Because it releases fatty acids (which are acidic) on digestion, coconut oil may appear to be acid-forming, rather than alkaline-forming. But due to the way our body utilizes the fatty acids, coconut oil may not produce much acid ash at the end of the day. Why?
As you probably already know, coconut oil carries 50 – 64% medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). The rest are long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs).
As MCFAs are great energy source, our body preferably converts most of them into energy almost as immediately as carbohydrate. In the event of energy conversion, our metabolism gets elevated.
What happens to the fatty acids (LCFAs + some MCFAs) from coconut oil that are not converted to energy?
They'll help to neutralize free radical activities that could have caused severe oxidative damage to our tissues. Since they're antimicrobials, they can also fight off harmful viruses, bacteria, yeast and other pathogens lurking inside our body.
In case a small number of fatty acids are not in use, our body will shove them into fat cells. Fatty acids are good energy reserve.
In view of what I just said, I don't think coconut oil is acid-forming. Even if it does practically produce acid ash in the metabolic processes, the ash might just be negligible.
However, it's worth noting that the beneficial effect of coconut oil can bring about a surge in acidity in one aspect while a so-called alkalizing effect in another.
Like in the massive elimination of pathogenic microbes by the fatty acids from coconut oil. These microbes will produce toxins when they die. And toxins are highly acidic. Such a sudden increase of acidity in your body can trigger discomforts such as nausea, dizziness, headache and flatulence etc.
On the other hand, coconut oil's fatty acids can help ease constipation. When the stubborn toxic waste are removed from your gut, your body will become less acidic.
That's not all. A decline in oxidative damage to your tissues will make your body less acidic too. What's more, the boost in your metabolism by coconut oil can help fix and heal damaged tissues fast. Metabolism-boosting from coconut oil aids in weight loss too.
All these positive effects will make your body function better and able to purge excess acidic components or acid ash with ease. In a way, you can say that coconut oil helps to alkalize your body even though it is not alkaline-forming in itself.