Coconut Oil... Does it work?

ssnichole987

So I read an article, I think it was in Women's Health Magazine, that said using 1-2 Tbs of coconut oil a day can increase your fat burning 1-2 lbs per week... has anybody ever tried this? Does it work or is it just another weird thing to try that won't really do anything except make me feel weird about coconut for the rest of my life...?

taco_tap

I dont know anything about it, but the reason I am posting is to ask you a question about the women's health magazine. Is it worth picking up? Sorry to go off on a tangent.

thebunnies

LOL! hm.. i'd love to know if this does work.

sweettthings

No idea if it works for fat burning, but you can just use it in place of whatever else you are using for cooking oil. No big deal and it tastes very neutral.

annajade24

Coconut oil has so many health benefits you should try to incorporate it in your daily life anyway...and yes, it does work. I love it.

hpsnickers1

I don't use it for weight loss. But it is one of the best oils out there. And it is the best moisturizer I have ever used.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/coconut-oil-health-benefits/


Saturated fat is good for you!!! And if you love coconut flavor get the unrefined. I use it to cook in, I dip my meat in it. I add it to everything to increase the fat content.

knittnponder

I've read that quite a few times and use coconut oil on a regular basis. I don't know that it magically helps me lose weight since I'm following the MFP guidelines and I can't bring myself to eat 1-2 tablespoons of the stuff. I tried, I really did! But gagging down coconut oil either on a spoon or in a warm beverage was just too much for me. I even blended it into my coffee but after a few days couldn't do it anymore. I use it to cook with and put in my smoothies so I am getting some every day but I always count it in my calories. I can say that since I've reduced the carbs and included more coconut oil I'm losing more inch wise in the abdomen every month! That part makes me happy.

ssnichole987

@specka86: I find that I get more out of the "eat this not that" emails that I get with the subscription but the magazine is good too. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to renew but you can find good deals on subscriptions on their site. (Just don't get pulled in like I did and end up with 4 other magazines that you don't really need but that sounded good at the time!

abbie017

Someone else posted about this recently, and I directed her to an article I found, but the bulk of the important stuff I put below. I personally take no opinion on this, and have no medical training. I defer judgment to medical professionals, and when the American Heart Association says it can be detrimental to cholesterol in the long run, it's cause for careful consideration. Take this as you will, just wanted to provide some basic info.


The American Heart Association's Position


Where does the American Heart Association weigh in on coconut oil as an aid to weight loss? "I would be very pessimistic about this, says Robert Eckel, MD, the Association's spokesman on nutrition. He says he's concerned about the effects of high levels of saturated fat. "This is going to be a cholesterol-raising diet."


He says he also doubts claims that coconut oil can boost metabolism. "People have looked in the past as to whether MCTs have thermogenic properties, and I think the answer is pretty well negative. Generally, saturated fats tend not to be as well [metabolized], so if it does have any ability to promote heat generation, it's going to be minimal."


Eckel says coconut oil's effect on metabolism, if any, is modest compared with the potential for raising overall cholesterol and particularly "bad" LDL cholesterol. "Ingesting coconut oil for a short period of time will not do harm, but I'm concerned about the long haul."


Another Viewpoint


"I think coconut oil is promising, but I wish it weren't promoted as 'eat coconut oil and lose weight,'" says Glenn S. Rothfeld, MD, MAc, clinical assistant professor of family medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and medical director of WholeHealth New England in Arlington, Mass. He and co-author Deborah S. Romaine wrote Thyroid Balance: Traditional and Alternative Methods for Treating Thyroid Disorders. "The only problem for me is the lack of research." He says most of the studies have been on all the oils and the results are not specific to coconut oil.


He says MCTs have a small and indirect influence on thyroid function, affecting metabolism because they're an efficient fuel. He adds there's some suggestion that MCTs boost the levels of thyroid hormones, which are essential to metabolism, in people with low levels of those hormones. He also advises against taking coconut oil on an empty stomach as it may produce bloating and gas.


Even though three tablespoons of coconut oil represents 360 calories, Rothfeld says those calories needn't concern dieters because they're quickly converted to energy. "Calories aren't all alike," he says, giving an example of two groups in a study who were fed just once a day, one group in the morning and one at night. "They consumed the same 1,200-calorie meals, but the morning group lost weight."


Rothfeld says he doesn't see anything intrinsically bad in coconut oil although he wouldn't recommend it for someone with severe diabetes or a liver condition. "The business about oils has been so confusing," he says. "Thirty years ago, it was found that polyunsaturated oils were great. Now it's found they're not so great. It's fairly certain we eat too many grain-based oils, and olive oil becomes rancid if it's left on the shelf too long. I think it's going to turn out we need a balance of things."

(Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52214)

amuhlou

I haven't heard about fat-burning properties but I do know a couple people that use it and like it. From what I understand, it's very similar to butter in the amount of saturated fats. It's a lot more pricey than butter however.

I personally stick with olive oil, as it has the unsaturated "good" fats.

ammient3

Yes it works I use organic extra virgin coconut oil, same as EVOO, also I use it on my face as a moisturizer and hair as a hot oil treatment!!! I buy mine at the health food store not a regular store!! I'll find a really great link that tells you more detail about all the positives it's used for!!!

ammient3

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

Excellent site to read!

ninerbuff

Macadamia Nut oil is a better choice IMO.

ssnichole987

Thanks for all the info everyone!

@knittnponder: I was thinking of trying to use it to make a salad dressing... maybe this could help make it more palatable?

ssnichole987

Thanks for all the info everyone!

