This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other brands, I get a small commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost from you.
Have you heard of putting coconut oil in coffee? It’s pretty trendy among health-conscious people these days.
Doctors and nutritionists are praising the benefits of coconut oil, but they also stress that it can cause negative consequences.
And while some think it tastes like pure heaven, others say it tastes like paint thinner.
Anyways, I’m here to present information about this topic and the potential benefits and risks of putting coconut oil in your coffee.
It’s not just a fad, but it may just become a permanent addition to your daily coffee-drinking routine.
Can You Put Coconut Oil In Your Coffee?
Absolutely yes!
In fact, many coffee drinkers use coconut oil as a flavoring to enhance the taste of their coffee. It gives it a rich, creamy flavor that many people compare to pure heaven.
Some coffee shops even use it for this very purpose, and you can also buy your own coconut oil to put in your coffee.
You may not know this but there are tons of flavorings you can use in your coffee including coconut oil, stevia, cinnamon, chocolate, vanilla extract, and more!
Stick with organic coconut oil to get the health benefits without the harmful toxins contained in some brands. That means it should be cold-pressed and unrefined.
I personally love this organic coconut oil from Amazon.
How Much Coconut Oil Should I Put In My Coffee?
Here’s the deal: you can “pour” a tablespoon of coconut oil into your coffee – but I wouldn’t.
The amount of coconut oil you put in your cup of coffee will depend on how strong you like your coffee and also whether or not you want to make it creamier.
Some people feel the creaminess comes from having dairy products in their diet, so they use coconut milk instead.
The small amount of coconut oil I put in my coffee is enough to give it a coconutty taste. But if you put way too much, like putting half a cup of coconut oil, you may end up tasting like paint thinner.
And for this reason, I wouldn’t recommend putting more than 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in your coffee.
So, if you’re asking yourself “how much coconut oil should I put in my coffee”, now you know how much and why.
How To Use Coconut Oil In Coffee
Really, if you want to get the most out of this “addition” to your diet, I recommend only putting melted coconut oil in your coffee for one or two days.
And you should consume about 1 teaspoon of coconut oil daily. I’d say it tastes like heaven, but maybe paint thinner is more appropriate!
Here’s how to do it:
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil in Your Coffee
Aside from adding a tasty flavor to your coffee, there are many benefits of using coconut oil in your coffee. It has many health benefits that you may not have heard about before.
Here are some of the main health benefits of this superfood:
Antibacterial Benefits
Coconut oil has antibacterial properties that are far superior to hydrogenated oils. The antibacterial properties are based on its fatty acids.
Helps Prevent Heart Disease
Coconut oil and coconut milk and other foods are used as cooking ingredients, contain lauric acid (my favorite).
Lauric acid is an antimicrobial agent that helps prevent heart disease and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
Coconut oil offers one of the most complete fatty acid profiles known to date, with high levels of lauric acid (12–13%) and medium to high levels of caprylic acid (6–7%).
Lauric acid, caprylic acid, and capric acid, together with their derivatives (monolaurin and monocaprin), also have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and reduce the levels of cholesterol and fat in the blood.
The Amount of Fat Can Have a Huge Effect
According to studies, if you consume more fat, you’ll reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering triglyceride levels.
With this in mind, it’s no wonder that coconut oil is so popular for use in coffee! Coconut oil has many health benefits that may help you cut your risk of heart disease by up to 75%. This includes lowering triglycerides level.
Can Help Prevent Diabetes
Coconut oil may be beneficial in the prevention of diabetes. A study found that diabetics who ate coconut oil for just two weeks had improved blood sugar control after twenty-eight days.
Researchers say that this could be because of the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil, which are absorbed more quickly than other fatty acids and don’t require insulin to be broken down and used as fuel.
According to researchers, almost 90 percent of coconut oil is composed of medium-chain fatty acids.
The highest concentration is found in the midpoint of the MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) fraction: caprylic and lauric acid.
Coconut oil can help you lose weight
This is a result of the fact that coconut oil contains monounsaturated fats.
In another study, researchers suggested that dieters who consumed diets high in monounsaturated fat lost more weight than those who consumed diets high in saturated fat.
Improves Brain Function and Mood
Healthy fats in general can improve mood and brain function in older adults.
One study found that the consumption of saturated fat also improved performance on memory tests – and that this effect was enhanced when it was combined with fish oil.
Supports Thyroid Health
People who suffer from hypothyroidism should take note that coconut oil contains lauric acid, which supports healthy thyroid function.
Lauric acid is converted to monolaurin in your body, which helps keep your thyroid running smoothly. For people with hypothyroidism, it’s important to make sure you are consuming enough iodine in your diet.
Potential Risks of Using Coconut Oil In Coffee
First, there are some “health risks” associated with using coconut oil as a flavoring in your coffee.
For example, if you have an allergy to shellfish or eggs, eating coconut oil can cause an allergic reaction because many people are allergic to the “lauric acid” coconuts produce.
It can also mess with your cholesterol levels so if you have high cholesterol issues, it may not be the best choice for you.
I’ll put this in the “potential risks” section because it’s important to understand the many potential hidden dangers of coconut oil in coffee.
Some people are allergic to coconut oil and can even die after eating coconut oil.
There are others who have reactions when they consume too much coconut oil, which can lead to low blood sugar levels, confusion, dizziness, feeling faint, or things like that.
This is why I recommend using less than 2 tablespoons in your coffee at a time, especially if you take medications or supplements that affect blood sugar levels.
There’s also the risk of “disruption of gut flora,” which can lead to serious side effects.
Finally, it can make you feel like crap if you aren’t using high-quality coconut oil.
Studies have shown that 75 percent of the extra virgin olive oils sold in grocery stores are not what they claim to be.
And many other studies have found that most coconut oil brands are heavily processed and don’t have any health benefits at all!
So, I recommend buying a brand that has no added chemicals or preservatives, is non-GMO and is 100% pure.
Final Thoughts
Okay, have I convinced you to try to put coconut oil in coffee?
If you’re still reading this post, I’m sure you want to know the long (scientific) reasons why.
First, you can search all over the web for studies that prove that coconut oil is good for your health and there are tons of them. Like with everything, moderation is key.
Remember that using coconut oil in coffee should only be used to give a little kick, not alter the taste of your coffee in a huge way.
The main reason you are doing it is because of the health benefits.
And if you want to use it in place of creamer or heavy cream, remember that using coconut oil in coffee can cause your coffee to turn into this thick, non-pourable mess!
It’s not that big of a deal and just adds to the experience but just keep that in mind.
