Coconut Oil Is The Secret To My Weight Loss And Beautiful Body

Hey there ladies!

After I posted my before and after photos on Instagram a lot of you asked if the results were real.

They sure were!

I won’t be greedy. I think every girl should, and can, have a body like mine. So I’m going to tell you my secret. Usually, I’d ask you to join my online class but today is special. Come close. Are you ready? The secret is…coconut oil.

YES, I SAID COCONUT OIL!

“Impossible,” you’re probably thinking. But let me explain how an easy to obtain ingredient was the key to my weight loss and thus success.

In the morning I’d wake up and do Pilates. I, like you, don’t have time to go out, so I just hire a personal trainer. But you can use online videos too! Try my 12-week flab buster series. It’s like having my voice in your ear, encouraging you to adhere to societal exceptions every time you do a squat. In case you didn’t know, someone incessantly saying, “You’re not good enough,” is an important element for weight loss.

Anyway following that workout I’d mix some coconut oil into a glass of warm water. It just, like, burns the calories from my body! I swear one time I actually saw an ab instantly pop out right after drinking the stuff.

Then I spend the morning making videos, posts, and working from my treadmill desk. I love it. It keeps my legs and mind moving so I don’t stop to think about whether the people in my life like me for me, or for my fame.

For lunch, I eat 4 tablespoons of coconut oil along with a fresh green salad and some nuts. Then I go on a power-walk for an hour. Increasing my heart-rate really helps the oil work its way into body and kick out the fat cells. If I didn’t have coconut oil all that movement would have been useless. I strongly suggest you buy my new personal coconut oil brand. It’s like other brands, but it’s got my face on it, encouraging you to be a better you! Which means more like me! Soon you too will be able to work out when you’re tired and smile when you want to cry.

After I finish up at the office, I go to the gym and swim for an hour before heading home to drink another cup of coconut oil-water as I grill some chicken and veggies. That bit of protein is important because it helps the coconut oil get into my brain where it makes me afraid to eat anything else lest I gain an ounce and cause all of my sponsors to abandon me.

Oh man, no way am I going to eat that ice cream now. I told you! Coconut oil is the best.

Coconut Oil: Healthful Or Unhealthful?

Coconut oil has been all the rage for some time. Endorsed by a number of celebrities as a superfood, this tropical-smelling fat — often liberally applied to our skin and scalps — is a favorite of many. But the question remains: is it healthful or not?

Fat suffered a bad reputation for a long time and we were told to opt for low-fat options instead. But the tides turned eventually, prompting us to see fats in a new light.

Our lives became simpler. We learned how to avoid bad (saturated and hydrogenated) fats and eat good (unsaturated) ones to keep our tickers and arteries healthy.

Then the humble coconut came along in 2003, and the waters were once again muddied. Seen by some as a superfood but recently labeled by the American Heart Association (AHA) as part of the pool of unhealthful fats, the controversy goes on.

So, what are the scientific facts behind the coconut oil hype, and what are the latest developments?

Secret ingredient: 'Medium-chain' fatty acids

Many of the purported health claims surrounding coconut oil stem from research published in 2003 by Marie-Pierre St-Onge, Ph.D. — a professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University in New York City, NY.

Prof. St-Onge found that in overweight women, consumption of medium-chain fatty acids — such as those found in coconut oil — led to an increase in energy expenditure and fat oxidation compared with women who ate long-chain or saturated fatty acids.

But Prof. St-Onge used a specially formulated fat diet in her study, not coconut oil, and she never claimed that coconut oil was the secret to the results seen in her research.

The rumor mill had begun to spin and coconut oil became widely hailed as a superfood.

In fact, a 2009 study involving 40 women showed that 30 milliliters of coconut oil — consumed daily for a 12-week period — increased good high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, accompanied by a reduction in waist circumference.

As more studies have followed, the picture became less clear-cut.

