Coconut Oil may be one of the most misunderstood of the more readily available dietary fats/oils.

The main difference between coconut oil and other forms of saturated fats and triglycerides is the much shorted length pf the fatty acid. Coconut Oil is actually a medium chain triglyceride (MCT), 6 to 12 carbon lengths long. This smaller chain length makes it much easier for the body to absorb, digest and process as its breakdown requires less energy and less enzymatic action that what is usually needed for the longer chain triglyceride.

Once broken down into medium chain fatty acids and absorbed in the body, they are then delivered to the liver where they are used as a primary source of energy, which in turn leads to an increase in metabolism, ultimately resulting in an improvement in blood lipid profiles.

Interestingly in eastern Asian cultures where coconut oil is a significant source of fat, rates of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease are lower than their western counterparts.

Coconut Oil contains high levels of antioxidative compounds which help protect it from oxidation and degradation. Coconut oil has been proven to improve levels of testicular antioxidants, thus suggesting a protective role in reproductive health and increased levels of testosterone.

Furthermore, supplementation of the oil has also led to a significant improvement in bone density, volume and structure.