Coconut oil isn't healthy.

[Nelson Vergel]

Thoughts? Comments?

The American Heart Association recently released a report advising against the use of coconut oil.

The Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease advisory reviewed existing data on saturated fat, showing coconut oil increased LDL ("bad") cholesterol in seven out of seven controlled trials. Researchers didn't see a difference between coconut oil and other oils high in saturated fat, like butter, beef fat and palm oil. In fact, 82% of the fat in coconut oil is saturated, according to the data — far beyond butter (63%), beef fat (50%) and pork lard (39%).

"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," the American Heart Association said in the Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease advisory.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...snt-healthy-its-never-been-healthy/402719001/

 

[Will Brink]

Coconut oil is so overrated it's not funny. Like most thins, in moderation (like a t spoon or less added to Bomb Proof Coffee) it's fine, but it has no magical effects on health, weight loss, etc. and should be factored in as saturated fat in peoples' cals/macros. Beyond that, nothing really to see here.

 

[SoCalSurfer]

I think coconut oil is the latest whipping boy. There has been so much flip-flopping on what's good for you and whats not good for you by all differents agencies it's crazy. Hey eggs use to be not good for you now they are bla bla bla. MODERATION is the key to all foods. But, I would say coconut oil is better for you than HFCS. I do my best to cut out HFCS out of my diet. If its going to have sugar then it better be cane sugar.

I use coconut oil for coffee (sometimes), cooking, I use coconut oil, olive oil etc. and my levels are just fine but then I am not eating a jar a week of the stuff.

 

[Leesto]

The American Heart Association is a failure. Their recommendations have not cured heart disease nor reduced the number of deaths from it. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in America and the incidence of it is not declining despite tens of thousands of doctors who are pushing the AHA recommendations on millions of patients. Most of those patients are trying diligently to follow the recommendations but they aren't being cured.

Personally I would do the opposite of what they recommend. THE AHA recommended diet isn't likely to cure you but it just might kill you.

 

[Ardoc]

It doesn't mention the particle size of the LDL or other cholesterol numbers?
Were these people eating an otherwise healthy diet? I'm sure just adding coconut oil (or any additional food/calories) to a typical, crappy modern diet would be detrimental. As Will said it's likely a mistake to think coconut oil has any special effects but it now seems pretty apparent that saturated fat has gotten a bad rap for many years.
If they replaced that coconut oil with additional carbohydrates, the LDL number may come down but I doubt it would be more healthy?

 

[Vince]

Coconut oil is unusually rich in lauric acid (a saturated fatty acid). This has been related to increases in HDL along with increases in LDL.

 

[Will Brink]

Coconut oil is unusually rich in lauric acid (a saturated fatty acid). This has been related to increases in HDL along with increases in LDL.

Human studies, which are both limited and short term, with coconut oil tend to find it raises total cholesterol, both LDL and HDL. I'm not aware of a study that looked deeper, eg, particle sizes and other known risk factors for CVD. Someone needs to do a large study looking at the variables and put this to rest.

 

[Saxon]

Seriously, do the opposite of what the American Heart Association recommends. They've been getting it wrong since their beginnings. It sounds jaded but what incentive do they have to assist the American public in reducing heart disease. That would be their end.

 

[madman]

More than 50% of the lcfas ( long chain fatty acids ) in coconut oil are mcts ( medium chain triglycerides ) which bypass the lymph system and are shuttled to the liver to burned for energy similar to carbohydrates. When one is dieting they can replace carbohydrates with mcts as an alternative quick energy source. Also as Vince stated coconut oil contains the highest percentage of lauric acid which has been shown in some studies to have health benefits. Heart disease is complex and many factors can contribute to poor function.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26545671
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5044790/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11160540
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4975867/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2772209/