Intermittent Fasting and The Million Dollar Question: Does Coconut Oil Break a Fast?

Key Takeaways

• Intermittent fasting is a method of weight management that primarily uses a timetable instead of calorie counting to control your calorie intake.
• Does coconut oil break a fast? The answer depends on when you consume it and how much you use.
• You can add small amounts of coconut oil to beverages to prevent breaking your fast while managing your hunger.
• Using too much, however, will break your fast and mitigate the benefits of intermittent fasting.

Coconut Oil Fasting

As we learn more about diet and nutrition, new eating regimens and recommendations constantly emerge to address different lifestyles and health concerns. A popular method of controlling blood sugar spikes and burning fat is called intermittent fasting.

So what is intermittent fasting? Does coconut oil break a fast? What’s the best time to take MCT oil while intermittent fasting? Find answers to these questions and more with this overview from Wildly Organic.

What Is Intermittent Fasting?

Most popular diets emphasize which foods you should or should not eat. Intermittent fasting, however, prioritizes when you should eat instead of what you should eat. Fast participants eat only during designated timeframes, abstaining from any caloric intake outside those timeframes. 

Intermittent fasting has become an increasingly popular weight loss or weight-management strategy, and for good reason. Human bodies are hardwired from millennia of evolution to go without food for hours, even days in extreme cases. Intermittent fasting works by extending the period of time between meals by a few hours. As a result, your body begins to burn stored fat rather than work off the calories consumed in your last meal. 

To put it simply, intermittent fasting is not a diet. It’s an eating pattern that rotates between eating and fasting. While certain foods break your fast, others are allowed during the fasted time period. So does coconut oil break a fast? Explore a few intermittent fasting plans to learn more about coconut oil and fasting.

*Pro-tip: Do not go days without food; our bodies need sustenance to thrive. Avoiding food consumption is unhealthy and not a sustainable weight loss option.

Intermittent Fasting Plans

There are several approaches to consider when deciding the right plan for you. Fasting plans vary depending on the duration of fasting. The most popular and easiest to adhere to are daily plans, the five-to-two plan, or the alternate-day fasting plan. 

Daily Plans

Daily plans restrict eating to one specific time block per day. This usually breaks down into 16 hours of fasting followed by an 8-hour period during which normal eating resumes. Time blocks can vary up to an even split (12 hours eating, 12 hours fasting) and still be effective. 

5:2 Plans

Alternatively, the 5:2 plan may be the right fit for you. This strategy involves no restrictive eating for five days per week, but limits your daily intake to between 500 and 600 calories on the remaining two days. 

Alternating Days

The alternate-day fasting plan is similar to the 5:2 plan in that it requires a complete (zero-calorie) or partially complete (500-600 calorie) fast every other day. You resume normal eating during the in-between days. 

Most people agree that the most difficult part of sticking with intermittent fasting is deterring hunger. Experts recommend choosing an approach that best aligns with your existing schedule, making the adjustment easier and more likely to stick.

Now it’s time to learn if coconut oil during fasting is allowed.

Breaking Your Fast

Now that you understand what intermittent fasting is and how it works, it’s time to answer the question, “Does coconut oil break a fast”? To find the answer to this question, you first need to know the nutritional value of coconut oil.

Coconut oil, virgin or refined, is pretty far off from being calorie-free. Even small amounts are high in caloric content. One tablespoon of coconut oil clocks in at roughly 120 calories and approximately 13.5 grams of fat, 11.2 of which are saturated. From a strictly calorie point of view, the answer is simple: coconut oil does break a fast. 

Fortunately, consuming coconut oil and fasting do not negate the benefits of intermittent fasting. If you choose to do coconut oil fasting, be sure to use a small amount to stick to the fast as closely as possible. 

Using Coconut Oil During Fasting on a Daily Plan

Depending on the fasting approach you chose, you can use coconut oil during fasting. Now that you know the answer to does coconut oil break a fast, should you do it?

If a daily fasting plan is the right choice for you, try to avoid breaking your fast. Zero calories is the most important rule. Remember, you already have the answer to the question: Will coconut oil break a fast? Food consumption during the zero-calorie fasting period, including oils, technically will break your fast. Stick to non-caloric drinks during your fasting period. However, during your normal eating time block, feel free to incorporate coconut oil into your diet. 

Coconut oil is a great alternative ingredient for essentially any recipe. It has a ton of benefits and is a great vegan substitute for butter and other cooking oils. An added bonus, coconut oil is diet-friendly. It works well as part of popular lifestyles and diet trends, such as veganism, paleo, or the keto diet.

A great way to introduce coconut oil fasting is by adding it to non-caloric drinks like tea or black coffee. Thanks to the high caffeine content, coffee is thought to be a natural appetite suppressant. Adding a bit of organic oil to your coffee can help manage your weight overall and prevent hunger while fasting. Using natural coconut oil and fasting together works when consumed in very small amounts.

Using Coconut Oil and Fasting on Alternate Day Plans

If you are an avid coconut oil user and adjusting your daily intake doesn’t work for your routine, fear not. Both the Alternate-Day fasting and the 5:2 plans allow room for low-calorie intake, even during the fasting phases. This means that the answer to does coconut oil break a fast is no, as long as you follow plans that allow for partial fasts.

Coconut oils are largely made up of Medium Chain Triglycerides or MCTs. These are a form of saturated fats that are absorbed by the body differently than other fats. MCTs are quickly converted into a source of energy. Research suggests that because of their fast-acting absorption, MCTs may help your body burn fat by increasing the rate at which you burn calories. MCTs may also help reduce hunger because they are not stored in the body like other fats. Regular use of coconut oil during fasting may help you extend the time between meals. 

Intermittent Fasting and Coconut Oil

Intermittent fasting is a lifestyle modification that can help manage weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Coconut oil is a versatile, beneficial oil that, when used regularly, can help to support fasting. Now that you know the answer to the question “Does coconut oil break a fast,” you know how to incorporate it better in your life.

Consider enhancing your coconut oil fasting methods when you shop the premium products at Wildly Organic. In addition to answering questions, like does oil pulling break intermittent fasting, we offer high-quality, organic solutions to a variety of lifestyle needs! Browse our blog for more guides and check out our organic store for healthy essentials.

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