03/11/2015
Metabolism boosting foods: #7. Coconut oil (cold-pressed or extra virgin).
For years the media portrayed coconut oil as unhealthy, but that was primarily due to the fact that the research that was then conducted used hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated coconut oil which totally changes everything healthy about coconut oil, and this was "conveniently" not mentioned in publications.
As it relates to all natural coconut oil, there are several health benefits such as: 1. It's composed of medium chain triglycerides (MCT's), which your body can quickly and efficiently use for energy and most importantly is not stored in the body as fat.
2. Like breast milk, coconut oil is high in the fatty acid lauric acid, which plays a critical role in immune system function.
3. It is antiviral, antifungal, antiparasite and antiprotozoa.
4. It is high in capric and caprylic acid which are known antioxidants.
5. It is cardioprotective. Populations that consume 30-60% of their daily caloric intake from coconuts are virtually free from cardiovascular disease and it helps lower cholesterol.
6. Unlike unsaturated vegetable oils like soybean and corn oil, coconut oil does not block the secretion of thyroid hormone.
7. It is easily digested and can support healthy digestive function.
8. It helps with the absorption of zinc and magnesium, two very important minerals essential for several functions in the body including bone health.
In recent studies, subjects who consumed two tablespoons of coconut oil daily while following a reduced calorie diet, with daily exercise experienced a reduction in waist size and abdominal fat when compared to the control group that followed the same program without coconut oil. Additionally, researchers found that MCT's found in coconut oil had a significant thermogenic (metabolism boosting) effect. In another study, it was found that consuming 1-2 tablespoons daily of MCT's can boost metabolism by as much as 5%, which may mean burning an additional 150 calories or more by just swapping from refined vegetable oils to coconut oil (cold-pressed/extra virgin).