Saturated Fat in Coconut Oil is A Good Fat

In the past, saturated fats as a whole were called bad fats that can cause all kinds of heart related diseases. Did you know that humble coconut oil is 92% saturated fats? Then why is it that there are many advantages of taking coconut oil as a health supplement?

Supporters of extra virgin coconut oil argue that coconut oil helps them to improve skin condition, have more energy, and even to lose weight. Huh? consuming saturated fats to lose weight? How is that possible?

These advocates hail extra virgin coconut oil as one of the hottest new nutritional supplements to hit the health and nutrition industry in years. This logic flies against conventional wisdom, doesn't it?

Saturated fats were the main culprit for heart disease. When hydrogenated vegetable fat (trans fat) was invented like in margarine, it was supposed to replace "unhealthy" saturated fat like in butter and was thought to be a healthier form of fat. Only until it was discovered in the last few years that hydrogenated vegetable fat(trans fat) basically sticks to artery walls and harden. This causes the blockages which lead to all kinds of heart disease. So hydrogenated vegetable fats are more dangerous to your heart health than the saturated fat found in coconut oil and butter.

It is with this thinking that proponents of coconut oil is now arguing that not all forms of saturated fat may be bad and the coconut oil may be one of them. Dr. Bruce Fife, a US based naturopath and author of "The Coconut Oil Miracle" remarked during a press conference in Singapore last month, "Not all saturated fatty acids act in the same way. The fat in coconut oil is different from most other fats and has many health giving properties".

He further added that, "The Lauric acid (in coconut oil) boosts immunity, has antioxidant properties and is being investigated in reducing viral load in HIV patients. You should also take into account the size of the carbon chain in the fatty acid. Most of the oils and fats we consume are long-chain fatty acids. Coconut oil is the richest source of medium-chain fatty acids, which actually behave very differently from the long-chain versions."

"Medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil boost the body's metabolic rate and promote weight loss. They are broken down immediately in the liver to produce energy and are not stored as fat," he added. Coconut oil also stays liquid above 76 degrees, so it will not harden and cause blockages in the arteries like hydrogenated oils do. Coconut oil has been referred to as the "oil from heaven". There's good reason to believe that consuming Extra Virgin Coconut Oil may change your health for the better.