Is Coconut Oil Bad For Your Health?

Once marginalized on the basis of its saturated fat content, coconut oil has regained popularity in the healthy-eating community. Although it offers a range of health benefits, confusion still reigns over whether the oil should be considered a health food or not. Understanding the make-up of the oil and its effect can help answer this question.

Coconut Oil

Found growing on palm trees in tranquil and exotic locations across the world, coconuts contain a high oil content. Totaling 60 percent of the edible section of the fruit, the oil represents a highly concentrated source of saturated fats. Mary Enig Ph.D., a nutritional researcher and an adviser to the Weston A Price Foundation, notes that the concerns surrounding coconut oil relate to the saturated fat they contain.

Saturated Fat

Despite the high saturated fat content, Enig sees coconut oil as one of the healthiest fats on earth and notes that the oil stands out as the best source of medium-chain fatty acids. These natural compounds have a range of effects inside the body. Beyond this, she also questions the wisdom to restrict saturated fats in general. She points out that society's intake of saturated fats has dropped significantly since the 1970s, yet rates of obesity and heart disease have climbed.

Effects on Health

The medium-chain fats in coconut oil can help the immune system, especially in cases of chronic infection. Dr. Bruce Fife, an American physician and the author of "The Coconut Oil Miracle," notes how the medium-chain fatty acids can help eradicate a yeast infection. These compounds, especially caprylic acid, can diffuse into the cell membrane of troublesome yeast before dissolving to kill off the organism. The oil also contains polyphenols, antioxidants that can help inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol; this blocks the development of atherosclerosis on the inside of arteries.

Effects on Dieting

Researchers from New York's Columbia University looked into the fat-burning properties of the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil. In a 16-week study, they divided the volunteers into two groups; half received the medium-chain acids while the others received olive oil. The results, published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," showed that the first group lowered their total fat mass and recorded reductions in their average waist circumference.

Conclusion

While several decades of advice has centered around the reduction of saturated fats in our diets, there appears little justification in avoiding coconut oil. Far from an unhealthy food, the tropical fat demonstrates a variety of positive effects on both health and body composition, which makes it a useful addition for all.