Coconut oil is a delicious and healthy fat, derived primarily from the flesh and kernel of mature coconuts. While many of us have kept our distance because of its high fat content, we’ve been missing out on the incredible benefits that this amazing and natural product can give us.
Not all fats or calories are made equal: some will pack on the pounds and destabilize blood sugar while others, like coconut oil, can actually help to eliminate unhealthy fat and keep blood sugar levels perfectly balanced. Coconut oil is officially a healthy fat, offering multiple benefits for your entire body. It is made up of 2/3 of medium fat triglycerides, which is a type of fat that has been studied for decades and has consistently proven to greatly benefit your health.
One study carried out by Dr. Marie-Pierre St. Onge at the Department of Medicine at the Columbia University involved 49 participants, of which 31 completed the study. Men and women aged 19-50 and with a Body Mass Index of 27-33 (obese) were recruited from Birmingham, Alabama and were analyzed for 16 weeks while being supplemented with two tablespoons of Medium Chain Triglycerides per day, including coconut oil. Body weight and waist circumference were measured weekly and tracked over the entire period, and the study concluded that healthy fats like coconut oil are excellent to include in a weight loss program.
Coconut oil proved to be thermogenic, which meant that it boosted energy expenditure by as much as 5% or 120 calories per day. By creating a small increase in caloric deficit it was possible for the individuals to lose belly fat and overall size. This means that if you include just two tablespoons of coconut oil in your daily routine, whether you cook with it, bake with it or drizzle it onto salads, you will be helping your body to lose life-threatening abdominal fat with minimal effort.
Additional studies reflected the same results, and coconut oil either helped to keep a feeling of satisfaction and fullness for longer or it helped to increase energy burn, which led to weight loss.
Why Does Coconut Oil Not Get Stored Like Other Fats?
Because coconut oil is a medium chain triglyceride, it is much more easily digested and absorbed into the body, unlike other fats. This means that it does not need bile or digestive enzymes to break it down but instead is quickly absorbed and sent directly to the liver, where it is processed for instant energy for the body. This process ensures that it is not stored up as fat, especially around the organs and intestines, but is rather immediately used by the body for pure, natural energy.
How Does Coconut Oil Prevent Diabetes?
A study published in the Diabetic Journal was carried out at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and confirmed that coconut oil was helpful in preventing and managing the development of Type 2 Diabetes.
Dr. Nigel Turner and his Associate Professor Jiming Ye compared fat metabolism with insulin resistance in mice that were fed coconut oil, and they confirmed that coconut oil behaves very differently in the body to other types of fat. It helped to reduce cravings, balance hormones and led to body fat loss, which resulted in a much more stability in blood sugar levels.
The lauric acid present in coconut oil has been linked to reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. It is easily digested and does not require insulin to be able to enter cells for nourishment and energy, which helps to reduce the development of insulin resistance. In fact, research has shown that coconut oil actually helps to slow the rate at which carbohydrates are broken down and absorbed into the body, which helps to reduce the amount of glucose in the bloodstream and therefore keeps blood sugar levels at their ideal.
What’s the Relevance of Coconut Oil in Your Diet?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that more than 34.9% of Americans suffer from obesity and more than 9.3% have been diagnosed with diabetes.
An additional 50% of the population has been identified as pre-diabetic and are getting dangerously close to the level of obesity, which rings alarm bells for diabetes, heart disease and heart failure.
By including just two tablespoons of raw, organic coconut oil in your diet your cells will be getting the nourishment that they need to function properly, as well as kicking your metabolism back into a healthy condition.
This will help to shed belly fat, stabilize blood sugar levels and lead to a healthier, happier body with minimal risk of developing life-threatening diseases. Plus, it’s delicious!
References:
http://healthyhubb.com/10-amazing-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8654328
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/
More Posts By Author Sophie Robinson.
