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The Magic Of Coconut Oil
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It may not seem like a few extra atoms would make that much of a difference, but it most certainly does. MCTs are less chemically complex than their longer chain counterparts, and are thus more quickly and easily absorbed by the body and converted into energy. LCTs take longer to break down and are more likely to be stored as body fat. MCTs also have around 10 percent fewer calories on average than LCTs do.
Eating an actual coconut raw is rather laborious process, so the most efficient way to reap the benefits is to consume it in oil form. Being a saturated fat, it will be solid at and below room temperature. If it is heated above 24 °C (76 °F), it will melt into liquid form. The specific health benefits of consuming MCT-rich coconut oil include:
1. It’s good for your brain
Studies have shown that the MCTs in coconut oil are immensely beneficial for maintaining optimal brain health, improving cognition, and preventing neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. A 2004 study published in the Neurobiology of Aging medical journal found that Alzheimer’s patients experienced significantly improved scores on memory and cognition tests after only a single dose of coconut oil.
One of the causes of neurodegeneration is believed to be “brain starvation,” which is when the brain is getting insufficient nutrients to stay healthy and function properly. This process can increase as we get older. When your body breaks down fat for energy, it creates something called ketone bodies, which act as a source of energy for your brain. Eating coconut oil, it turns out, can produce quite a lot of ketone bodies. While no one is making the claim that this is some kind of instant miracle cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there have been multiple studies suggesting that higher intake of MCTs-rich foods like coconut oil can result in long-term brain health and ward off age-related brain decay.
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