By Judy Davie
**”I was always led to believe that coconut and coconut milk was a bad food to eat on a diet because it was high in calories — more recently I hear it’s one of the best oils to use and can help with weight loss. What’s true?”
— Rebecca**
Indeed coconut oil used in place of vegetable oils, butter and other animal fats may help weight loss only if it’s used in conjunction with an energy restricted diet combined with exercise.
Despite being a saturated fat, nutritional scientists have discovered that virgin coconut oil is used to make energy rather than being converted into fat. It’s quick to absorb, places less strain on the pancreas, liver and digestive system and helps to speed up the metabolism assisting those with thyroid dysfunction. It breaks the rule that all solid fats are bad for us.
The reason coconut oil behaves differently to other fats is due to its chemical structure. Made up of shorter chains of fatty acids referred to as medium chain fatty acids, coconut oil can be broken down more easily than long chain fatty acids, has a better solubility in water, a low melting point, and is metabolised immediately by the liver providing instant energy and numerous other health benefits. Another benefit to using coconut oil in cooking is the stability; unlike vegetable oils, coconut oil has a high smoke point and is more resistant to rancidity. Other health benefits include lowering cholesterol, reducing inflammation in the digestive tract to ease symptoms of IBS and Crohn’s disease and possessing anti viral and anti bacterial properties.
At the end of the day, if it’s weight loss you desire, the bottom line is that the energy intake in food must be less that the output. As part of a balanced healthy diet, with exercise, coconut oil may assist those with a slow metabolism but it’s unlikely to be of any benefit if overall eating habits do not change.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
