Once upon a time, coconut was thought to be an "unhealthy" food due to it's high saturated fat content. We now know that not all fats are created equal.
Coconut is high in a specific type of saturated fat called medium-chain-fatty-acids (MCFAs). Coconut oil is about 65% MCFAs.
Some things to note about MCFAs:
- MCFAs have a different biochemical makeup than other fats. They are smaller and therefore absorbed by your body differently.
- They don't require special enzymes to be digested making them easier to digest and putting less strain on your digestive system than other fats.
- They are sent directly to your liver to be converted to energy rather than being stored as fat.
Now let's talk about coconut butter. Since the butter is made from the whole meat of the coconut, not only do you get the beneficial MCFAs found in the oil, you also get the fiber, vitamins, and minerals from the meat.Here are some suggested health benefits of coconut:
- Provides a natural source of quick energy
- Improves digestion
- Has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties (supports the immune system)
- Good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant (and also improves the body's ability to absorb them)
- Has metabolism boosting properties
- May prevent insulin resistance