Coconut oil not only adds a tropical flavor to your food, it also helps you lose weight!
We’ve all heard about how coconuts or coconut oil is high in saturated fat. Up until the last few years, doctors shied away from this high-fat food. Now experts have shown the fats in coconut oil are actually good for you, possibly even better than olive oil! And best of all, it promotes weight loss!
The particular kind of fat found in coconuts is a fat called Medium Chain Triglycerids or MCT’s. These fats are metabolized in the body different than Long Chain Triglycerides (LCT’s). MCT’s are rarely stored as body fat and the body uses them as fuel for energy! They act almost like a carbohydrate without raising your blood sugar levels!
Saturated fats can be classified by their structure into short-chain, medium-chain and long-chain fats. Research has shown that consuming MCT fats increase fat burning! MCT oil is derived from coconuts and in a recent study led to more significant weight loss than did olive oil.
You can use MCT oils in cooking and along with the normal foods you eat everyday. According to experts, you should consume 18-24 grams of oil a day to see significant results. In a study reviewed in the “Journal of American College of Nutrition,” the experts added coconut oil to muffins, salads, and in high heat cooking.
At Skinny Ms. we use unrefined coconut oil in many of our desserts. Check out some of our recipes containing healthy coconut oil: Zucchini Bread, Buttermilk Biscuits, Blueberry Lemon Scones, Bananas Foster.
So, in a nutshell, or shall we say “coconut” shell, try substituting coconut oil where you would normally use olive oil and see how it works toward your weight loss goals!
We’ve put together several unrefined coconut oils that are great for cooking and baking. Remember, not all coconut oils are created equal. Always, look for unrefined and non-hydrogenated oil. Coconut oil is typically solid when purchased but easily liquifies in warm weather.
Leave a comment below and tell us your favorite way to use coconut oil.
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I have high cholesterol, is it ok for me to use coconut oil?
Diane, I would check with your doctor to be on the safe side. 🙂
When using for weight loss, do you consume the coconut oil in solid form or do you liquify first?
Miles, I prefer to cook with coconut oil but a lot of people add it to their morning smoothie. Try cooking scrambled eggs with it…YUM!
What can you do to take out the taste of coconut?
Sarah, You can't remove the taste. However, if you combine the coconut oil with other ingredients, you typically can no longer taste the coconut.
I use coconut oil for all cooking/baking, replacing oil, shortening & butter. Also as a moisturizer (whipped up with a few drops of lavender essential oil) and as a carrier oil in my home-made soap, and oil-pulling for oral health (melt it, mix in some peppermint or cinnamon flavor & allow to cool in ice-cube tray for quick, single use portions). Occasionally I'll add a bit to my morning coffee with a bit of stevia for a treat.