The other day someone asked me if I’ve heard of the coconut oil diet. No, I hadn’t – and that got me to wondering whether there is some coconut oil weight loss relationship… And then the other day, I saw some old 2003 magazines, which made it obvious that the concept of coconut oil for weight loss was really very popular a few years back.
So all this prompted me to do some more research on the concept of a coconut oil diet. Why would such a diet work and how would it even work? Read on to find out…
So, What Is The Coconut Oil Weight Loss Theory?
Coconut oil for weight loss is not a new concept. It was first introduced in the early 2000′s, and then the idea caught on.
The proponents of coconut oil for weight loss claim that coconut oil improves your metabolism, makes you feel more full and therefore decreases your appetite, gives you more energy and improves your thyroid function. All this means that you will feel more energetic and want to work out more often.
The supporters of this kind of diet say that coconut oil is a healthy fat and your body burns it for energy.
According to them, you should have two or three tablespoons of coconut oil per day.
More About Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a natural vegetable oil, which is more common in the tropics. It’s made from the dried nut of the coconut palm tree. It is very fatty and high in calories – one tablespoon contains almost 120 calories and almost 15 grams of fat.
This means that one tablespoon of coconut oil actually has more calories and more fat than one tablespoon of butter or lard!
Does Coconut Oil Weight Loss Work?
There are mixed views about this. Some people claim that drinking coconut oil with their meals has really helped them to lose weight.
However, most of the weight loss success stories from people who used coconut oil for weight loss sound like this: “I started to have coconut oil and started to eat less. I also worked out more often!”
As you can see, it sounds like these people just tried to lead a more healthy lifestyle – if you ignore the bit about drinking so much coconut oil.
Most nutritionists are pretty skeptical about the claims of coconut oil helping people to lose weight. They think that it’s better to just stick to the basics like eating healthy food, eating a bit less and exercising more.
Scientific Research On Coconut Oil For Weight Loss
There have been some recent scientific studies on using coconut oil for weight loss.
One particular study was conducted on mice, and it was found that rats who consumed some coconut oil are leaner, lost body fat and had more “anti-obesity” properties; however, the study did conclude that the effect (ie lower body fat) seemed to be decreasing after 12 days: “Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid Induces Lipolysis in Adipose Tissue of Coconut Oil-Fed Mice but not Soy Oil-Fed Mice”
I personally think that one scientific study is not enough and that even those results are kind of vague (effects start decreasing after 12 days?)
Should I Have Coconut Oil To Lose Weight?
Well, I would really suggest that you stay away from coconut oil for now. I mean, three tablespoons a day of 15 grams fat each time does seem like a bit much to me – plus those three tablespoons contain 450 extra calories. Burning 450 calories = two hours on the treadmill.
For now, I think this theory is too new and untested. Plus, it is risky in that you are consuming so many calories!
However, I would suggest that you simply try harder to stick to a healthy lifestyle involving healthier foods and more exercise. If you’re having a hard time sticking to a diet and losing weight, I really recommend trying the Anything Goes Diet - I credit this program with helping me adopt a healthy lifestyle, lose weight, and keep it off.
Have you tried coconut oil for fat loss? What do you think about it? Leave a note in the comments to let me know! 
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