Coconut Oil Treats Obesity

It seems a bit counter-intuitive that oils could actuallyin coconut oil are rapidly and indiscriminately pulled into
help encourage reduction in bodyfat. But it's true,the mitochondria, unlike LCFA, they're immediately
coconut oil encourages weight loss and if you'll beused for energy, resulting in a burst of energy and
patient, I'll walk you through it. Let's start by goingthermogenesis, which, subsequently, increases the
over some of the classroom-level fundamentals thatbody's metabolism. Several animal studies and clinical
you very well may have learned in University-levelstudies have proven that ingestion of coconut oil
biochemistry, if you took it, but may have otherwiseincreases the metabolic rate and decreases bodyfat
forgotten. Oils and fats are composed ofboth in studies done on humans, and animals. Rats
hydrophobic groups known as fatty acids. There arethat were fed a diet consisting of MCFA had reduced
really two different ways to define fatty acids. Thesubcutaneous fat, a visible reduction in overall body
first method is based on saturation, and is probablyadipose tissue, increased metabolism and increased
the one you are most familiar with. Most of youthermogenesis (Lipids 22 (6): 442-444). The burst of
would likely be familiar with saturated or unsaturatedenergy that is produced by medium chain fatty acids
fats and oils. The 2nd method to classify a fatty acidis also important for athletic endurance. In one study,
is based on size or length of the fatty acid chain.Researchers tested the physical endurance of mice
There are SCFA (short chain fatty acids), mediumthat ingested MCFA vs. those fed a diet consisting
chain fatty acids (MCFA), and long chain fatty acidsprimarily in LCFA for 6 weeks. The mice were
(LCFA). SCFA contain less than six carbon atoms,subjected to a swimming endurance test, where
MCFA have between 6-12 carbons, and LCFA havethey had to swim against a current, every other day.
fourteen or more carbon atoms. The reason lipids areThe mice that were fed medium chain fatty acids
characterized based length of their carbon backbonecontinually had more endurance than the others and
is because the size of the carbon chain affects theshowed an increased physical endurance (Journal of
chemical and physical properties of the oil.Nutrition 125 (3):531-9). This research performed in
Most of the oils and fats that you eat come fromanimals provide us with evidence that medium chain
either animal or plant sources, all of which consist offatty acids increase metabolism and promote the loss
of LCFA (long chain fatty acids). In fact, probablyof fat while providing a burst of energy that
more than ninety-eight percent of the dietary fatincreases physical endurance, in a manner that
that people eat is composed of LCFA. Coconut oil isdoesn't make you fat. This boost in energy means
quite unlike most others because it is mostlyyou feel less lethargic, and can help you feel less
composed of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA), withtired.
lauric acid constituting approximately 47% of coconutNumerous studies have shown that coconut oil (as
oil. Here is where it gets important: medium chain FAstated earlier, a MCFA) clearly demonstrates an
(MCFA) are metabolized very differently from LCFAeffect in women and men very analogous to what
(long chain FA). First, I'll explain how most dietary fatshas been observed in other studies involving animal
consisting of long chain fatty acids are metabolizedmodels: it increases metabolism and decreases overall
and digested. Then I'll inform you how medium chainbody fat. For example, in one study, healthy men and
fatty acids found in coconut oil are digested andwomen were administered either long chain fatty
metabolized, pointing out the significance and theacids or medium chain fatty acids in addition to a diet
major differences.similar in carbohydrate, fat, and protein content for
Long chain fatty acids (LCFA) existing in animal andtwelve weeks. Throughout the 12 weeks, individuals
plant fats are not easily absorbed by the GI tractthat took medium chain fatty acids had significantly
and require pancreatic enzymes and bile salts to toless body weight and, specifically, body fat (The
metabolize them so that they can be absorbed byJournal of Nutrition 131 (11): 2853-2859). Scientific
the intestine. Next, the LCFA are packaged intostudies have also shown that MCFA also increase the
chylomicrons, which are lipoproteins that transportburning of LCFA that are already in your body,
lipids throughout your body. The lipoproteins aretucked away in your lovehandles (International Journal
transported through the lymphatic system thenof Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders: Journal
circulate through the bloodstream, where they deliverof the International Association for the Study of
lipid components to a variety of tissues, includingObesity 24 (9): 1158-1166). Similar to the scientific
cardiac, skeletal tissue, and adipose. After theanimal studies, MCFA also increase energy production
chylomicrons have uploaded their oil components toby increasing thermogenesis, which increases the
these tissues, the left over lipoproteins move to themetabolic rate in humans as well (Metabolism: Clinical
liver, where they are brought into the mitochondriaand Experimental 38 (7): 641-648). In another study,
of liver tissues, using the carnitine palmitoylpeople with high levels of circulating triglycerides were
transferase (CPT) machinery, and are finally oxidizedgiven MCFA for eight weeks. In addition to
for energy use (Life Sciences 62 (14): 1203-1215).decreasing body fat, their triglyceride levels
This is how all unsaturated fats, cholesterol, andplummeted by 14.5 percent (European Journal of
saturated fatty acids is made up of long chain fattyClinical Nutrition 63 (7): 879-886).
acids (all of your dietary fat) is transportedSo just a quick refresher for those of you that lost
throughout the body.focus:
In contrast, medium chain fatty acids existing within- Coconut oil, a source of medium chain FA, is
coconut oil are absorbed by the GI tractmetabolized by a different process than long chain
(gastrointestinal) with ease, they do not require anyFA altogether, this process speeds up its use as
pancreatic enzymes to break them down, whichenergy instead of storing it away as fat.
means less work for your pancreas. Next, MCFA are- Because the body has to preferentially burn the fat
shipped to the portal blood stream, directly to theoff, it ramps up the metabolism by increasing
liver, where they go directly into mitochondriathermogenesis.
markedly without the use of the carnitine palmitoyl- This ramping up of the metabolism then proceeds
transferase, and are instantly oxidized for energy.to not only burn off coconut oil, but long chain FA
MCFA (medium chain fatty acids) from coconut oil dopre-existing the consumption of coconut oil as well.
not get packaged into lipoproteins, and do not get- These effects have been seen both in animal
transported to a variety of tissues and are notstudies, and more importantly, human studies. To
stored as body fat, they go directly to the liver andreap the medium chain FA benefits you simply need
are metabolized for energy (Life Sciences 62 (14):to change the type of oil you use to cook with to
1203-1215). The bottom line is that medium chaincoconut oil.
fatty acids from coconut oil produces energy to theThese statements and/or products have not been
exclusion of all else, whereas, LCFA found in all otherevaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This
dietary fats produce some energy, but mostly bodyinformation is not medical advice, if you are pregnant,
fat.nursing, taking medication, or have a medical
Because the medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) foundcondition, consult your physician.