Coconut oil is high in certain saturated fats that have different effects in the body compared to most other dietary fats. These fats can boost fat burning and provide your body and brain with quick energy.
Despite being high in saturated fat, coconut oil may improve heart health by increasing the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol in the body.
The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can increase the number of calories your body burns compared to the same amount of calories from longer chain fats.
The MCTs in coconut oil can significantly reduce appetite, which may lead to reduced body weight over the long term.
Some studies have shown that coconut oil can improve important risk factors like total, LDL (bad) and HDL cholesterol, which may translate to a reduced risk of heart disease.
Coconut oil contains natural antioxidants, helping to protect the body from oxidative stress and damage.
Coconut oil has a naturally sweet and pleasant taste, making it easy to incorporate into your daily diet, whether in cooking, baking, or as a dairy-free replacement to butter.
About 50% of coconut oil's fatty acids are 12-carbon lauric acid. It produces monolaurin when digested. Lauric acid and monolaurin destroy bacteria, viruses, and fungus.