Cocos nucifera is a large palm, growing up to 30 m (98 ft) tall, old leaves break away cleanly, leaving the trunk smooth. Coconut oil is high in healthy saturated fats that have different effects than most other fats in your diet. These fats can boost fat burning and provide your body and brain with quick energy. They also raise the good HDL cholesterol in your blood, which is linked to reduced heart disease risk. Given the proper care and growing conditions, coconut palms produce their first fruit in 4 years, but take 15 to 20 years to reach peak production.