Studies show that consuming Coconut Oil regularly aids in weight loss and reducing belly fat.
Coconut Oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) - a unique combination of fatty acids that improve your metabolism and assist in burning more calories.
How does that work?
Well Coconut Oil has a “thermogenic effect” on your body – consuming it helps increase energy expenditure by revving up your metabolism. It has been shown that Coconut Oil burns more fat by increased energy expenditure compared to eating the same amount of calories from other fats (4).
In one study, individuals who consumed 1 to 2 tablespoons of MCTs (present in Coconut Oil) per day burned an extra 120 calories per day (5). Other studies also confirm this. When individuals replace the fats in their diets with MCTs (present in Coconut Oil), they burn more calories (6).
Coconut Oil also helps control appetite. The Medium Chain Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil make you feel fuller for longer, which helps you eat less and pace your intake. And when you pace your intake you maintain a steady blood sugar level. And that keeps obesity at bay!
Weight loss is all about calories in, calories out
The way Coconut Oil is metabolized in our bodies produces ketone bodies in the liver. These ketones can have a powerful effect in reducing appetite (8, 9, 10). Numerous studies show that eating a high amount of MCTs (present in Coconut Oil) caused people to eat significantly fewer calories (11)(12).
Bottom Line: A calorie from coconut oil is NOT the same as a calorie from olive oil or butter (although these fats are perfectly healthy too).Coconut oil helps boost fat burning (higher “calories out”) and reduces appetite (lower “calories in”)