Scientific study finds that consuming coconut oil daily leads to a reduction in waist size

Researchers now know that the weight loss associated with coconut oil is linked to the length of the fatty acid chains in coconut oil. Coconut oil contains so-called medium chain fatty acids, or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs).

These medium chain fatty acids are different from the longer chain fatty acids found in other vegetable oils. Most vegetable oils are made up of longer chain fatty acids, or triglycerides (TLCs). TLCs are often stored in the body as fat, while MCTs are burned to produce energy. MCTs burn quickly in the body.

Coconut oil is the richest natural source of MCTs that increase the metabolic rate and cause weight loss. MCTs promote what is called thermogenesis. Thermogenesis increases the body’s metabolism, thereby increasing energy production. Japanese researchers have discovered that when you consume a food rich in MCTs such as coconut oil, MCTs are absorbed and transported directly to the liver through the portal vein.

First, when MCTs replace TLCs in food, the body is much less likely to store fat. Second, when we eat reasonably well, a diet containing MCTs is more effective than a low-fat diet in decreasing stored fat.

In a human study, researchers compared the metabolic effects of 400 calories from MCTs and TLCs by measuring metabolic rates before and six hours after test meals. The results revealed that meals containing MCTs resulted in an average increase in basal metabolic rate of 12 percent compared to 4 percent for meals containing TLCs. The authors concluded that replacing dietary fat with MCTs could “over long periods of time lead to weight loss even in the absence of reduced calorie intake.” ” (study)

Coconut oil is the richest natural source of MCTs. Not only do MCTs increase the body's metabolism leading to weight loss, but they also have excellent health properties. The predominant MCT in coconut oil, for example, is lauric acid. Researcher Dr. Jon Kabara says "Never before in human history has it been so important to emphasize the value of the lauric acid in oil. Medium chain fats in coconut oil are similar to fats in breast milk and have similar nutraceutical effects. These health effects have been recognized for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. Modern research has now found a link between these two natural health products: their fat or lipid content. Besides breast milk, coconut oil is the most abundant natural source of lauric acid and medium chain fatty acids.

So, for those who continue to insist that there is no evidence that coconut oil leads to weight loss, we respectfully disagree!