AS CONSUMERS continue to search for easy ways to lose weight, one claim stating that coconut oil can accelerate metabolic rate and hence, increase weight loss is being disputed by local researchers and nutritionists.
Dr. Bruce Fife, author of the book The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil claims that the fatty acid chains in coconut oil, known as medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), offer wonderful health benefits which include revving up the body's sluggish metabolism and promoting weight loss as well.
He advocates taking three spoonfuls of virgin coconut oil each day as a dietary supplement.
In a published article, he says, "Replacing the fats you now eat with coconut oil may be the wisest decision you can make to lose excess body fat... Because MCFA increase the metabolic rate, they are dietary fats that can actually promote weight loss.
"A dietary fat that takes off weight rather than putting it on is a strange concept indeed, but that is exactly what happens, so long as calories in excess of the body's needs are not consumed. MCFA are easily absorbed and rapidly burned and used as energy for metabolism, thus increasing metabolic activity and even burning LCFA," Dr. Fife says.
No research on books
However, researchers at the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) say they have neither heard nor seen any research which support these claims.
According to one CFNI officer, coconut oil does have its advantages, which include fat which is easily absorbed in the digestive system. However, the claim of a connection to enhanced metabolic function is unsubstantiated, the officer said.
Meanwhile, nutritionist Dr. Joy Callender told Outlook, "Coconut is very controversial. It does have medium chain tryglicerides which are very easily absorbed. It has no cholesterol, but if it affects the metabolism in any way I have never heard of it.
Other writers on the coconut issue say that the oil is beneficial for those with thyroid problems. They note that coconut oil or some form of it is used in many hospital formulas to help the very old, the very young, and the very ill to regain their strength and vitality.
Dr. Joy Callender told Outlook that coconut oil has been used in creating feeds for children suffering from malnutrition, but that she remains very sceptical about the coconut-oil/weight loss connection.
The best way to increase the rate at which the body burns calories, she says, is to exercise.
"The notion of eating anything to increase your metabolic rate is very dubious indeed. Some of these things may also have harmful side effects, effects which are detrimental to your health," she said.
- O.T.
