From a metabolic perspective, coconut can do no wrong. It feeds the thyroid and is the only source of saturated fat that does not require bile to break it down for your body to use it. Coconut oil actually bypasses the gallbladder. This is great news for anyone with a gallbladder condition or fatty liver.
It is a rich source of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) that can improve the efficiency of your thyroid and boost metabolism over 50 percent. The beneficial fatty acids in coconut oil are fast burners that create a most efficient food fuel not only for your thyroid but also for your brain, where it can aid cognitive function. In fact, the MCTs produce ketones, substances your body produces when it breaks down fats for energy, which can play a major role in treating Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Burn Belly Fat with Coconut Oil
At least two studies document the effectiveness of coconut oil on belly fat burn for both sexes. In one, participants received a daily dose of two tablespoons of coconut oil for a period of 12 weeks. At the end of the study, both men and women evidenced a reduction in waist circumference while the women also saw their HDL (good) cholesterol levels rise.
This newly revived ancient oil, which has become wildly popular, has very few drawbacks. It does seem, however, to work best for those who have an A blood type due to the presence of dietary lectins (protein-based antigens) in other blood types. When it is not tolerated well, it may be due to this type of allergic response as lectins can disrupt digestion, impair immunity, and create agglutination of blood cells.
Still and all, coconut oil has been proven to be not only safe but also extremely effective at targeting abdominal fat in both men and women. Just the addition of two or more tablespoons of this delicious smart fat to your diet can reduce your belly fat and elevate your good cholesterol levels.
As a rich source of lauric and caprylic acids, coconut functions as a marvelous antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic food.
Excerpted with permission from Eat Fat Lose Weight by Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS ($11.99, Blue Hills Publishing, 2015)