Sugar is responsible for a lot of the ills that we face these days, from weight gain, to skin problems to diabetes. It damages teeth, it’s addictive and it spikes your blood sugar leading to a release of insulin. Problem is though… it also tastes really good and gives us that great boost of energy when we’re feeling low.

So kicking that sugar habit isn’t as easy as it should be. And as such, to do it effectively you need some kind of surrogate. That surrogate? Coconut oil.

What is Coconut Oil?

Coconut oil is… oil from coconut. That much is pretty obvious. What it also is though, is made from medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Medium-chain fatty acids are a type of fat that that get absorbed more rapidly by the body.

They head straight to the liver to stimulate the production of ketones (because they don’t require particular enzymes to be broken down) and are able to permeate cell membranes easily.Ketones are a different type of energy source (distinct from carbs) that’s preferred by the glial cells of the brain.

MCT oil is highly satiating, it encourages thermogenesis (study) and it gives you a sudden burst of energy.The best part of all this? The unique digestion prevents MCT oil from being stores as fat.

7 Ways to Use the Coconut and Coconut Oil

While coconut oil has many amazing benefits, a delicious taste and texture are not among them. Eat coconut oil off of a spoon and it will probably make you gag.

Here then are seven ways you can enjoy the coconut and coconut oil to get the full benefits…

1. Bulletproof Coffee

Bulletproof Coffee is a coffee recipe from Dave Asprey which includes coconut oil (or MCT oil straight) along with butter. Some people use it as a meal replacement for breakfast. You can find the full recipe from the official source here.

2. Coconut Water

Coconut water is reportedly three times more hydrating than regular water and it’s satiating.

3. Coconut Milk

You can also enjoy coconut milk on its own. It’s a little thicker and creamier, though it can be a little sour. An acquired taste but once you get used to it it’s comforting like ice cream.

4. Coconut Ice Cream

Speaking of which… why not make your own coconut ice cream? Just take some coconut cream and put it in the fridge. It will soften and in a few hours it will be like eating delicious coconut ice cream.

5. Coconut Smoothies

Okay, so there’s a lot of sugar in smoothies – but make a vegetable smoothie and add in some coconut oil with milk and you have something creamy, filling and energizing.

6. Rice Pudding

Just as you can make ice cream, so can you make rice pudding. Just heat some rice and put some coconut milk over it until it’s creamy. Add cinnamon to sweeten.

7. Use it to Cook

Finally, you can also use coconut oil to cook with – just like vegetable oil or sunflower oil. It’s more filling, more nutritious and less fattening!