AHA and WHO advise limiting consumption

Despite the number of studies casting coconut oil in a favorable light, the AHA issued an advisory note on dietary fats and cardiovascular disease in June 2017, recommending that we replace saturated fats with more healthful unsaturated fats. This includes coconut oil.

As the World Health Organization (WHO) state, "[U]nsaturated fats (e.G. Found in fish, avocado, nuts, sunflower, canola, and olive oils) are preferable to saturated fats (e.G. Found in fatty meat, butter, palm and coconut oil, cream, cheese, ghee, and lard)."

The reason? Saturated fat is bad for our cardiovascular health. However, there is another twist to this fascinating tale.

While low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is generally thought of as "bad" cholesterol, the HDL type is widely accepted as being its "healthful" counterpart.

Yet in 2017, we covered three studies that potentially turn what we know about fats and cholesterol on its head. The first study found that saturated fats may not "clog" our arteries after all, while the second one uncovered a link between "good" HDL and mortality.

The third study, published in November 2017, showed that high levels of HDL may not protect us from heart disease, as previously thought.

What is the latest?

One of the problems with the controversy surrounding coconut oil is the lack of good-quality, large-scale human studies. But adding to the body of evidence is a new study by the BBC's "Trust me I'm a Doctor" team.

Together with Dr. Kay-Tee Khaw, a professor of clinical gerontology, and Dr. Nita Gandhi Forouhi, a professor of population health and nutrition — both at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom — the team compared the effects of coconut oil, olive oil, and butter in 94 human volunteers.

Each study participant was asked to consume 50 grams of one of these fats daily for 4 weeks. The results came as a surprise.

Those who consumed coconut oil saw a 15 percent increase in HDL levels, while this number only stood at 5 percent for olive oil, which is accepted as being good for our cardiovascular system.

If we are working on the premise that HDL is good, then these results speak in favor of coconut oil.

It is important to note, however, that the results of this study have not been peer-reviewed and must be treated as preliminary.

Coconut oil: The verdict

So, is coconut oil healthful or not? As with many research areas, there is no straightforward answer.

If you are looking to lose weight, it's worth bearing in mind that coconut oil is very high in saturated fat and one tablespoon contains 120 calories.

If it's cardiovascular health that you are after, the official party line drawn by the AHA and WHO still puts coconut oil on the list of fats to limit. But who knows, maybe the tables will turn, and new guidelines will emerge.

In the meantime, coconut oil can be part of a healthful, balanced diet, if consumed in moderation.

However, it's worth looking out for coconut oil in packaged foods, especially partially hydrogenated coconut oil. This is a source of trans fats, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says increases the risk of heart disease.

Can Coconut Oil Really Help You Lose Weight?

Coconut oil is seeing a serious surge in popularity, and not just because it makes everything taste uber-tropical. The oil, extracted from the flesh of a coconut, is rumored to boost dieters' weight-loss efforts.

Because it’s derived from a plant and not animal products, many believe coconut oil is a healthy source of saturated fat, says Florida-based registered dietitian Alyssa Cohen, R.D. Paleo dieters commonly use it as a substitute for butter, lard, and other sources of saturated fat, and also add it to foods (stir fry, baked goods) and drinks (coffee, smoothies) to boost satiety. Some biohackers even drink a tablespoon of coconut oil with hot water pre-meal to reduce appetite.

Related: The Secret Ingredients That Helped These 5 Women Lose 20+ Pounds

So how seriously should we be taking the whole coconut oil-weight loss love affair—and is it time for an oil change? We got in touch with the experts to find out. (Speed up your progress towards your weight-loss goals with Women's Health's Look Better Naked DVD.)

How's It (Supposed to) Work?

Coconut oil contains a relatively high concentration of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)—a fatty acid that’s processed more efficiently by the body than the long-chain dietary fats found in most foods (think: meat and dairy products), explains Cohen. Long-chain fatty acids take the scenic route as they metabolize (break down), setting up camp in fat tissue along the way. MCTs, however, take a shortcut that allows them to be metabolized super-fast and burned as energy instead.

