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Tropical tummy trimmer

18th December 2014 Print
Weight loss

Its fans already include Alisha Dixon and Miranda Kerr, but a new study, published this month in the British Journal of Nutrition, shows we could all benefit from swapping to virgin coconut oil this New Year.

The study looked at how the inclusion of virgin coconut oil in the diet affects metabolism, and discovered that the oil appears to have an ability to change the way fats are handled by the body. 

It was found that, when virgin coconut oil was consumed, fat levels in body tissues decreased, as did the amount of specific enzymes involved in the conversion of sugars to fat (indicating not as much body fat was being laid down) – compared to when olive oil, sunflower oil, or basic coconut oil was consumed. Furthermore it appeared that fats were more readily used as an energy source when virgin coconut oil was included in the diet. 

Although the mechanism by which coconut oil had these effects wasn’t explored, it is clear that by using virgin coconut oil instead of olive oil or sunflower oil we may be helping our bodies burn more fat as an energy source and lay less down in ‘storage’ - meaning more chance of sticking to your New Year’s weight loss goals!

Which coconut oil?

With fans ranging from skeleton bobsleigher Amy Williams and international rugby player James Haskell to Tinie Tempah, Coconoil is one of the highest quality virgin coconut oils available. Not only is the oil organic, but it is cold pressed, meaning coconut flesh effectively has the oil squeezed out of it - many other coconut oils are prepared using intense heat, which can be detrimental to some of its health and culinary benefits.

Coconoil also helps more than just the health of those using it. The brand was set up after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami as a way to help rebuild the livelihoods of Sri Lankan farmers and today helps keep over 100 Sri Lankans in employment. The brand has also just started a new project with 200 smallholders from five villages in Ghana, and hope throughout 2015 they can replicate some of the success they have seen in Sri Lanka and help to create new jobs and income streams for those involved.

How to use

You can use Coconoil just like any other oil in cooking and baking, whether it’s frying a chicken breast or making a vegetable stir fry, or, as James Haskell does, you can have it on your toast or in your coffee in the morning for an tropical twist to really kick start your day. You can also buy Coconoil capsules if you want to benefit from the oil on the go.

Prices start at just £6.99 for a 280g tub. For more information, or to buy, visit coconoil.co.uk.

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Weight loss