Adding virgin coconut oil to your weight loss journey

To date, virgin coconut oil has been touted by experts as one of the healthiest fruits and carries a multitude of benefits, including the skin, heart, hair, nails and aiding weight loss. Interestingly, nutritionists believe that the fat found in coconut oil is considered healthy and can aid the body burn fat. How? Virgin coconut oil is a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), which competes with glucose to be the body's preferred fuel by taking a different path through the digestive system. The outcome sees an increase in metabolism and weight loss in important body regions, such as the hazardous belly fat. The question begs, how much coconut oil should you consume on the daily to lose weight and is it safe to consume saturated fat? We list down everything you need to know about virgin coconut oil for weight loss below.

How Virgin Coconut Oil Assists in Weight Loss

Virgin coconut oil has been linked to weight loss, evident in numerous studies which focused on how it can help you feel full, speed up metabolism, and burn abdominal fat. However, it’s important to practise moderation. Consult a professional to learn more.

Boosts Metabolism

While it may go against all your instincts, multiple research states that MCT oils like coconut oil can help you burn more calories each day, which may help you lose weight. In a different study, results revealed that using MCT oil over the long term may increase calorie burning compared to a diet high in long chain fatty acids like olive oil, soybean oil, or avocado oil. The body's metabolism is accelerated for up to 24 hours when MCTs are used by your cells as fuel rather than glucose. It’s clear that there is sufficient data to support MCT oil's ability to help people lose weight in general, but less is known about coconut oil specifically. Only 13.5 percent of coconut oil is pure MCT. This means that you would have to consume 80 g of coconut oil to get 10 g of MCT, which is a lot of oil, especially considering how much saturated fat coconut oil contains.

Raises HDL

Food prepared with coconut oil boosts HDL (good) cholesterol levels and lowers your risk of obesity and heart disease.

Burns Fat

The question is, can you actually burn abdominal fat with coconut oil? Some believe that  the source of calories is more important than "calories in vs. calories out.” If we’re taking this instance, then, coconut oil is beneficial. Compared to LCTs, the MCTs in coconut oil boost metabolism and calorie burn, which is likely to cause weight loss as opposed to calorie restriction alone.

Reduces Belly Fat

Consuming virgin coconut oil is helpful in reducing belly fat by decreasing hunger and increasing fat burning. MCTs help create a satiated feeling which therefore curbs appetite. This results in lowering instances of overeating, which contributes to fat in the midsection.

Should you apply virgin coconut oil on your stomach to lose weight?

The effects of rubbing virgin coconut oil on the stomach have not been studied yet. However, according to ancient, traditional medicine of Ayurveda, applying oil to the belly button is said to improve digestion. A faster metabolism is brought on by better digestion, which aids in weight loss.

Lessens Appetite

The MCTs have an impact on hunger, a primary human urge that influences weight. MCTs are quickly and immediately absorbed, after which they are sent to the liver. They then transform into ketones, which have weight loss effects comparable to those on the popular keto diet.

How much coconut oil to consume for weight loss?

Researchers discovered that consuming 2 tablespoons, or 30 millilitres, of coconut oil daily can have distinctly beneficial effects. There’s no set restriction when it comes to incorporating coconut oil in cooking. Coconut oil is a staple ingredient in traditional cooking in South India, making it tried-and-true. Coconut oil should be used carefully because it contains a lot of calories. Therefore, it is wise to practise moderation.

Using coconut oil for weight loss

Switch out your regular cooking oil for virgin coconut oil. Given that it has a high smoke point, it can also be used for deep frying. You can go as far as using coconut oil as an alternative to butter or vegetable oil while baking. For your morning coffee, stir in a teaspoon of coconut oil. MCTs and caffeine work hand in hand to speed up metabolism, burn more calories, and give you immediate energy. Given its flexibility, there are numerous ways to add coconut oil to your diet.

Choosing the best virgin coconut oil for weight loss?

Be sure to purchase pure, natural virgin coconut oil that has not been refined and has been treated at temperature to gain the maximum health advantages. There are ways to determine the best coconut oil out there. So be sure to do your research and make the right pick.