You might have heard people harping on about virgin coconut oil of late.

But if you've not had the 'miracle coconut oil' lecture off any of your gym-loving pals yet, then you'd better pull up a chair. This stuff is legit. If you're not using it as part of your diet, then go out there right now and buy as much as you can. Why? It basically does everything. It's one of the healthiest foods on the planet. It gives your brain energy, helps with Alzheimer's, reduces inflammation and arthritis, boosts energy and endurance, and gives you great skin. Oh, and did we mention it's absolutely dynamite for weight loss and fat burning? If you're trying to get in six-pack-shape or just shed some of that excess belly fat, then this could be your secret weapon. Virgin coconut oil is different from other fats - it is made up of Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs). They are metabolised differently than LCFAs (Long Chain Fatty Acids) and go straight to the liver where they are turned into energy - and therefore less likely to be stored as body fat. This is a major reason coconut oil boosts your metabolism - because it's easier to turn into fuel than other fat sources. Dr Josh Axe says it takes just three steps to transform the oil into energy, as opposed to 26 steps from other sources. Studies show that just one to two tablespoons a day of coconut oil can increase the number of calories burned by 120 a day. That's 840 every week. This thermogenic effect can last for 24-hours - and experts say that it can triple your metabolism compared to other, long-chain fats, according to Bodybuilding.com. So it is both a great source of energy and also a great way of burning off your stored body fat. But the best news for your abs is that regularly eating coconut oil is proven to reduce your waistline. Long-term use is shown to help get rid of dangerous abdominal fat - the kind that causes things like diabetes - and also covers up those abs. The one thing to remember is always buy 'pure' or 'virgin' coconut oil that is unrefined. You can pretty much do anything with it too - blend it into your morning coffee, stick a few tablespoons in a shake or smoothie, fry things in it or even spread it on toast. In fact, it's probably the best choice of oil to fry with, because the high smoke point means it's stable and less likely to oxidise and also lose nutrients. More and more supermarkets are stocking it now and the price is coming down. Start adding it to your diet and your abs will thank you for it.