Currently, however, there’s a lack of consistent evidence that the coconut oil-weight loss link is legit.

“The few small-scale studies that have been performed show that consuming coconut oil may cause very modest reductions in weight,” says New Jersey-based registered dietitian Dafna Chazin, R.D.N., but there’s no evidence to suggest that doing so can lead to significant weight loss. Or that it can lead to weight loss over the long-term.

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Meanwhile, a recent study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that coconut oil didn’t perform any better than olive oil at boosting metabolism or increasing satiety among overweight women. (Cue sad trombone.)

Fats are the most calorically dense of all the macronutrients we nosh on (clocking in at roughly nine calories per gram). Coconut oil, specifically, contains a whopping 120 calories per tablespoon and 12 grams of saturated fat—which, for many, is more than half the recommended daily amount.

“When managing weight, the most important thing is calorie awareness—practicing proper portion control and spreading out fat servings throughout the day,” Chazin says. “Adding coconut oil to your coffee or smoothie without balancing those extra calories elsewhere in your day will likely lead to weight gain, not loss.”

Bottom line: “Coconut oil is way overhyped, and will not elicit weight loss in the absence of overall calorie restriction,” says Boston-based registered dietitian Sheri Kasper, R.D.N. “Diets work because they create a calorie deficit."

Related: Is Coconut the Key to Weight Loss? Have Your Fat, And Lose Fat, Too

Even though using coconut oil alone won’t help you ditch those pesky pounds, it may trigger a domino effect of healthier eating habits. Adding some fat to your meals can help you stay fuller longer, which could lead to less snacking between meals and decrease post-nosh dessert cravings, says registered dietitian and blogger Jennifer Kanikula, R.D. “Coconut oil also creates a different flavor profile, likely increasing the satiety of taste,” she adds. “If you’re more satisfied after a meal both physically and mentally, you’re not likely to feel the need to have additional calories at other times of the day.”

The best way to incorporate coconut oil into your weight-loss routine... And still lose weight? Make it part of an overall healthy diet, says Kasper. Use it as a replacement for other saturated fats, such as lard, butter, and meat, or simply make room for it in your daily calorie budget. A 1,600-calorie diet, for example, includes four to five teaspoons of healthy oil (salmon, avocado, nut, olive oil), plus a bonus 140 calories that can be used on things like added sugars and saturated fats, like coconut oil (FYI: each teaspoon of coconut oil contains 40 calories). Chazin recommends limiting your coconut oil intake to two teaspoons per day.

Related: 7 Supplements That Melt Fat

If you want to use coconut oil to enhance the flavor and texture of your favorite eats, choose either unrefined or extra-virgin coconut oil, which is minimally processed (no refining, bleaching, or deodorizing) and still retains its super-satisfying coconutty flavor. “Coconut oil’s smoke point is 350 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a good choice for baking and sautéing, but not for frying, which is a weight-loss no-no, anyway,” says Kasper. (In case you're curious, olive oil smokes at about 400 Fahrenheit, so it's still better for high-heat cooking.)

Use coconut oil where you can taste it, Chazin suggests—say, adding a teaspoon or two to a smoothie, or (no more than) 1/4 cup to your next batch of homemade granola, and combining it with a quality protein source for that ultimate satiety boost. For example, a side of scrambled egg whites with your smoothie or a serving of Greek yogurt with granola sprinkled on top.

You could also use a teaspoon of coconut oil to make a tasty veggie stir fry, stir it into your morning oatmeal to amp up fullness, or drizzle it over air-popped popcorn for a delicious, nutritious (and satisfying) snack.

Krissy Brady Krissy is a regular contributor to Prevention, and she also writes for Cosmopolitan, Weight Watchers, Women's Health, FitnessMagazine.Com, Self.Com, and Shape.Com.

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