Coconut oil is very popular when it comes to cooking and baking, and also as a skincare remedy – but is coconut oil keto-friendly?
The good news is that yes – coconut milk is keto-friendly as it contains no carbohydrates at all. However, you should bear quantity in mind if using coconut oil as a weight-loss product. It’s pure fat, after all, so too much may cause you to gain weight.
Stay tuned for a comprehensive guide on coconut oil as a keto-friendly oil product, including a refresher on the keto diet, quantities you should consume and some recommendations for the best uses for coconut oil. Enjoy!
What is the keto diet?
Let’s have a quick refresher on what the keto diet actually is.
A ketogenic diet requires you to consume foods that are low in carbohydrates, but high in fat foods. This may seem counter-intuitive to a weight-loss strategy, however carb reduction puts the body into ketosis, a metabolic state known for making the body very efficient when it comes to burning fat. For this reason, the keto diet is highly popular with those looking to lose weight and or reduce body fat in general.
The keto diet is also known to help send energy to the brain as well as the rest of the body, plus it can result in a reduction in blood sugar, and insulin levels. Make sure to consult with your doctor or medical physician before swapping over to a keto diet.
Is coconut oil keto?
So here’s the big question: is coconut oil keto-friendly?
Coconut oil is perfectly suitable if you’re on the keto diet, as it is pure fat and contains no carbs whatsoever. This makes it highly effective on the keto diet, which restricts dieters to a maximum of 50g of carbs per day on a typical keto plan.
Another reason that coconut oil is often used by keto dieters is that it contains high levels of Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) which are saturated fats that help to boost fat burning in the body. This can help to promote the reduction of body fat and ultimately reduce weight gain.
Quantity of coconut oil on keto diet
While coconut oil is perfect suitable for the keto diet, you should bear quantities in mind specifically if you’re looking to lose weight.
Coconut oil is very rich in calories, with 117 calories per tablespoon serving. This could tip your calorie intake over without you even realizing it, so be sure to account for coconut oil when calorie counting to ensure that you’re not consuming too many extra calories.
Cooking and baking with coconut oil for keto diet
Coconut oil is a popular ingredient with keto bakers, adding fat without any additional carbohydrates.
However, as mentioned above, it does contain 117 calories per tablespoon serving so we recommend using it in small amounts if you’re looking to create low-fat recipes. It is slightly lower in calories than olive oil, so it may be worth investigating if you’re looking for a lower calories alternative.
Coconut oil is keto-friendly and paleo-friendly, and it can be used in a 1:1 substitution ratio for other oils.
Popular recipes containing coconut oil include cookies, cakes, bread and pies, as well as being useful in frying vegetables or other ingredients.
Did you know that coconut oil has over 100 uses? Here’s some of our favorites!
| Per 1 Tablespoon Serving | Coconut Oil | Olive Oil |
| Calories | 117 | 119 |
| Keto-Friendly? | Yes | Yes |
| Gluten-Free? | Yes | Yes |
| Carbs | 0g | 0g |
| Paleo-Friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Best for cooking/baking | Frying, making cookies, cakes, bread, pies | Frying, making salad dressings, stir frys, brownies, cakes, cookies, bread, pies |
FAQ
Take a look at the below frequently asked questions to learn more about coconut oil as a keto-friendly oil!
Adding coconut oil to your diet can help to speed up ketosis, with the body burning fat instead of glucose. By adding MCTs in the form of coconut oil to your diet, you’re adding fats that are easily digested and will also add energy to the body.
As coconut oil contains MCTs, these are directly broken down into ketones which can be used by the brain cells as energy. Normally the brain uses glucose for energy, whereas in ketosis it uses fat instead.
There are many brands of coconut oil that are good for keto diets, however, I recommend using one that ticks the following elements:
– Extra virgin
– Expeller-pressed
– Cold-pressed
– Organic
Coconut oil can be bought in most large retailers, but it can also be made at home. Here’s a recipe for how to make coconut oil!
If you’re looking for a quicker route, check out our recommendations for the best coconut oil you can buy.
Coconut oil can be used in many different ways as part of a healthy keto diet. Some popular uses for coconut oil include the following:
– Cooking
– Roasting
– Frying
– Baking
A popular use for coconut oil in the keto diet is adding it to coffee. By adding coconut oil to coffee, this can help you to maintain/reach ketosis, thereby burning fat more quickly. This also produces a creamy, frothy coffee that many people prefer.
You should avoid eating coconut oil if you have high cholesterol, as coconut oil is pure fat and may not be beneficial if you suffer from conditions including high cholesterol.
Coconut oil should also be avoided if you have an allergy to tree nuts, as coconuts are technically tree nuts and therefore may cause you to experience an allergic reaction.
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