Coconut products and the keto diet go hand in hand like lovers on a tropical beach at sunset: they just go, perfectly. In order to understand why this is, it’s important to understand how the ketogenic diet works, and why people follow it, as well as understand why the mighty coconut is such a goodie when it comes to trying to follow the diet and live well and enjoyably on it.

What’s the keto diet all about

In a coco-nutshell, the keto diet is a low carb, high fat diet. It’s been scientifically-proven to deliver all sorts of benefits. On one hand there is the fundamental concept of a keto diet for weight loss. However, the keto diet has been shown to bring beneficial results to those with Alzheimer’s disease, type II diabetes, epilepsy and even cancer.

The ketogenic diet goes beyond simply being a low carb diet, although it does share similarities. It goes a step further to reduce your carbohydrate intake to such a degree that your body enters a metabolic state called ketosis. When this occurs, your body becomes a super-charged fat burner, with your liver converting fat into energy. The amount of insulin and sugar in your blood reduces.

There are a few variations when it comes to a keto diet, including the standard, cyclical, targeted and high-protein versions. For most, it is the standard ketogenic diet (sometimes simply called SKD) which they are interested in. The basic concept is: low carb (10% or less, or between 20-50 grams a day), moderate protein (20%) and high fat (70%).

The coconut and keto

A ketogenic diet represents quite a change in eating for many people. With mainstream diet media conveying the message over decades that fat is bad and that carbs fill you up and give you energy, it can involve a radical shift in thinking. Even though you may be highly motivated by the science and research behind your particular reason for following the keto diet, it can be hard to make the changes ingrained through years of different eating regimens.

One of the biggest hurdles that those new to the keto diet face is how to increase their fat intake in a way that is healthy and palatable. And that’s where coconuts come in. As you’ll see below in our list of 10 reasons why coconut products improve your keto diet, coconut oil is the ultimate keto-friendly fat.

10 reasons why coconut products improve your keto diet

Coconut oil and ketosis are the winners at fat-burning

Coconut oil is largely made up of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). These particular types of fats actually boost fat burning. When combined with the ketosis process, you’ve got a winning combination. Adding coconut oil has actually been shown to speed up the fat burning of the keto diet.

Coconut oil in your keto diet will help you lose weight

Given the winning combo above, it’s no surprise that a ketogenic diet with a high usage of coconut oil results in excellent weight loss.

Coconut fat is filling so you can ditch calorie counting

A bane of any dieter’s life is calorie counting. Whether it’s cloaked in marketing ploys, or spoken outright, the fundamental concept of weight loss is that you need to consume fewer calories than you use. This is laborious, dull and highly-restrictive.

Coconut fat and other products containing it are so filling that you aren’t stuck tracking the calories through every minute of every day. Nonetheless, you can expect your weight loss to be just as successful as if you were calorie counting. 

Coconut oil is pure fat

As we say, the problem many on the keto diet have is how to increase their fat intake whilst reducing their carb intake. Many fats come with carbs alongside. Coconut oil is a pure fat. It has no carbs in it. Even other coconut products, such as coconut flour, are lower in carbs compared to their mainstream alternative.

Coconut oil boosts ketone production

The Keto Diet App says: “Some people may be having trouble entering ketosis — a state in which your body primarily uses fatty acids and ketones for fuel instead of glycogen. Including MCT-rich coconut oil in your diet will help you boost ketones which can be especially important if you follow the keto diet for therapeutic purposes.”

Coconut oil and products makes cooking on keto varied

Whether you want to fry, roast or bake, coconut oil is up to the job. It has a high smoke point and is a brilliant substitute for other fats as diverse as olive oil and butter. With coconut products like coconut flour, you can even bake with fewer carbs than wheat flour.

Coconut oil and products makes cooking on keto tasty

Coconut oil and other coconut products tend to have a very mild coconut flavour, making them excellent carriers for other tastes. It works perfectly to add to the deliciousness of a stir fry.

You can get creamy textures without dairy

Many people following a keto diet want or need to avoid dairy products, and they can also be surprisingly high in carbs. This can leave sauces, soups and stews lacking in the lovely creamy texture and taste you love. Coconut milk powder is low is carbs and can be used to bring the creamy milky texture and taste you want.

Coconut oil boosts immunity and regulate your metabolism

Coconut oil boosts immunity which is exactly what you need when you’re embarking on a new diet regime. This is due to the MCT in coconut oil, the main one of which is lauric acid, which is rich in antimicrobial properties. If you’ve ever started a new diet just to be plagued with your body complaining at getting out of its comfort zone by delivering a cold or infection, you’ll want to do anything you can to change that!

Coconut snacks are often keto-friendly snacks

Snacking on the keto diet can be complex because so many easy-to-reach-for snacks are carb based. Coconut oil snacks are often considerably lower carb options which can keep you going. 

We’ve got a veritable feast of coconut products that can help you embrace and love the keto diet. Take your pick, and know that you are giving yourself a keto boost.