Why Is Coconut Oil Unhealthy?

There are two sides of the fence on the subject of how healthy coconut oil is. Some people advocate it is good for you and can actually help you lose weight, while others argue the opposite. Just as with any other fat, the key may lie in using coconut oil in moderation.

Identification

Coconut oil comes from the white fruit of the coconut. It is a saturated fat that is used in cooking and also in bath and body products for its moisturizing qualities. The oil can be found in fractionated and virgin varieties. Fractionated coconut oil stays in liquid form at room temperature, whereas whole virgin coconut oil solidifies somewhat. Virgin coconut oil keeps some of the scent and flavor of the coconut, whereas fractionated oil has no scent or taste, writes Nerys Purchon, author of "The Essential Natural Health Bible."

Saturated Fat

The main negative for coconut oil is its saturated fat content. Katherine Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic nutritionist, says that coconut oil contains more saturated fat than both lard and butter. She expands that coconut oil has 117 calories and 13.6 g fat in 1 tbsp. The Nutrition Action Health Letter, a website journal from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, further explains that the 86 percent of this oil that is saturated may lead to high cholesterol. Zeratsky says that having a moderate amount of this oil in your diet is probably okay for your health, but the key is moderation.

Benefits

While coconut oil may be high in saturated fat, it also has arguable health benefits. Zeratsky explains that proponents believe coconut oil may actually increase metabolism, helping you lose weigh, and may help you eat less and improve thyroid function. It is argued that coconut oil contains a healthy fatty acid. Science Daily highlights research from 2009 showing that an extract from coconut oil may have antimicrobial qualities, leading to research into its use as a possible food preservative.

Expert Insight

A Kerala, South India, study published in the 1997 issue of the journal "Tropical Doctor" found that coconut oil did not seem to have significant negative effects on health, particularly when it came to coronary heart disease. The researchers reported high amounts of coronary heart disease despite the fact that the Indian diet was not high in fat. The one ingredient that did contain a lot of fat was coconut oil. However, while studying this possible connection, they found no link between coconut oil and an increased risk for coronary heart disease.

Considerations

While coconut oil may have some health benefits, overall, it is high in saturated fat and calories. For heart health, you should substitute other oils which are mono- and polyunsaturated fats for coconut oil. These include oils such as flax seed oil, olive oil and canola oil. These three oils are all rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have health benefits, including lowering cholesterol.