Coconut Oil and Fat Loss

Coconut has been part of the diet of Pacific Islanders and South Asians for generations. Despite its numerous properties, including its antimicrobial effect and weight loss benefits, the small amount of coconut oil that was present in the American food supply until the anti-tropical oils campaign in the 1980s has mainly been replaced by processed vegetable oils and hydrogenated fats. Fortunately, many health food stores now offer coconut oil and a variety of other coconut-based products that could benefit your health and help you lose weight.

Metabolism

Coconut oil can facilitate weight loss because of its ability to increase your metabolism. If you have a slow metabolism, which is often the case in aging adults, have participated in yo-yo dieting or are sedentary, your body needs less calories compared to someone who has a fast metabolism. Adding coconut oil to your diet could speed up your metabolism, making it easier for your body to burn calories. In a study, the effects of an oil rich in medium-chain triglycerides, such as coconut oil, was compared to an oil rich in long-chain triglycerides, such as olive oil, in both lean and obese participants, according to a review paper in the March 2002 issue of "Journal of Nutrition." The results showed that after a meal including coconut oil, lean individuals burned 48 percent more calories, and obese individuals burned 65 percent more calories.

Satiety

Losing weight is all about eating less calories than your body burns. However, the main factor that makes dieters fail when trying to lose weight is hunger. You may be able to lose weight by restricting your calories and serving size, but at one point or another, you won't be able to sustain the diet. Adding coconut oil has the benefit of making your feel full longer, which can help you stick to your chosen weight loss program. In studies looking at the effect of different fats on satiety, replacing long-chain triglycerides, which are found in olive oil, canola oil or other vegetable oil, with a medium-chain triglycerides, which are mainly found in coconut oil, spontaneously reduced energy intake by 256 calories -- just because participants felt fuller, according to a paper published in March 2002 in "Journal of Nutrition.

Not Stored As Fat

Another advantage of coconut oil for weight loss is the fact that it is less likely to be stored as fat. The main type of fat found in coconut oil is called medium-chain triglycerides. Also called MCTs, this type of fat is not processed the same way as long-chain triglycerides, found in most other fats and oils typically consumed by Americans. Therefore, it's more likely to be used by your body as a source of energy, rather than being deposited in your fat stores, according to Dr. Mary G. Enig, a nutritionist and biochemist expert in fats and oils and author of "Know Your Fats: The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils, and Cholesterol.

Using Coconut Oil

Coconut oil could facilitate your weight loss by boosting your metabolic rate, decreasing your appetite and reducing fat storage in your body. If you want to give coconut oil a try, replace your current fats and oils with coconut oil. Choose a virgin coconut oil and try different brands until you find the one you like the most. Coconut oil is very stable at high temperatures; therefore, you can use it as an all-purpose oil. Instead of using olive oil, canola oil or peanut oil for sauteing your vegetables, use coconut oil. You can also use coconut oil for cooking meat, poultry, fish and eggs or baking your favorite baked goods recipes. Some dieters even consume coconut oil by the spoon for a quick source of energy.