cooking. Food cooked in coconut oil suppresses appetite and increases the feeling of fullness fast. It prevents overeating and promotes weight loss.
- 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil might be taken per day to enhance weight loss.
- Supplements containing coconut oil are available in the market. These pills increase metabolism and promote satiety to enhance weight loss.
- The refined oil used in baking can be replaced by coconut oil.
- Nowadays, a lot of people have started adding coconut oil to their drinks such as tea, coffee, and smoothies instead of cream to avail its health benefits.
- Coconut oil can be used to create dressings for salads instead of the usual mayonnaise and olive oil to make it healthier and help weight loss.
Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Weight Loss:
- The health benefits of coconut are plenty, primarily when used as a weight-loss tool.
- It increases metabolism and aids in weight loss.
- It is composed of MCTs primarily, which are rapidly digested and absorbed into the blood, leading to increased fullness and decreased overeating.
- Coconut oil increases HDL cholesterol and is supposed to be cardioprotective.
- It also has anti-inflammatory properties along with antibacterial and antiviral properties.
- It is loaded with vitamin E, K, and minerals like iron.
See Also: Importance Of Coconut Water To Your Health
Side Effects Of Coconut Oil:
- Though a healthy fat, coconut oil still has a high amount of calories, around 120 calories per tablespoon, and could result in weight gain when coupled with a heavy diet. Hence, one should not go overboard in its consumption.
- There isn’t sufficient research on whether coconut oil is safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so better avoid it in those conditions.
- Regular intake of coconut oil in excess may lead to an increase in LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).
Coconut Oil In Coffee :
Benefits:
Adding coconut oil to coffee leads to increased metabolism throughout the day, consistent increased energy levels, a decrease in appetite and improved immunity. It helps in faster weight loss.
How To Use:
Just add 1-2 tbsps of coconut oil to your daily morning cup of coffee, and you are ready to go.
Side Effects:
It might lead to an increase in cholesterol; hence regular monitoring is required if daily consumption of coconut oil takes place. In rare cases, an allergic reaction to coconuts might occur.
See Also: How To Make Different Types Of Coffee
With a plethora of alternatives available for weight loss, I hope you found the article informative and will surely benefit from it. Coconut oil aids in weight loss, but make sure you consult your health care provider first before trying it out. Once you get the go-ahead signal from your doctor, do try out coconut oil for weight loss and get back in shape!!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to be utilized as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor and get your doubts cleared before starting coconut oil for weight loss.