At one time, coconut oil was a significant part of the American diet.  The food industry considered coconut oil to be a superior dietary oil for use in baking and food preparation.  Then came the information and studies regarding how unhealthy saturated fats are for you.  The emphasize lately has been on trans fats, not saturated fats.  There is a very small difference between fats and trans fats.  Actually trans is just a mirror image, so trans fats have the same molecules they are simply arranged in a mirror fashion.  It's amazing how much difference that can make.

South Pacific Island Study
However, a study done on the populations of two south pacific islands, both of which ate coconut as a dietary staple found that these people were relatively free of diseases such as obesity, and vascular disease.  Also, coconut oil is high in Omega 3 which has been repeatedly proven to improve both cognitive and vascular functioning.

Fats and Weight Loss
There is some research that has shown the secret to health and weight loss associated with coconut oil is related to the length of the fatty acid chains contained in coconut oil.  Coconut oil contains what are called medium chain fatty acids, or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs for short). These medium chain fatty acids are different from the more common longer chain fatty acids found in plant-based oils.  Most vegetable oils are composed of longer chain fatty acids, or triglycerides (LCTs).  LCTs are typically stored in the body as fat, while MCTs are burned for energy. MCTs burn up quickly in the body.
 
Anti-Infection Properties
Coconut oil is known to have anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties and has been used by some to kill yeast infections, such as Candida.  This oil has also been used as a moisturizer for both hair and skin and has been known to boost metabolism (contributing to weight loss) and increase energy levels.   I have seen testimonials that claim after using coconut oil, their blood pressure was reduced, or other medical conditions were responding to their use of this oil.

How to use Coconut Oil
There are many ways to use coconut oil in your diet. You can use it as if it were butter (on bread and potatoes or for sautéing, etc.), you can use it to pan fry (deep frying is not recommended because of its flash point) and you can use it instead of shortening when baking cakes, cookies or muffins.

For Optimal Results
Coconut oil is at its best when processing it kept to a minimum. Some coconut oils are bleached, deodorized or hydrogenated and often the coconut is fermented due to the coconut being chopped and then waiting for 10 hours or longer before the oil is pressed. If you buy coconut oil that is yellowish (rather than pure white), it is probably due to the oil being extracted from copra (dried coconut) rather than fresh coconut.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.