antioxidant effect of coconut oil

Coconut oil is 94% saturated fatty acid, which i sure to raise your "bad" LDL cholesterol.  It has the same amount of calories as any other fat (9Kcal/gram).   With an inflammation factor of -1798, it is highly inflammatory. Will you raise your metabolism by eating it? Sure, since the thermal effect of digesting food is about 10% of the calories you eat, a 120 cal. tablspoon of oil will theorically raise your "burning machine" by 12 calories.  Whether you will burn or store the remaining 108 calories in that tablespoon depends on your total activity.  If you're an athlete, go ahead.  If you're a couch potato, I'd say don't do it.

As for antioxidants, coumaric acid of virgin coconut oil seems to have higher antioxidant effect than refined coconut oil, palm oil, or copra oil. If you're going to chose coconut oil, definitely go "virgin." But the antioxidant advantage of virgin coconut oil over virgin olive oil is still to be proven.

I know it's a big topic out-there, and claims that virgin coconut oil are the new "miracle food" abound.  But, the scientific journals are not supporting those claims.  

As for the antioxidants, rather choose a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, eat fish twice a week (omega 3) and healthy polyunsaturated oils (olive, safflower).  AND.... don't FRY your oils: this changes the chemical composition that turns your oils into oxidants!

In the words of the American Heart Association