Some Reservations About Coconut Oil

A new report released by the American Heart Association (AHA) has expressed some reservations over the use of coconut oil, especially when not taken in its natural state.

After 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 per cent of the fat in coconut oil is saturated, according to the data - far beyond butter (63 per cent), beef fat (50 per cent) and pork lard (39 per cent).

Saturated fats are considered unhealthy because they can raise ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, increasing heart disease risk. The AHA therefore recommended limiting saturated fats – which are found in butter, cheese, red meat and other animal-based foods.

Instead of eating foods high in saturated fats, the AHA recommended replacing them with better sources of healthier, unsaturated fats that are found in skinless poultry and oily fish, nuts and legumes, avocados, non-tropical vegetable oils such as olive oil and low-fat dairy products, canola oil, corn, sunflower, soy, and cottonseed oils.

Since the 1950s, it has been demonstrated that consumption of foods containing high amounts of saturated fatty acids is potentially less healthy than consuming fats with a lower proportion of saturated fatty acids. Frank Sacks, lead author on the report, said he has no idea why people think coconut oil is healthy.

It’s almost 100 per cent fat. Past weight loss studies might be responsible. Still, it might not be a bad idea to opt for vegetable oils or olive oil, Sacks said. Plus, coconut oil can still be an effective moisturiser or hair conditioner, adding, “You can put it on your body, but don’t put it in your body.” The AHA recommends eating no more than six per cent of saturated fat as part of total daily calories for those who need lower cholesterol.

Research dating to the 1950s has shown links between saturated fats and LDL cholesterol – which increases heart disease risk. LDL cholesterol is known as the ‘bad’ form of cholesterol because having high levels of it can lead to plaque build up in the arteries and result in heart disease and stroke.