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Is Coconut Oil All It's Cracked Up To Be? Get The Facts On This Faddish Fat
In the past few years, coconut oil has been called a superfood that can help you blast belly fat and raise your good cholesterol. The sweet and nutty trendsetter has been featured in many cookbooks as a substitute for olive or canola oil — and it can cost a bundle at the store.
A recent survey found that 72 percent of Americans say coconut oil is a "healthy food," but many nutrition experts aren't convinced.
The problem is that coconut oil contains a lot of saturated fat — the kind that is a big risk factor for heart disease, which kills more than 17 million people a year worldwide.
[...] So why does the idea that coconut oil is somehow good for us persist? No one is really sure.
"Why things like coconut oil somehow slipped under the radar is a little bit unclear, but it's not consistent with any of the recommendations that have occurred over the past 30, 40, 50 years," says Lichtenstein.
While some research has linked the main type of saturated fatty acid in coconut oil — lauric acid — to increased levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol, it still raises LDL cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol, she notes in the advisory, citing multiple studies.
And while enthusiasts point out that coconut oil is rich in antioxidants, there is little evidence that once the oil is refined, which is how most of us buy it in the store, those properties are retained.
[...] But don't think of coconut oil as a health elixir. And remember that when it comes to good nutrition, including fats, it's all about balance, Lichtenstein says. And there's more solid evidence behind the healthfulness of other plant-based oils such as extra virgin olive oil.
With the rise in popularity of low-carb diets embracing more fat in recent years, it's no wonder consumers are confused about which fats are best. And most oils contain more than one variety of fat. Iowa State University has a handy chart to help you compare the percentages of fats found in common oils.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 02 2019, @08:37PM (6 children)
For the dairy intolerant it is needed. Also works well with chocolate
Again any used must be balanced. For meat dishes other than Thai I do not use it since there is flavor added.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday January 02 2019, @08:43PM (5 children)
I read something at one point about Coconut oil being rich in medium chain fatty acids and all their supposed benefits while simultaneously dismissing the saturated fat concerns raised in the above article... something like this:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/22/coconut-oil-and-saturated-fats-can-make-you-healthy.aspx [mercola.com]
The real truth is out there, but nearly impossible to determine given the available sources of information.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 02 2019, @08:48PM
Citing mercola? Yeah, you fucked up.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DrkShadow on Thursday January 03 2019, @02:23AM (3 children)
Here's a truth I've seen time and time again:
If it's natural, it's either good for you or just fine to eat. (Despite eggs being very high in cholesterol, eating LOTS of eggs does not raise your cholesterol. People in the threads below attest to the _reasons_ why coconut oil can be much, much better than the alternatives.)
If it's processed or has added sugars, it's BAD for you to eat. (French fries, despite being mostly potato; processed oils; processed meats; fried brussel sprouts; nearly anything that comes out of a box or a freezer; etc.)
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday January 03 2019, @03:11AM (1 child)
Acrylamides.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by khallow on Thursday January 03 2019, @03:37AM
(Score: 3, Informative) by PiMuNu on Thursday January 03 2019, @12:00PM
Except for all of the "natural" things that are toxic. As long as you don't eat those then mod +5 insightful.