Researchers at McGill University found that eating more fat can help obese and overweight people shed excess body fat and control their weight. Although excess consumption of dietary fat is considered one of the causes of overweight, Drs Marie-Pierre St-Onge and Peter Jones report that a special group of fats known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which are derived from coconut oil, have the opposite effect.

In a study published in March 2002 in The Journal of Nutrition, Drs St-Onge and Jones analyzed all published studies to date on MCT and their effect on body weight. They found that MCT oils used in place of other dietary fats significantly reduces body fat, resulting in lower weight. They recommend the use of MCT as a means to prevent and treat obesity.

Few oils contain MCT. By far the richest natural source comes from coconut which is composed mainly of MCT.

The combined results from several studies have shown that when people switch from oils such as soybean and corn oils, to using an MCT oil, they can lose up to 12 to 36 pounds a year even when total calorie consumption remains the same.

"Losing up to 36 pounds a year without changing anything in your diet except for the type of oil you use is remarkable," says Dr Bruce Fife, author of the recently released book Eat Fat, Look Thin: A Safe and Natural Way to Lose Weight Permanently. "Combined with a sensible eating plan, coconut oil can produce incredible results," says Fife. "I see people who try everything to lose weight without success, but when they change the oils in their diets their weight seems to melt off."

One of the reasons coconut oil is effective in helping to reduce body weight is that it contains fewer calories than other fats. For this reason, coconut oil has gained a reputation as being the world's only natural, low-calorie fat. "It's hard to imagine a low-calorie fat, but that is what we have with coconut oil," says Fife.

The low calorie content of coconut oil isn't the main reason for its reputation as an aid in weight-loss. Most fats, after digestion, circulate in the bloodstream contributing fat to our fat cells. MCT in coconut oil, however, do not. They are used by the body as an immediate source of fuel and, therefore, do not circulate in the bloodstream like other fats. They produce energy, not body fat.

"Their ability to produce energy is so effective, "says Fife, "that after eating a meal containing MCT, your metabolism is shifted into a higher gear and you feel a surge of energy. Many athletes are using MCT to not only help them manage weight but to enhance exercise performance. For this reason, coconut oil or MCT are now being added to many commercial sports drinks and energy bars.

"The energy boost you get from coconut oil is not like the kick you get from caffeine," says Fife. "It's more subtle than that, but longer lasting." Studies have shown that energy levels remain elevated for as much as 24 hours. As energy levels rise, calories are used up at an accelerated rate. This reduces the amount of calories remaining in the body which could be converted into fat. When you add coconut oil into your diet you burn off more calories because your metabolism increases.

"If you want to lose weight, generally the more coconut oil you can add into your diet the better," says Fife. "Some people are hesitant to add more fat into their diets, consequently they make the mistake of not eating enough and they don't get the results they want. You don't have to be afraid of eating this type of fat because it encourages weight loss, not weight gain."

The weight loss advantages don't stop there. "Studies have shown that oils containing MCT are more satisfying than other fats," says Fife. "When they are added to foods, people eat less and feel fuller longer so they don't eat as much at the next meal."

In one study, reported in Fife's book, women were given a drink which contained either MCT oil or vegetable oil. Thirty minutes later they were offered lunch in which they could choose and eat as much as they wanted. The women who had the MCT oil before the meal eat less food, and as the authors of the study stated, "significantly decreased caloric intake in the lunch."

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