Different types of foods travel across different metabolic pathways and they have various effects of a person’s metabolic health and hormones. There are some categories of foods which take more time and energy to digest. On the other hand, there are some foods which are easily digested and metabolized.
Coconut oil is one of those few foods which are ‘thermogenic’. This means that when you consume coconut oil, the fat burning process increases as a result of increased energy expenditure. The main reason coconut oil is effective in burning fat is that it contains medium chain triglycerides.
Several studies have confirmed that when individuals replace other kinds of fats with medium chain fats, they are able to burn more calories. What this implies is that coconut oil is an effective ingredient in weight loss and they are healthy too.
Weight loss has become a struggle in recent times and people are finding it hard to reduce the extra kilos. With so many diet pills and formulas available on the market claiming to assist in weight loss, it is extremely hard to decide which ones will work and which ones will not. The truth is that out of the thousands of weight loss products available, there are just a few that work. The others either don’t work or cause a myriad of side effects that are unpleasant and actually damaging to the health and wellbeing of people.
For people who are looking to lose weight, resorting to natural methods can be the best option. Coconut oil is one of the natural ingredients that is known to have properties that can help in reducing weight. There are enough evidence medium chain triglycerides contained in coconut oil are stored differently than other kinds of fats. Basically, they are stored less efficiently which makes them easy to get rid of.
How coconut oil helps in Weight Loss?
1. Increases energy levels
When medium chain triglycerides are digested, the body doesn’t store it as fats. The body transports them to the liver where they are converted into energy. This means that when you work out or carry out some kind of physical tasks, you have more energy to use.
When trying to lose weight, coconut oil can increase your energy levels by up to 5%. To benefit from coconut oil, all you need to do is add 2 or 3 tablespoons of it in your diet every day.
2. Curbs cravings
When medium chain triglycerides are processed, they form keytone bodies which helps reduce cravings and hunger. Basically, the less you eat, the less calories you have to burn to get rid of the extra weight.
3. Boosts metabolism
The human body responds to the fat contained in coconut oil differently than other kinds of fats. Although coconut oil contains high levels of fat, these are good fats and they aren’t left in the blood to circulate freely. They are also not stored and add up to the body weight.
According to several studies, the fats in coconut oil increase energy expenditure and enhance the calorie burning process. So when the metabolic rate is increased, the body is able to get rid of more calories faster.
4. Enhance fat burning
You don’t have to compromise your health to be able to reduce weight. You can achieve natural weight loss in a safe way by including few tablespoons of coconut oil in your diet every day. Coconut oil makes the digestion process more efficient and it aids in the effective absorption of nutrients. So when you consume coconut oil, you can eat less and not feel weak. The compounds in the oil enhances mood as well which means you will not feel stressed. In fact, you will be motivated to work out and achieve your weight loss goals.
The oil is efficient in reducing fat around the belly area which is mostly considered as stubborn and hard to get rid of fat. It improves the fat burning potential of the body greatly.
5. Keeps hormones balanced
In order to regulate body’s natural processes such as metabolism, digestion, thyroid function and mood, it is important that the hormones are properly synthetized. The building blocks are the fatty acids or derivatives of fatty acids which promote the creation of healthy hormones in the body.
The fat contained in coconut oil helps in the natural conversion of cholesterol, improves digestion, increases energy levels, reduces anxiety and stress and helps in the fat burning process.
6. Efficient absorption of nutrients
If coconut oil is consumed on a daily basis, it can help in the proper absorption of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins such as A, D and E promote cellular regeneration, improves brain function and mood and are also responsible for skin and bone health. Vitamin D aids digestion by making it easy for the body to process vital minerals including zinc, magnesium, iron and calcium.
When the body is supplied with the right minerals and vitamins and in the right amounts, you will feel better and more energized. You will feel motivated to achieve your weight loss goals.
7. Regulates blood sugar levels
Coconut oil is absorbed in the body without making use of digestive enzymes. This means that there is less stress on the pancreas and as a result the production of insulin becomes more efficient. When insulin is produced in the right amounts in the body, the cells receive the right amounts of blood sugar to help the body take care of its daily processes.
Looking at it from a weight loss point of view, the right amount of insulin means more energy for the body which can be used to fuel workouts and other daily tasks.
Conclusion
A number of studies have been conducted over the years on the effect of medium chain fats on weight loss. Researchers have confirmed that the results are promising. Anyone who is looking to embark on a weight loss journey can incorporate few tablespoons of coconut oil in their diet every day.
The fat contained in coconut oil is not stored in the body like other fats and it helps makes the fat burning process faster and more efficient.
I like coconuts, too bad in my country they are not very popular. I’m also using coconut oil as a sunscreen lotion…it’s amazing!