Coconut Oil and Soy Oil are both used as ‘cool & safe’ sources of concentrated energy and are fed for conditioning, coat shine and weight gain, or to supply extra energy in the diets of hard-working horses. Their similarities and differences are described as follows:
Coconut Oil is a highly stable tropical oil and is not prone to rancidity and maintains its nutrient status over long periods. Coconut oil contains mainly saturated fatty acids of short and medium chain length. These fatty acids are quickly metabolized and available for use as ready energy for high intensity work. Lauric acid (the main fatty acid in coconut oil) is also associated with having antiviral, antibacterial and immune-boosting properties.
Commercially available soy oils, produced from soybeans, are often highly refined and have usually been chemically extracted. Soy Oil is rich in long chain fatty acids and contains predominantly polyunsaturated fatty acids, making it prone to rancidity. Unfermented soy has been proven to have an adverse effect on the hormonal processes.
