Are you talking lasting energy? Presuming you are, this is a pretty easy one. Most of the fat in CO bypasses the chylomicron formation, is absorbed and metabolized in short order. In a way, the acetyl CoA and/or ketones the medium chain fatty acids produce are rather "glucose like". It is my understanding these are metabolized by the liver and the ketones (and perhaps Acetyl CoA) are transported to other tissues for energy. Butter, OTOH, contains far more long chain fatty acids. These take longer to digest, and are transported via chylomicrons in the bloodstream. A lot of these go into fat cells, but some are hydrolyzed off immediately and "fed" to the various cells of the body directly. Perhaps the fact that the muscle cells, and others, metabolize these directly for energy is the difference?

fat us is I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. Many report getting energy bursts from CO (I don't notice that), presumably b/c the shorter fatty acids are absorbed and metabolized faster. Plus the lauric acid in CO has some unique properties. Butter does have MCT's but not nearly as much as CO while containing more of those fats you think of when thinking "fat burning". Personally I don't "get" the CO-mania in paleo circles. Oil no more falls from coconut meat than sunflower seeds. – Evelyn aka CarbSane Jan 5 2012 at 12:31

For more Paleo Diet hacks: http://paleohacks.com/questions/87676/why-does-butter-give-me-energy-but-coconut-oil-doesnt#ixzz2RKNZbuUT Follow us: @PaleoHacks on Twitter | PaleoHacks on Facebook