It goes against everything that you think you know about losing weight on a hypothyroidism diet or any diet for that matter, eat saturated fat to lose weight.
But not just any saturated fat will do. You must eat the right kinds of fats and fatty acids and virgin coconut oil fits the bill.
Why is Coconut Oil so special?
Well, virgin coconut oil is a saturated fat that is mainly composed of medium chain fatty acids. The fatty acids in the oil are known as MCTs or medium chain triglycerides. These medium chain fatty acids can increase your metabolism, raise your basal body temperature and promote weight loss.
The implications of these health benefits for those of you suffering from a low thyroid is tremendous. It means that there are more natural ways to maintaining your thyroid. It also means that as you supplement your diet with virgin coconut oil you can increase your chance of losing weight while on your “hypothyroidism” diet.
How is Virgin Coconut Oil Produced?
Coconuts thrive in most tropical areas such as the Philippines where a lot of coconut oil is produced. Virgin coconut oil is made or processed from the meat of fresh coconuts. The process can include a quick drying and then pressing the oil out of the meat of the coconut. Another method would be wet milling where the coconut oil is then later separated from the coconut milk. Cold pressed coconut oil is oil that has been processed with the addition of very little heat.
Virgin Coconut Oil and Hypothyroidism
So, how does virgin coconut oil help with your hypothyroidism weight loss diet? To answer this we must understand what coconut oil is made up of and how this affects the body. As I mentioned earlier coconut oil is primarily a saturated fat, over 90%. But of this 90%, over 60% are the medium chain triglycerides mentioned of which the majority, over 50%, is Lauric acid. Lauric acid is an essential fatty acid that is utilized by your body to build and maintain your immune system.
Other Essential Fatty Acids
There are a couple of other no less important fatty acids present in virgin coconut oil that help maintain a healthy body. Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fat that is has been a staple of the weight loss industry and is typically sold as a supplement know as CLA or conjugated linoleic acid. Usually sold in softgel capsule form this “good” fat has been shown to promote body fat reduction in several clinical studies.
The other compound is Oleic acid which is an omega-9 fatty acid. Just like in virgin coconut oil this acid is also the main compound present in extra-virgin olive oil, another good oil to promote healthy eating. This acid has been shown to raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels while lowering the LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
I hope that you can see why virgin coconut oil is heavy hitter when it comes to helping you to become more healthy. Its beneficial effects on metabolism, cholesterol and weight loss should make this food a staple for any hypothyroidism diet.
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25. April 2009 at 8:56 am
You put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up. Just kidding. Coconut oil sounds really good it made me hungry Hmmm… wonder what my body is trying to tell me?
25. April 2009 at 8:47 pm
Virgin coconut oil should be a staple in everyone’s diet because of all its health benefits. It’s especially helpful if you want to lose weight! Thanks for the great info.
26. April 2009 at 4:43 am
I didn’t realize the benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil – thanks for the tips.
26. April 2009 at 8:31 am
This is the first time I have come across this information about virgin coconut oil. Very useful and well explained. Thanks
26. April 2009 at 10:44 pm
And here I thought coconut oil was just for tanning. You learn something new everyday!
27. April 2009 at 1:03 am
Thanks to your post, now I have a clearer understanding of saturated fat. Previously, I thought all kind of saturated fat is bad for weight loss.
6. May 2009 at 3:07 pm
Just a suggestion on a way to start using the Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO). Buy two (2) bottles (I prefer the gel capsules), with the 1st bottle double up on the suggested usage to saturate your system and jump start its action. When you’re done with the 1st bottle, begin using the 2nd bottle as suggested on the label. This was recommended to me by my dermatologist for using hair & B vitamins. I saw and felt a difference with continued use. This is how I’m now taking the VCO. Hope this helps/works for someone. I’m in the hypothyroid/weight loss dilema as well.
6. May 2009 at 11:26 pm
Thanks for the great comments everyone! Keep them coming.
