Pina Colada Anyone?

Lose weight with drinks on the beach?  Sounds too good to be true, but scientists are learning what islanders have known for centuries- coconut milk is a good weight loss aid.

Shunned for years in America as an artery-clogging, hip-widening saturated fat, coconut products have been out of vogue for a few decades.  But recent research is shedding light on some unexpected beneficial side effects of coconut milk and coconut oil in our diets - weight loss.

The fat in coconut products is largely in the form of medium chain triglycerides (MCT’s).  Other oils, like olive oil contain mostly long chain triglycerides (LCTs).  The name simply refers to the length of the molecules that make up the fat. 

So far, we know that MCT’s help in weight loss in two ways.  First, they are not converted to fat as easily or rapidly as other fatty acids (like those in olive or canola oil).  Both animal and human studies have shown that  diets rich in MCT’s, when used in place of LCTs, help in weight loss, especially loss of abdominal fat.

Second, MCTs increase the amount of calories burned following a meal (called thermogenesis).  When we eat, our metabolism rises slightly as our bodies digest the meal.  MCTs have been shown to increase our metabolism up to three times greater than other fats.

The good news is that you don’t have to go all the way to Fiji to get the benefits (although don't you want to?).  You can incorporate some coconut into your daily routine with these easy tips:


Use coconut oil in cooking.  Coconut oil has a high smoke point, which makes it great for cooking.  Extra virgin coconut oil is the least processed, and most beneficial, but will impart a slight nutty flavor to your meals.  This goes great with baked goods, and curries.

Refined coconut oil is commonly found on the grocery shelves, and has a milder flavor- more suitable for everyday cooking.  Its important to find a high quality product, though, as some refined coconut oil actually contains hydrogenated oil.  Look for labels that say the oil is refined using a “natural” process.

Coconut milk is an excellent ingredient for smoothies.  Look for canned coconut milk found in the Asian section of the grocery. Read the labels!  Look for products with no added sugar.  The ingredient label should read like this:  coconut milk, water


Here is a great recipe for a Coconut Green Drink, that will make you think you’ve just stepped onto the beach!  You’ll never know its healthy.


Coconut Green Drink
makes one serving
$ 1.20 per serving

This is a great way to start your day!  The good fat from the coconut milk, and healthy carbs and fiber from the fruits and vegetables will keep you full all morning. 

1/3 cup regular coconut milk ( not light- remember, the fat is the good stuff here!!)
2/3 cup filtered water
1/2 cup fresh washed spinach
1/2 cup frozen dark cherries
1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1/2 cup frozen banana (optional)


Mix all ingredients into a blender, and enjoy!

Nutrient Analysis

355 calories
4 grams protein
19 grams fat
26 mg sodium
7 grams fiber


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Molasses as a Weight Loss Supplement?

Australian researchers are one step closer to discovering a cure for obesity.  Dr. Richard Weisinger and several of his colleagues at La Trobe University in Australia have found that the addition of molasses extract to the food of mice raised on a high fat diet resulted in weight loss and  reductions in body fat.

These researchers discovered that when molasses supplements were added to the mice feed, calories were actually being lost in feces, rather than being absorbed.

According to Dr. Weisinger, “Supplementing food with molasses extract might therefore be a way of tackling the world-wide increase of obesity and metabolic syndrome which has huge cost for our health systems”.

Clinical trials, funded by the Australian Research Council, will begin next year to determine if supplementing with molasses extract really works in humans.

For many, this comes as very good news.  A supplement that will really work to help us lose weight!  A supplement that keeps my body from absorbing calories?!

But stop and think about this for a minute.  Remember Alli (Orlistat)?  This is a supplement that works by preventing our bodies from absorbing fat.  Sounded great right?  Or how about the fat replacer- Olestra- designed to make our favorite chips and snacks fat-free?

“It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!”

If you’re old enough to remember the old Chiffon Margarine commercials, you’ve witnessed the transitions from real food to fake, processed foods, and have likely been affected by it personally.

Side effects of Alli include “gas with an oily anal discharge”, and “hard to control bowel movements”.  We see the same effects of Olestra (found in fat free potato chips and nacho corn chips).

What might the side effects of another supplement that blocks absorption of calories be?  Are you willing to find out?

More importantly, we need to look at the BIG picture.  These researchers report that they have added this supplement to foods that as part of a high fat diet fed to mice.  If we translate that into human terms, its like adding a weight loss supplement to boxes of Hamburger Helper...........................(let that really sink in for a moment)

Its like trying to fight a fire with water, while feeding it with gasoline at the same time.

Even if we are able to produce a product that will prevent half the calories from a slice of pizza or piece of pie, are we really helping ourselves?

One of the things we often overlook when it comes to weight loss is the power of nutrition.  Our bodies are complex machines that require just the right balance of nutrients to work effectively.  Too many diets fail because of a lack of nutrients, limiting the metabolic processes that dictate how our food calories are used or deposited.

While there is no one-size fits all weight loss approach, there are basic nutritional needs that are universal, and these needs have been provided for us in nature.

To read how people have used the power of nutrition to lose weight and cure disease, click here.

Let these stories encourage you, and remind you that we will never win the battle of the bulge armed with artificial foods and meals that were created in labs.  As you walk through this struggle remember this, we can never outdo nature!






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