7 Benefits Of Drinking Coconut Oil On An Empty Stomach
You will find 7 amazing benefits of drinking coconut oil in the morning on an empty stomach in this article.
What is coconut oil?
Coconut oil is an edible oil obtained from the meat and milk of the coconut.
It is a white and solid fat that melts into a clear liquid at temperatures above 78°F (25°C)1.
7 Benefits of drinking coconut oil in the morning on an empty stomach
Virgin coconut oil offers amazing health benefits.
When is the best time to take coconut oil?
When you take coconut oil in the morning on an empty stomach, the health benefits are multiplied. Here is why:
1. It provides energy
Coconut oil is high in saturated fatty acids (about 90%), of which 60% are medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs)2.
These MCFAs are rapidly transported to the liver, where they are exclusively oxidized for the production of energy2.
In contrast, long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) commonly found in most diets are being absorbed in the intestine before being stored in the adipose tissue2.
When you take coconut oil in the morning on an empty stomach, your liver can immediately oxidize MCFAs, producing energy.
2. It reduces fat deposition
Coconut oil acts as an appetite suppressant.
When you drink coconut oil in the morning on an empty stomach, you will feel full during the next 3-4 hours.
As a result, you will eat less during this time.
This will reduce the total amount of fat accumulated in your body, given that MCFAs found in coconut oil are not stored in the adipose tissue2.
Related: 7 Reasons To Eat Coconut Oil For Weight Loss
3. It improves cognitive function
Studies have shown that a diet rich in coconut oil improves cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients3,4.
One of the possible modes of action is that coconut oil flushes out aluminum from your body5.
Research has reported that coconut oil had a protective role in aluminum-induced Alzheimer’s disease6,7.
When you take coconut oil in the morning on an empty stomach, it has a better capacity to remove aluminum from your body, given that it doesn’t interact with the bolus.
Related: How To Detox Aluminum From The Body
4. It eliminates harmful bacteria
Coconut oil kills numerous harmful bacteria in your gut thanks to its high lauric acid content (51%)10.
It eliminates, namely, the following bacteria:
- Bacillus subtilis8
- Escherichia coli8 and vulneris9
- Enterococcer bacteria9
- Helicobacter pylori9
- Proteus vulgaris8
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa8
- Staphylococcus aureus9,10
- Streptococcus mutans9
- Vibrio bacteria8
When you eat coconut oil in the morning on an empty stomach, these bacteria are weaker because they have not eaten for several hours.
Related: 7 Strongest Natural Antibiotics
5. It has anti-parasitic effects
Coconut oil has anti-parasitic activity against the protozoan responsible for malaria: Plasmodium falciparum11.
Parasites are more sensitive in the morning when your stomach is empty.
Related: Top 13 Foods That Kill Parasites In Humans
6. It has antifungal properties
Coconut oil has antifungal effects against several Candida species, including Candida albicans9,12.
Just like bacteria and parasites, fungi are also weaker in the morning when your stomach is empty.
Related: 10 Strongest Candida Killer Supplements
7. It has a laxative effect
Coconut oil has a laxative effect.
It is, namely, high in glycerol, one of the main constituents of triglycerides.
Glycerol is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that attracts water molecules.
As such, it lubricates the intestines and stimulates bowel movement.
When you drink coconut oil in the morning on an empty stomach, the laxative effect of glycerol is enhanced because there is no other food in your gut that needs to be digested.
Related: 5 Immediate Constipation Relief Remedies
What is the difference between virgin and RBD coconut oil?
Virgin coconut oil provides many health benefits and has traditionally been used for nutritional and medicinal purposes4.
It has been collected from freshly extracted coconut milk without using heat, chemicals, or shear4.
Conventional coconut oil, on the other hand, is derived from copra (dried coconut meat) and may be exposed to high temperatures and chemicals during the refining process.
It is, therefore, also known as RBD (refined, bleached, and deodorized) coconut oil and does not offer the same health benefits as virgin coconut oil4.
How to take coconut oil in the morning
- Take a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil first thing in the morning
- Wait at least half an hour before eating anything else
- After about a week, you can increase the amount to one tablespoon
Related: Should I Take Turmeric On An Empty Stomach?
Side effects of drinking coconut oil on an empty stomach
Drinking coconut oil on an empty stomach may cause mild symptoms such as nausea and itching.
These symptoms are transient and will disappear over time.
They are known as die-off symptoms or a Herxheimer reaction.
Here is how to avoid a Herxheimer reaction or reduce it if you are already experiencing it.
Summary: 7 Benefits of drinking coconut oil on an empty stomach
Virgin coconut oil offers many amazing health benefits.
When you drink it in the morning on an empty stomach, these benefits are multiplied.
As a result, coconut oil increases the 7 following effects:
- It provides energy
- Coconut oil reduces fat deposition
- It improves cognitive function
- Coconut oil eliminates microbes and parasites
- It has anti-parasitic effects
- Coconut oil has antifungal properties
- It has a laxative effect
