Does coconut oil help you lose weight? Myths and truths about the product

Coconut oil has become a trend and an essential ingredient in the homes of those looking for a healthier diet. Very controversial, the food’s craze arose due to the fact that it contains lauric acid, a component that generates energy in the cell at an accelerated rate. Thus, energy expenditure is accelerated, which burns unwanted fat and helps with the diet. However, there are still not enough studies that prove that coconut oil helps you lose weight. How can we discover, then, what is the truth of the essential element of weight loss diets?

The ingredient is made from coconut pulp, and therefore, does not harm your health. However, it has a high content of saturated fats, and therefore should be consumed in moderation. By taking 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil per day, it is possible to have an interesting diet. Even so, the element must always be combined with a very balanced diet.

Check below everything you need to know about whether coconut oil helps you lose weight or not, as well as myths and truths about the ingredient and other interesting facts about it.

Coconut oil in food

Research carried out by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro prescribed a weight maintenance diet for 30 men with mild obesity. On this diet, half of the participants consumed 1 heaping tablespoon of coconut oil per day, while the other half consumed the same proportion of soybean oil. In 45 days, coconut oil helped reduce men’s body mass index, waist circumference and fat volume. Furthermore, it increased lean mass and provided satiety.

Although research has shown exciting results, it is necessary to be very careful when consuming coconut oil. Incorporating it into the menu without making changes to the rest of your diet won’t do any good. The ingredient, for example, is made up of saturated fats of the medium-chain triglyceride type. The meaning of this, for experts, is that there are also negative points among the advantages of the element. Therefore, coconut oil does not lose weight, but rather becomes a powerful tool in the diet.

Does coconut oil help you lose weight? Myths and truths

There are many theories circulating today regarding coconut oil and whether it helps you lose weight or not. However, the speech is also combined with other information that may not be so true. Learning to differentiate right from wrong is essential to avoid making mistakes when improving your diet and avoiding falling into fallacies.

1 – Coconut oil helps you lose weight

Myth. To put an end to doubt once and for all, no. The theory that coconut oil helps you lose weight arose after research by nutritionist Marie-Pierre St-Onge, associate of Nutritional Medicine at Columbia University. According to her, it was discovered that medium-chain triglycerides, a fat present in certain foods, accelerate metabolism. This increases caloric expenditure and, ultimately, weight loss.

But where does coconut oil come into this? Compared to other oils, it has this type of fat at much higher levels. However, this is still not enough reason to attribute weight loss to the ingredient. In Brazil, for example, the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM) and the Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome issued notes regarding this. According to them, their positions are based on the fact that there is no evidence that coconut oil actually helps you lose weight.

2 – Coconut oil kills viruses and bacteria

Myth. The statement arose because coconut oil is rich in monolaurin, which is derived from lauric acid, which in turn has antibacterial and antiviral properties. However, there are not enough studies that prove that coconut oil really has any effectiveness in this regard.

3 – Helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases

Myth. The reason the theory appeared came from studies from 1960, which showed populations of Pacific islands with diets that included coconut oil and very few heart diseases in the region, as well as leaner and more active bodies. The people’s diet also included fish, tubers and fruits, without any processed foods, alcohol or excess sugar. Nowadays, with the change in the islands’ menu, the older population has seen an increase in coronary diseases and cases of obesity, even with coconut oil still being used.

Likewise, coconut oil is 90% saturated fat, which means it can raise LDL, or bad cholesterol. Therefore, there are no studies that prove that the ingredient increases HDL, or good cholesterol. In any case, one cholesterol never compensates for the other, and a high LDL still represents a greater risk of heart disease.

4 – Coconut oil cleans teeth

Myth. The culture of swishing vegetable oil to clean teeth comes from India, and is part of the daily routine of Ayurveda, which is the country’s traditional medicine. In a way, the mouthwash would eliminate toxins from the mouth, and any oil could be used, even coconut oil being a favorite. However, the practice still lacks scientific evidence to prove such benefits.

5 – Moisturizes hair and skin

True. Coconut oil can indeed benefit the skin and hair, as it is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, as long as they need nutrient replacement. However, if they don’t need it, the hair can become oily and even skin allergies can appear in the so-called rebound effect. Therefore, a better solution is to use products that have coconut oil in their composition, instead of using it pure in daily care.

6 – Coconut oil fights Alzheimer’s

Myth. Likewise, there are not enough studies carried out in humans to prove the theory. Until then, the only tests that took place were on animals or in vitro, which have no guarantee of the ingredient’s good performance, much less its efficiency.

So, what did you think of this article about whether coconut oil helps you lose weight? If you’re interested, also check out Coffee with coconut oil: what is it for and who can drink it?

Sources: Tua Saúde, Viver Bem, Veja Saúde, Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology, Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Images: Exame, Istoé, Tua Saúde, Amazon Cacau, Neoenergia, A Crítica, Veja Saúde, Em Família