@knittnponder: I was thinking of trying to use it to make a salad dressing... maybe this could help make it more palatable?

sweettthings

Probably not a good choice as a salad oil, it solidifies in cool temperatures.

hpsnickers1

Macadamia Nut oil is a better choice IMO.

Yes, Macadamia Nut oil is a great oil. In fact, I prefer macadamia nuts above all others (well, maybe not all).

hpsnickers1

Someone else posted about this recently, and I directed her to an article I found, but the bulk of the important stuff I put below. I personally take no opinion on this, and have no medical training. I defer judgment to medical professionals, and when the American Heart Association says it can be detrimental to cholesterol in the long run, it's cause for careful consideration. Take this as you will, just wanted to provide some basic info.


The American Heart Association's Position


Where does the American Heart Association weigh in on coconut oil as an aid to weight loss? "I would be very pessimistic about this, says Robert Eckel, MD, the Association's spokesman on nutrition. He says he's concerned about the effects of high levels of saturated fat. "This is going to be a cholesterol-raising diet."


He says he also doubts claims that coconut oil can boost metabolism. "People have looked in the past as to whether MCTs have thermogenic properties, and I think the answer is pretty well negative. Generally, saturated fats tend not to be as well [metabolized], so if it does have any ability to promote heat generation, it's going to be minimal."


Eckel says coconut oil's effect on metabolism, if any, is modest compared with the potential for raising overall cholesterol and particularly "bad" LDL cholesterol. "Ingesting coconut oil for a short period of time will not do harm, but I'm concerned about the long haul."


Another Viewpoint


"I think coconut oil is promising, but I wish it weren't promoted as 'eat coconut oil and lose weight,'" says Glenn S. Rothfeld, MD, MAc, clinical assistant professor of family medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and medical director of WholeHealth New England in Arlington, Mass. He and co-author Deborah S. Romaine wrote Thyroid Balance: Traditional and Alternative Methods for Treating Thyroid Disorders. "The only problem for me is the lack of research." He says most of the studies have been on all the oils and the results are not specific to coconut oil.


He says MCTs have a small and indirect influence on thyroid function, affecting metabolism because they're an efficient fuel. He adds there's some suggestion that MCTs boost the levels of thyroid hormones, which are essential to metabolism, in people with low levels of those hormones. He also advises against taking coconut oil on an empty stomach as it may produce bloating and gas.


Even though three tablespoons of coconut oil represents 360 calories, Rothfeld says those calories needn't concern dieters because they're quickly converted to energy. "Calories aren't all alike," he says, giving an example of two groups in a study who were fed just once a day, one group in the morning and one at night. "They consumed the same 1,200-calorie meals, but the morning group lost weight."


Rothfeld says he doesn't see anything intrinsically bad in coconut oil although he wouldn't recommend it for someone with severe diabetes or a liver condition. "The business about oils has been so confusing," he says. "Thirty years ago, it was found that polyunsaturated oils were great. Now it's found they're not so great. It's fairly certain we eat too many grain-based oils, and olive oil becomes rancid if it's left on the shelf too long. I think it's going to turn out we need a balance of things."

(Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52214)

Cholesterol raising? What part of cholesterol? Total number? HDL, LDL? Type A or B pattern LDL? Tri's? That's what I'm curious about.

hrshipley

ammient3, what brand do you use? The varieties are a bit overwhelming!

byukid

Macadamia Nut oil is a better choice IMO.

For cooking, sure, but for overall health benefits? No frikkin way.

hamton

I'm consuming 1-2 tbs a day to raise my HDL. I've read others stating reaching 100+ HDL consuming 3-4 tbs/day. Takes like 2-3 years to get there though. I can not get to used to the the extra virgin version. I'm just going to use the flavorless from now on.

cathylovestim

I've just started using it to help with digestion and do count the 2 tablespoons I use daily in my calorie intake. I use Nutiva organic extra virgin. Also, it's a lot less expensive, as are other supplements, if you order through iherb.com. : )

Rajrand

Coconut oil for decades has taken a bad rap for its saturated fat content. Now, i am not a doctor but what i read made sense to me and we have been using coconut oil in our cooking for last few years and my physicals at my doctors show all my measurements of cholesterol are not any higher in these years of using coconut oil.
We use extra virgin coconut oil which has sweet aroma to it and the food usually tastes sweeter. One thing to note is that most all oil when heated are transformed due to their lower smoking point. Anything that gets modified from its natural state, the human body has difficulty utilizing and what the body does not utilize gets stored as fat. So, all saturated fats are not evil such as avocado, coconut. Coconut oild has higher smoking point making it ideal for cooking. New York Times had interesting article when it compared various brands of olive oil and the consensus they reached was once the oil was as heated it lost all its nutrient value and thus higher cost olive oil was no different from cheaper oilve oil
Saturated fats are have two types of hydrocarbon chains. Long chain and medium chainCoconut oil is medium chain saturated fat which means that the hydrogen chain that holds its molecular structure. MCF are easily broken down during digestion and utilized by the body

cathylovestim

Wow! Thank you for that educational post Rajrand! : )

ninerbuff

Macadamia Nut oil is a better choice IMO.

For cooking, sure, but for overall health benefits? No frikkin way.

Really? Here's the profiles:

Fat Composition of Various Oils and Solid Fats

Percentages in bold indicate that a particular fat
component (monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, or saturated)
is either the highest or lowest among all edible oils and solid fats.
All percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

Type of Fat Monounsaturated Polyunsaturated Saturated


Coconut Oil 6% - Lowest 2% - Lowest (tie) 92% - Highest

Macadamia Nut Oil 83% - Highest 3% 14%