Is coconut oil actually unhealthy?
Health
Is coconut oil actually unhealthy?
Coconut oil has long been touted for its health and beauty benefits — some people use it for just about everything. From cooking and moisturizing, to teeth cleaning and anti-fungal cream, it seems like there’s nothing that coconut oil can’t be used for. Coconut oil’s popularity spike in the past few years has also brought a number of skeptics to the surface. Now, the American Heart Association (AHA) warns that this supposed miracle oil is not as healthy as many think. On Thursday, the AHA updated its advice surrounding saturated fat, which makes up 82 percent of the fat in coconut oil, instructing that saturated fat is known to raise “bad” cholesterol, which can be deposited on arterial walls and cause plaque buildup and blockages that lead to heart attacks and stroke.
Because coconut oil increases LDL cholesterol, a cause of CVD [cardiovascular disease], and has no known offsetting favorable effects, we advise against the use of coconut oil.
American Heart Association said in the Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease advisory
But before you throw away your coconut oil, keep in mind that it is important to maintain a diet of around 25 to 35 percent calories from fat in order to help the body absorb nutrients from other foods. Plus, people who cut saturated fat out of their diets might not necessarily lower their risk of heart disease, as many people instead fulfill their hunger with other empty calories like sugar and white flour, a 2015 study found. Dieticians and nutritionists agree that while coconut oil should not be overeaten, it may not need to be eliminated completely like the AHA suggests.
Over time, the benefits of using coconut oil have become overhyped. Over 80 percent of the fats in coconut oil are saturated fat. Although the composition of saturated fat in this plant oil is different than the saturated fat in an animal fat in red meat, according to science, it is still in fact saturated fat and should be worked into its recommended daily intake.
Beth Warren, MS, RD, CDN.
