Coconut oil comes from the seed of the coconut palm tree, Cocus nucifera, which is grown in all parts of the tropics and subtropics. Unlike oils such as olive oil and soy oil which contain long chain fatty acids, coconut oil contains mostly medium chain fatty acids, often referred to as MCFAs. Studies have shown that consumption of MCFAs in coconut oil has helped weight loss in a wide range of people including overweight men and women and patients with type 2 diabetes. A health care professional should be consulted before adding coconut oil to the diet.
The hormone insulin is essential to help sugar enter the cells and produce energy. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Typical symptoms of type 2 diabetes include increased hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, increased thirst, frequent infections and blurred vision. In a study published in a 2003 issue of "Metabolism," researchers studied the effect of coconut oil on 40 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes. The team found that 18 g of coconut oil daily for 3 months helped to reduce body weight and total cholesterol levels and improved the body's response to insulin. Patients with type 2 diabetes should consult a health care professional before adding coconut oil to their diet.
In a study published in a 2001 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition," researchers studied the effect of coconut oil on 78 healthy men and women over a period of 12 weeks. The team found that 60 g daily of coconut oil helped reduce body fat and body weight.
In a study published in a 2009 issue of "Lipids," researchers studied the effect of coconut oil on 40 obese women aged between 20 and 40 years. The team found that 30 ml of coconut oil daily for 12 weeks, together with a balanced diet and walking for 50 minutes daily helped weight loss particularly around the stomach. The team also noted that the coconut oil did not have a negative effect on cholesterol levels.
In a study published in a 2003 issue of the "International Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders" researchers studied the effect of medium chain fatty acids in coconut on 19 overweight men. The team comment that medium chain triglyceride consumption has been shown to lead to increase energy expenditure and loss of fat tissue in animals and humans. The authors found that coconut oil increased fat burning and calorie expenditure in obese men, and also led to diminished fat storage over a period of four weeks.
