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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: 2) by takyon on Thursday January 03 2019, @03:55AM (2 children)
What's wrong with MSG? Or salt for that matter? It's only bad if it causes you to eat too much of the food, and you can stop yourself from doing so with willpower and/or planning. Sugar is something that actually contains calories (and is added to many processed foods where it may not be expected, such as spaghetti sauce).
I buy and use pure MSG crystals (2 lbs is about $7-9 at Costco or Sam's Club). If I add it to a bowl of soup, does it make it less healthy? The evidence points to no (it is generally recognized as safe and "Chinese restaurant syndrome" is probably caused by something else or nothing at all). MSG might even cause people to eat less, and for people with a salt issue, it contains less sodium than NaCl.
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(Score: 2, Insightful) by khallow on Thursday January 03 2019, @04:08AM (1 child)
I'd say a fair number of people need help with the willpower and planning.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Thursday January 03 2019, @07:26AM
"I'd say a fair number of people need help with the willpower and planning."
Plus 2 insightful. I agree with that, but that I would say, "most [people need help with willpower and planning (or vica versa).
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--