“Is coconut oil healthy?” This is an all too common question that comes up, and one that has a lot of different answers available on social media accounts, blogs and between health professionals. With all these mixed messages it’s no wonder people are confused.
Here are the facts:
- Coconut oil contains around 90% saturated fatty acids (these quantities of saturated fats are huge compared to all other food sources).
- There is a wealth of research strongly associating saturated fats with raising ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, which in turn, increases the risk of plaque build up and heart disease.
- Unlike olive oil, for example, which is predominantly made up of monounsaturated fatty acids and backed by a large body of evidence supporting its health benefits, there is little evidence to support any health-promoting effects of coconut oil.
- The Australian Heart Foundation, The British Nutrition Foundation, The Australian Dietary Guidelines and The Dietitians Association of Australia all advise that due to its high saturated fatty acid content, coconut oil should be consumed only in small quantities. Instead suggesting that sources of unsaturated fatty acids are a better choice for everyday use.
Although tasty and scented like a tropical holiday, for now I would be using coconut oil only occasionally. Extra Virgin Olive Oil on the other hand has a lot of research to back up its heart health claims, and is my oil of choice. If you would like more information, a great systematic review of current research on coconut oil health effects was released by The British Nutrition Foundation this year.
Nutrition On Macquarie 