This post is going to show you the link between coconut oil and testosterone.
Coconut oil contains 92-96% saturated fat which is the type of fat that can help to boost your T levels.
The fatty acids found in coconuts are called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs).
Scientists believe MCTs are very important for your health, especially your weight.
But the question is; whether coconut oil will have an impact on testosterone levels? Well, the simple answer to this is yes.
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Coconut Oil Health Benefits for Men
Coconut oil is quite beneficial for health in general. In fact, a study was done among patients who recovered from heart diseases.
The study confirmed that saturated fat was the reason for their recovery from heart attacks and the subjects took about 40% to 60% of their total calories from coconut oil.
Some major benefits of coconut oil have been mentioned below:
- The medium chained fatty acids of coconut oils are used for energy production and thus seldom ends up as body fat.
- Consuming coconut oil, in place of other oils, can reduce the chances of developing cancer.
- Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which make it beneficial against atherosclerosis.
Coconut Oil and Hormone Levels
The main thing that distinguishes coconut oil from other sources of saturated fat is the fact that the vast majority of its fatty acids are Medium chained Triglycerides (MCTs), which is a term used for a fatty acid with 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
MCTs have a different metabolic process from other fats because the body puts them directly into the liver where they are used as an instant form of energy. This effect of MCTs leads to an increase in metabolic rate.
The antioxidant abilities of coconut oil also make it a great addition to a testosterone boosting diet. The main problem is that there aren’t many human studies which link coconut oil with T Levels. However, there are some studies done on male rodents.
Related Studies on Coconut Oil
The following are some studies which show that coconut oil increases testosterone levels.
1. Evidence has shown that coconut oil prevents oxidative stress in the testicles due to its high antioxidant properties. In the study, male rodents were taken as test subjects. The rodents were divided into two groups in the study.
One of the groups was given alcohol and the other group was given virgin coconut oil for 4 days. The results were compared after four days. The results showed that the rats who were given alcohol had a lower sperm count, sperm motility and testosterone levels.
On the other hand, the rats who were given coconut oil had an above-average sperm count, motility and testosterone levels.
The researchers stated in the conclusion of the study that coconut oil is beneficial for increasing testosterone levels.
2. Another study was done to find out the antioxidant effect of coconut oil on male testes. Rats were used for this study and were divided into one of the four groups who were administered soybean, olive oil, coconut oil or grapeseed.
Once the study was completed, the researchers noted that the antioxidant levels were significantly higher in the coconut oil and olive oil groups. The key enzyme needed for testosterone production (3-B-HSD and 17-B-HSD) was higher in the coconut oil and olive oil groups.
The testosterone levels were lower in the rats who were fed grapeseed and soybean.
3. A study was recently conducted in which seven group of rats were fed with different nutritional supplements. The researchers noted that the testosterone levels peaked when the diet of the rodents was supplemented with coconut oil.
It was also found that the free testosterone levels were about 15% higher in the coconut oil group as compared to other groups.
The key enzymes in testosterone synthesis were also higher in the coconut oil group.
4. Lastly, a study was done in which rats were divided into six groups. The diet was the same but the supplemented oil was different in each group. Each group was given one of these oils: sesame oil, fish oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, olive oil or Iberian pig lard.
The results were obtained after several days which showed that Iberian pig lard group and the coconut oil group had the highest testosterone levels than all the other groups. Both lard and coconut oil led to approximately the same increase in serum testosterone levels.
Coconut Oil for Bodybuilders
Coconut oil is especially beneficial for bodybuilders because its properties are known to increase testosterone levels. However, this isn’t the only way coconut oil is beneficial for body builders. It also facilitates fat loss.
It is made of medium chained fatty acids and doesn’t rely on bile salts for digestion. Thus, it is digested by the body easily and converted into energy. A study done back in 2003 stated that coconut oil burns fats and increases the metabolic rate.
This is the reason that men looking to get in shape should use coconut oil
Coconut oil also boosts the immune system. A bodybuilder has to go through strenuous training which makes him quite vulnerable after a workout. Lauric acid is present in coconut oil which helps to boost the immune system, so it is a great idea to include it in your post workout shake.
Lauric acid is found in breast milk and this is why it is so important for a child's immune system. And apart from breast milk, there are only three food sources to obtain lauric acid but the one with the most amount of lauric acid is coconut oil.
How to Add Coconut Oil to Your Diet?
Adding coconut oil to the diet is a no-brainer. But some people make a fuss about it. So here are some ways to add coconut oil to your diet:
Use Coconut Oil To Cook Food – You can use coconut oil to make different dishes. For example, you can fry meat, fish and eggs in coconut oil. You can use coconut oil to make a coating of these foods. Just put a few tablespoon of coconut oil in the pan. Once it melts, add the foods.
Pop Popcorns – Coconut oil can also be used to make popcorns. Just add coconut oil and popcorns in a pan. Stir the mixture well. Now listen to the popping sound of popcorns. As soon as you hear this sound, remove the heat.
Add Coconut Oil To Smoothies – Coconut oil can easily be added to smoothies. If you are using a blender to make smoothies, just add one tablespoon of coconut oil in the blender whenever you make a smoothie.
Baking with Coconut Oil – To include coconut oil in baking, use coconut oil in place of vegetable or olive oil. You can use your fingers to add a thin layer on the pans to make the baking stick proof.
Add It In Oatmeal – Adding coconut oil in oatmeal is also a good way of incorporating it into your diet. Just cook oatmeal oil like you normally do and add a teaspoon of coconut oil into it.
Conclusion
Seeing the link between coconut oil and testosterone levels, there is no reason not to include it in your diet. Just make sure to use the best quality extra virgin coconut oil.
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