Why is coconut oil a liquid instead of a solid?
Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which are an easy fuel for the body to burn, without turning to fat. Most other cooking oils and fats contain long-chain triglycerides (LCT). LCT’s are usually stored as fat. Since coconut oil is a MCT, it is more easily absorbed and converted to energy quicker. Coconut oil is unique in the fact that it is liquid at room temperature, which is beneficial because once it’s absorbed into the body it doesn’t harden and cause all kinds of heart and health problems. Though it is considered a saturated fat, coconut oil is a different structure from the notorious saturated animal fats, and even offers benefits not available in the longer chained plant oils.
