Coconut Oil: Lose Body Fat, Improve Your Immune System

Is Coconut Oil Really That Good For You?

What would you think about something loaded with saturated fat that could actually speed up your metabolism, help you lose body fat, and even improve your immune system?

You’d think I was selling you something. Well, you’re right. I’m selling coconut oil. Not just any coconut oil, but Igor’s coconut oil. So send me 3 easy payment of $99, and you too can lose body fat, speed up your metabolism and improve your immune system.

Just kidding.

Before we delve into the details of coconut oil, let’s first answer the question “what is it?”

Coconut oil, as the name implies is oil extracted from the meat of a coconut.

Yes, it’s full of saturated fat (in fact, it has more saturated fat than both lard and butter), but “saturated fat” is a very blanket term. There are really four types of saturated fats:

Very long-chain fatty acids

Long-chain fatty acids (LCFA)

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA)

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)

Coconut oil is composed primarily of MCFAs (also known as “medium-chain triglycerides”). MCFAs behave more like carbohydrates in that they are used for energy, as opposed to storage. So yes, although they have loads of calories, many of those calories don’t even get stored. A dieter’s dream! Something that fills you up without making you gain body fat. Just keep in mind that not all the fat in coconut oil is MCFA. So just as with anything, it’s not a free pass to gorge on unlimited amounts of coconut oil.

Another great benefit of coconut oil is that it’s great for high-temperature cooking. Saturated fats (like coconut oil and butter) tend to withstand heat much better than unsaturated fats (like grapeseed oil, olive oil, etc.). So it does not produce loads of free radicals the way that unsaturated fats would under high heat.

However, it’s not all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows (where did that saying come from, anyway?). Coconut oil reliably raises cholesterol. In vegetarians and vegans, who often have a deficiency of cholesterol (which is necessary for the production of testosterone, estrogen, many other hormones and for healthy cell walls), they use coconut oil to bring their cholesterol up. But if you already have healthy (or high) cholesterol levels, consuming coconut oil can raise them up even higher.

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Quick Summary

• Coconut oil is oil extracted from the meat of coconuts
• Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fat, but it’s medium-chain triglycerides
• Much of the fat in coconut oil is medium-chain triglycerides, which does not get stored as body fat.
• Due to its high saturated fat content, coconut oil is great for cooking.
• Coconut oil does reliably raise cholesterol.
  • If you’re deficient, eat it until your cholesterol levels are back to optimal.
  • If you already have healthy cholesterol levels, eat coconut oil in moderation.
  • If you have high cholesterol levels, be very careful