How EXACTLY does eating coconut oil help you lose weight?

[RawSinger]

Any info would be greatly appreciated :)

Thanks!


Francesca

[Adensspell]

The common belief is that fats are bad. However, fats are actually neccesary for survival. The body is like a spong in that it soaks up whatever things it isn't getting enough of. If we do not drink enough water, the body hold onto it, this is known as «water weight.» This same principal works for fats, if the body isn't getting enough, then it hold onto them. If you consume fats than the body lets them go. This is the basis for how it works, however this works with all raw fats. There are specific reasons why it works well for coconut oil but I am not an expert and will leave that part of the question to someone else.

[Clare]

1. Since most of the fat comes from medium chain triglycerides, there are slightly fewer calories per gram (say 7.2 instead of 9 or something). So some people will slim down by switching their fat from butter, olive, etc to coconut.

2. Some people get a thyroid boost from coconut oil, thus boosting their metabolism a bit. If soy causes thyroid suppression (which some researchers believe) and someone switched to coconut oil from soybean oil (like in junk foods and mayo and cheap cooking oil) they would get an extra benefit.

3. Coconut oil has some antifungal properties and might help balance flora in the body. For some, this could help with bloating and cravings and lead to some weight loss.

NOTE - I have heard of some people that have had no weight loss from coconut products and some even gain weight, perhaps because they are not substituting foods but simply eating more rich foods. Try it for yourself, it is healthy either way...

[rainwolf]

One website states:
Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of MCTs. (Medium Chain Triglycerides) Not only do MCTs raise the body’s metabolism leading to weight loss, but they have special health-giving properties as well. The most predominant MCT in coconut oil, for example, is lauric acid. Lipid researcher Dr. Jon Kabara states “Never before in the history of man is it so important to emphasize the value of Lauric Oils. The medium-chain fats in coconut oil are similar to fats in mother’s milk and have similar nutriceutical effects. These health effects were recognized centuries ago in Ayurvedic medicine. Modern research has now found a common link between these two natural health products----their fat or lipid content. The medium chain fatty acids and monoglycerides found primarily in coconut oil and mother’s milk have miraculous healing power.”12



Dr. Mercola agrees stating "MCFAs(Medium Chain Fatty Acids) in coconut oil can actually help stimulate your body's metabolism, leading to weight loss."


Mercola further reasons it outSo, by changing the fats in your diet from the unsaturated long-chain fatty acids found in vegetable or seed oils to the MCFAs in coconut oil, along with following an exercise plan, you may find yourself gradually losing those unnecessary pounds.
The reasons are simple:

The long-chain fats nearly always go to fat storage, while the MCFAs are burned for energy
Since coconut oil helps to stimulate your metabolism, you may burn more calories each day, helping to accelerate weight loss (and probably your activity and energy level, too)
Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid

[Riiiya]

i appreciate this topic- i did not know about the effect on the thyroid!

[RawSinger]

Rawesomeness! Thank you all very much!

[austinmomof7]

How could you incorporate coconut oil, which is a solid at room temperature, into a raw vegan diet?

[RawHeaven]

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[RawHeaven]

Rainwolf, thank you so much for posting the information on MCFA's and coconut oil. It makes a lot of sense and helps me personally stay raw to learn the scientific basis for all of this. I love to connect the dots.

[Conscious Midwife]

Coconut oil would probabaly work in any smoothie desert that you would normally have to chill in order to get firm.

Think I'll use it next time I wan to make brownies with 1/2 the amount of nuts ususally the walnuts are so oily once processed that the brownies have to be chilled to sliced and formed. So next time I'll use dates, cacao and coconut oil and then add crumbled walnuts with a spatuals instead of processing.

[tvillemom]

I like my coconut oil melted in a bowl, in a bowl of warm water.....then I pour it over a chopped apple, sliced banana, walnut, sprinkle with sea salt and even nutritional yeast if I have some. Yes, the coconut oil gets hard around the fruit, but you don't feel like you are eating oil.

Good luck. I've also put it in my GS too!! And who can forget the recipe for Easter Chocolate!!

[austinmomof7]

Ask and ye shall receive!

Thanks, that's what I needed to know. You guys are terrific.

[northernstars]

and use it every day, but I am still having a hard time reconsiling the saturated fat aspect. How is it that as a saturated fat, it doesn't do the damage like the saturated fat from animals? I am really quite interested in the info.

[Riiiya]

and use it every day, but I am still having a hard time reconsiling the saturated fat aspect. How is it that as a saturated fat, it doesn't do the damage like the saturated fat from animals? I am really quite interested in the info.

well you know we Need saturated fat - our cell's walls are comprised of it...i can't explain all the details of the difference from animal saturated fat though :(