Carolyn, that’s a great idea. Thanks for sharing it here for everyone to benefit. I’m going to make sure that Cindy sees this comment. I’ll bet she’ll be quite interested in this.
8. May 2009 at 11:24 am
I started taking coconut oil almost a year ago. It helps stabilize and take away the ’shakes’ that result from overextending myself. I make a little ‘bar’ in ice cube trays
- almonds bits ( I presoak them & dry to make them easier to digest)
- a couple raisins or cranberries
- 3 Tablespoons of coconut oil (warmed up it’s liquid)
my son calls them Lard bars because they’re so white & look like lard.
Thanks for the great web site and helpful information. I’ve been fighting the symptoms for years but was only able to get an accurate diagnosis a year ago.
8. July 2009 at 5:54 am
Wow been battling this for a year now. What great information and feed back. Will be adding this to my diet tomorrow.
10. August 2009 at 11:39 pm
Where do you buy the oil in capsules? I searched forever for coconut oil and finally found it in a jar, and it looks more like soft milky-colored butter than oil. Someone explained that it solidifies when it’s cooled and turns to liquid oil when it’s heated, which is why it works best when used in cooking recipes. But I find the thought of eating it like butter to be a bit revolting. Someone here mentioned buying them in capsules, so I was wondering where you can get them.
27. October 2009 at 11:54 am
A friend of mine suggested coconut oil and I started taking it…and all I can say is WOW!!! That terrible fatigue, restlessness, “thinking through mud” feeling is gone. My overall mood and energy levels were greatly enhanced. My skin, hair, nails and even the whites of my eyes are looking the best it has in years. One great benefit is it helped reduce that terrible bloat especially during PMS times. And just when things could get any better, my overall PMS symptoms (including those extreme mood swings) were better and I have been suffering from HORRIBLE cramps my whole life. I am a true believer in the power of one little supplement and have told just about everyone I know about it. For all of us hypothyroid sufferers this is truely something to take note of.
12. November 2009 at 7:48 pm
Hi JF,
You should be able to find both the capsules and the virgin coconut oil in health food stores… I’ve bought both in a store called Whole Foods…
10. December 2009 at 3:18 am
I use coconut oil all the time since I found out about it a couple of years ago. One way to get it down is put a tablespoon of it in warm water with a little lemon juice, preferably organic real lemon juice (not the store bought bottled stuff). This is a nice refreshing drink in the mornings and will also help with bowel action. Another way is to put the coconut oil in smoothies, mix it with olive oil and put on salads, spread it on toast, or just cram a spoonful in your mouth and swallow quick. Enjoy!
20. December 2009 at 1:14 am
IJL
I just read your message, can you tell me where I can purchase the coconut oil? Thank You I would really appreciate it.
29. December 2009 at 11:57 am
Hi Patty,
You can purchase virgin coconut oil at most nature food stores. I know that Whole Foods a chain that is found all over the US carries both virgin coconut oil that can be used in cooking as well as supplements.
29. December 2009 at 12:12 pm
Thank you for the tips!
7. January 2010 at 3:04 pm
I crave coconut quite often, after reading this I wonder if this is because on my thyroid.
16. January 2010 at 11:52 am
Hi Sue,
Thanks for your comment.
My best guess is that simply craving coconut is not enough to determine whether or not you have hypothryoidism. There are many symptoms that point to this condition. Feel free to read through them and if you find that you are experiencing some or all of these symptoms then consult a doctor and ask him or her to run the necessary blood tests to be sure.
22. January 2010 at 10:55 pm
A friend recommended this website
http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/
It is what made me search for more info regarding hypothyroidism and natural supplements. I haven’t tried anything yet, but the coconut oil seems to be worth the try!
4. March 2010 at 8:29 pm
Great website. The info about the coconut oil is great, I don`t that any info from my Dr. It`s like I am just stuck with all the baggage that comes with Hypothyroidism. This is really awesome. I hope the coconut oil really works. It will be a first. Thank you.