Looking to lose weight, increase your metabolism, and support your thyroid?  Coconut is your secret ingredient.

• A study conducted in Yucatan, where coconut oil is a staple, showed that metabolic rates of people living there were 25 percent higher than in comparable test subjects living in the United States.
• In the 1940s, farmers tried dishing up coconut oil to fatten their animals but instead discovered that it made them lean and more active.
• Those who use coconut oil consistently for several weeks often report an increase in energy, better sleep patterns, an improved sense of well-being, and weight loss.

Why is coconut oil effective? Simply explained, most oils from animal and vegetable sources are composed primarily of long chain fatty acids, whereas coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids. This means that the fatty acids in coconut oil are sent directly to the liver where they are immediately burned up and converted into energy.

Coconut oil is also shown to enhance thyroid function. This in turn stimulates the conversion of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol into anti-aging hormones. These valuable hormones not only aid in weight management, but also in preventing heart disease, senility, and other degenerative diseases. It is believed that coconut oil helps convert thyroid hormone T3 to T4, a big bonus for the thousands of people who have sluggish thyroid function that causes weight gain and inhibits weight loss.

Coconut oil has been criticized for years because it is a saturated fat. Critics have associated coconut oil, as with all other saturated fats, with heart disease.  While all fats are not created equal, individuals have been misguided about fats for a very long time. To learn important information about saturated fats click here: The Truth About Saturated Fats

So how can you get more coconut oil in your diet for weight loss?  I recommend that you work your way up to two to three tablespoons of coconut oil each day. Coconut oil is delicious when used for sautéing, baking, stir-frying, and any other place where you would use oil.

One of my favorites places to add coconut oil is my morning smoothie.  By simply adding 1-2 tablespoons a day you can jump starting your metabolism.

It's a new year; why not create a new you!  However you work coconut oil into your diet, I'm sure you will be pleased with the results. You too may be among the thousands of people that not only lose weight, but also experience numerous improvements in health.