Coconut oil has long received criticism because groups of nutritionists and scientists had incorrectly labeled it as a promoter of LDL cholesterol, which has since been exposed as not being “bad” at all. In truth, it never did increase LDL cholesterol, but it did increase HDL or good cholesterol.
That distinction was never corrected in the mainstream press and surprisingly, the misconception still continues to this day. More research has now brought to light that coconut oil not only burns stubborn abdominal fat, but it also increases thyroid function, improves metabolic markers and is associated with considerable weight loss.
Unique Oil With Amazing Health Properties
50 percent of the fat content in coconut oil is a fat rarely found in nature called lauric acid. Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties. Lauric acid is a powerful virus and gram-negative bacteria destroyer, and coconut oil contains the most lauric acid of any substance on earth! (so far, anyways)
Nigel Turner and Jiming Ye from Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research compared fat metabolism and insulin resistance in mice fed coconut oil and lard based diets.
“The medium chain fatty acids like those found in coconut oil are interesting to us because they behave very differently to the fats normally found in our diets,” said study leader Turner.
“Unlike the long chain fatty acids contained in animal fats, medium chain fatty acids are small enough to enter mitochondria – the cells’ energy burning powerhouses – directly where they can then be converted to energy.”
Coconut oil has a direct effect in suppressing inflammation and repairing tissue, and it may also contribute by inhibiting harmful intestinal microorganisms that cause chronic inflammation.
These benefits of coconut oil are numerous. These include support for hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, increased immunity, proper digestion, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and even bone strength. But one of the areas coconut oil shines the most is in the area of improving metabolism, reducing body fat and aiding in overall weight loss.
Many people who previously suffered with inflammatory conditions of the intestines like Crohn’s disease have successfully used coconut oil for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
The medium-chain fatty acids and monoglycerides found in coconut oil are the same as those in human mother’s milk, and they have extraordinary anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. By disrupting the lipid structures of microbes, they inactivate them. Lauric acid, its metabolite monolaurin and other fatty acids in coconut oil are known to protect against infection from bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi and parasites.
Multiple Studies Show That Coconut Oil Improves Metabolism and Weight Loss
Study #1
An excellent study that reviewed many previous studies on this topic was published in the Journal of Nutrition. This study was conducted by researchers at McGill University. They reported that several different studies have shown weight loss equivalent to 12 – 36 pounds a year simply by changing the types of oils used in everyday cooking and food preparation.
Study #2
A 2009 study published in the Journal of Lipids showed the effects of either 2 tablespoons of coconut oil or 2 tablespoons of soybean oil on a group of 40 women over the span of 28 days. Results showed that the group that consumed the coconut oil had a decrease in abdominal fat, while the soybean oil group actually showed increases in belly fat. Additionally, the group that consumed coconut oil showed increases in HDL ‘good’ cholesterol levels, while the soybean oil group had decreased HDL cholesterol and increased LDL cholesterol.
Study #3
In another study in ISRN Pharmacology, researchers found that virgin