More Coconut Milk Goodness

With all the products that have come out in the last year that are coconut milk-based, you might be wondering whether to skip the intermediaries and start using coconut milk straight.

DaNae Johnson extols the virtues of coconut milk on Natural News.com

Coconut milk is high in saturated fat, nearly 25 grams (225 calories) in half a cup, but the fat in coconut milk is healthy fat. The fatty acids in coconut milk are of the medium chain triacylglycerol or MCT type. The distinguishing feature of MCTs so important to coconut nutrition is that they are burned faster than other types of fatty acids. They are especially beneficial for providing energy for the lymph nodes, liver, and fat cells themselves. (Even fat cells need energy.) ...

A little of the unsweetened coconut milk goes a long way. You probably don't want more than one cup of coconut milk in a two-cup smoothie. Store unused coconut milk in a glass container in the refrigerator or freezer. Or just use all the coconut milk at once to make an extra smoothie for a friend.

As with most natural foods enthusiasts, Johnson has never met a claim he doesn't believe. So he also states:

Using coconut oil in moderate amounts, up to about 2 tablespoons (30 ml) a day, in place of other oils, may help you lose weight (about 1 pound or half a kilo a month) even if you eat the same portions of other foods. You can get the same result from using 1/4 cup of coconut milk a day in your smoothies.

I know of no good studies that have shown that MCT or coconut milk can be used for weight loss. All studies so far have been inconclusive or require such high levels of coconut milk as to make the diet unhealthy. See Health.net for a more measured assessment of studies involving MCTs.