What Are The Benefits Of Cooking With Coconut Oil?

You may be turned off from coconut oil when you look at the label and see how high it is in saturated fat, especially if you are on a diet. However, the saturated fat in coconut oil is unique because it is medium-chain triglycerides, rather than long-chain triglycerides found in animal fat. Medium-chain triglycerides are in the class of healthy fats because they don't go through processing that includes degradation and re-esterification and are immediately used by your body as energy, rather than being readily stored as fat.

Cooking Temperature

Coconut oil is particularly healthy to cook in because it has a high smoke point of 450 degrees, according to Dr. Jonny Bowden, Clinical Nutrition Specialist and PH.D, in his book "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth," It also has low oxidation, which is when healthful fat is turned into bad fat. So, you can cook food in coconut oil at higher temperatures than other oils and savor its health benefits.

Powerful Fat

The main medium-chain triglyceride in coconut oil is lauric acid. As Dr. Bowden explains, lauric acid has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. This acid may help fight bacterias that cause throat infections, pneumonia, food poisoning and some genital infections. Lauric acid kills bad bacteria without harming healthy intestinal and digestive bacterias. Medium-chain triglycerides also help kill fungi in the intestinal such as candida.

Other Benefits of Coconut Oil

When you cook in coconut oil it adds a rich nutty flavor to your food. Cooking with it on a consistent basis can positively effect your immune system because coconut oil is loaded with antioxidants. Furthermore, according to Dr. Bowden, when infants were fed coconut oil it elevated their absorption of calcium, magnesium and amino acids. This oil has also been shown to decrease abdominal obesity, according to a study done by the University of Kelaniya, Department of Physiology.

Warning

Dr. Bowden warns that some of the stigma around coconut oil being unhealthy is from studies that used hydrogenated coconut oils that are packed with trans fat, which has very unhealthy effects on your body such as raising bad cholesterol and lowering good cholesterol. Be cautious when choosing your coconut oil to cook in and go for quality, not low price, to avoid harmful trans fatty acids. Read the labels and opt for virgin or extra-virgin coconut oils that are not hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated.