Last week, the American Heart Association (AHA) released a report advising against the use of coconut oil. Turns out, coconut oil is not the health food people think it is
Despite being deemed as a healthier alternative to other oils, according to the study, coconut oil is just as unhealthy as beef drippings and butter. The study shows coconut oil has high levels of saturated fat and resulting in increased levels of bad cholesterol, a cause of cardiovascular disease.
“Because coconut oil increases LDL cholesterol, a cause of 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.
Frank Sacks, lead author on the report, mentioned he has no idea why people think coconut oil is healthy because it’s almost 100 percent fat.
Furthermore, the study shows that that coconut oil contains a whopping 82 percent saturated fat ― that’s significantly more than olive oil, which clocks in at 14 percent and canola oil, which has only 7 percent saturated fat.
So which cooking oil should you use? The American Heart Association advice is to go for unsaturated fats instead, such as canola oil, safflower oil, and corn oil. For a healthier heart, a diet high in plant foods, grass fed animal products that include saturated fat in the proper portions is the way to go.
But don’t toss away your coconut oil just yet. One thing for sure is that coconut oil is great for external use. “You can put it on your body, but don’t put it in your body,” Sacks.
Read also: Benefits of Using Coconut Oil in Your Beauty Routine
– Cover Image: theorganiclifeblog.com
