Coconuts have not been so popular with calorie counters. They are infamous for their high saturated fat content but 2017 has something else in store for them. Whole Foods Market has predicted that this is going to be a year of everything and anything about coconut. From coconut water, coconut flakes to coconut cookies, coconut lattes and even coconut ice cream, this fruit is going to rule this year. Why? This is what we are answering here.
The saturated fat in coconuts is not the usual saturated fat. It is of a particular kind which is known as medium-chain triglyceride (or MCT). They are hardly ever stored as fat in the body. Rather, they provide energy, more or less like carbs, and without raising blood sugar levels, something that carbs do. In fact, a study published in the International Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders confirmed that MCTs helped in fat and calorie burning in men, leading to less fat storage.
Coconuts are not rich in this macronutrient. For every 100 grams of coconut, the carbohydrate count is a mere 15 grams. If you want to cut down on carbs for your regime, one thing you can go to is coconuts.
Though cocos may contain less carbs and their MCT may help burn fat, they are not low in calories. For every 100 grams of coconut, you are consuming 354 calories. This needs you to keep your consumption low. Dieticians have recommended that ideally one should fulfil one tenth of their daily calorie requirement through coconuts. So, if you have to consume 1500 calories a day, you should eat coconut worth 150 calories.
