Coconut Oil (original post 29/04/2011)

_Coconut oil is a saturated fat which means that the fat molecule is has all possible links to its filled with hydrogen atoms. Animal fats from meat, eggs and dairy products are also saturated fats.

According to some sources, mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats are considered healthier than saturated. They say saturated fats are associated with weight gain, heart disease and raising bad cholesterol (LDL—low density lipoproteins). Other sources say its the opposite, with saturated animal fats being beneficial woth no link to heart disease and weight gain, suggesting its the predominance of high sugar and starchy carbohydrate that is to blame.

Coconut oil is not a source of bad cholesterol, in fact it helps to raise our good cholesterol levels (HDL– high density lipoproteins). Coconut oil is also a medium chain fat (versus the saturated fat from animals that are long chain fats). Because it is shorter it is digested and metabolised by the body quickly and efficiently into energy. In fact, coconut oil can actually aid weight loss because its fast metabolism helps raise our metabolism.

---

Read More