Why Coconut Oil Can Boost Your Metabolism

Coconut Oil: Imagine for a second that you are not seated in your office or home but instead in Hawaii walking along the soft beaches of Oahu. There is a lot of sun-and-fun going on around you with people sunbathing, swimming, surfing and paddleboarding happily. And then, while you ponder the scene, you suddenly realize that you can tell the difference between the locals and the visiting tourists. With their abundant energy and great health, the locals appear to simply be in better shape than the tourists! And even though you try very hard to find one, you just can’t seem to spot any local who is suffering from a cough, runny nose or headache.

And now suddenly, you’re puzzled about this discovery and you struggle to understand what the secret might be. Could it be the long term product of their time in the sun? Or the stress-free life that they practice? The prevalence of salt in the air? Those things may play a role, but the real secret lies within the world’s largest seed.

Coconut: A Nutrient Powerhouse…

The use of coconut amongst the Malaysians and Polynesians is almost as old as the culture itself. Many people underestimate the importance of coconuts. This is a mistake. Coconuts are known to contain almost all of the essential nutrients which the body will need. Magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, calcium and potassium. Those are just some of the many minerals that can be found in a coconut. Other helpful nutrients include vitamin C and Vitamin B2. The coconut contains all of these nutrients and more. However, coconut oil which is derived from the fruit is found to be made up by as much as 90% saturated fat and this puts it smack into the ever important debate on saturated fats.

The Saturated Fat Controversy…

Coconut oil is extracted from the dried flesh of the coconut. It is also a source of plant-based saturated fat, the very fat doctors and nutritionists alike have been telling us to avoid like the plague. Many of these fears are baseless. Although it is true that 90% of the coconut fruit contains saturated fat, 45% of this content is actually lauric acid – a fatty acid that can be converted to monolaurin by the body. Monolaurin is the actual compound found in breast milk that strengthens a baby’s immune system. Its actions are also effective in enhancing the healthy growth of the bones and brain.