Coconut Oil

You may also be aware that it's in their frying pans, their smoothies, their hair, and in a little jar on their nightstand. What underlies this oil's recent adoption by the masses is the sheer benefits of coconut oil for the mind, body, and soul that it promises.

A meta-analysis of 13 studies published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) can help you lose weight when they replace long-chain triglycerides (like those from soybean and canola oil) in your diet. And a Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology showed that the MCT in coconut oil can increase diet-induced thermogenesis in humans by as much as 6%.

Yet another study found MCTs to increase 24-hour energy expenditure in humans by as much as 5%. Now, burning an extra 100-120 calories per day might not sound like much, but over a year, it amounts to at least 36,000 calories.

Coconut oil is high in natural saturated fats. That may not sound like a positive but the saturated fats in coconuts work in a different way than those found in animal-derived foods like butter, cream, cheese, and meat.

According to an Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine study, coconut oil increases the healthy cholesterol (known as HDL) in your body. By increasing the HDL in the body and changing the ratio of HDL to LDL, the saturated fat in coconut oil helps promote heart health and lower the risk of heart disease.

Add coconut oil to your daily diet and you will feel better. Shop our meal plans here!