Sometimes, the internet can be a vast wealth of incredibly helpful knowledge that you’d never know how to live without. Other times, it can take one particular thing and make it such a big deal that you don’t think you could ever be without it — even if all the information out there isn’t exactly true. This happens all the time with food items and ingredients that are heralded as healthy superfoods. Their positive effects often get overblown online, until they seem way too good to be true… probably because they are.
Case in point: There’s a really trendy ingredient out there that is actually super bad for your heart. You’ve almost definitely used it at least once, and maybe you’ve been using it for, well, everything (it’s kind of seen as a miracle ingredient online). You should probably rethink that, though, because it doesn’t seem like it’s as great for us as everyone thought it was.
Which trendy ingredient are we talking about? Is it kale, quinoa, or the beloved cauliflower? Nope! None of the above.
Instead, the food item that is actually not good for your heart at all is… coconut oil.
Yes, it’s true. Coconut oil, which has been said to do everything from clear up your skin to help you lose weight to cleanse your entire body is actually maybe not so good for you after all.
This isn’t the first time this topic has been brought up. About a year ago, the American Heart Association revealed that coconut oil shouldn’t be considered a healthy alternative.
Researchers from The Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease advisory found there was no discernible difference between coconut oil and other oils high in saturated fats, like butter, beef fat, and palm oil. In fact, they found that coconut oil has even more saturated fat than butter and pork lard.
The AHA released their official statement on the matter, saying, “Because coconut oil increases LDL cholesterol, a cause of CVD [cardiovascular disease], and has no known offsetting favorable effects, we advise against the use of coconut oil.”
The announcement created some serious waves in the online health community, with many people continuing to defend coconut oil’s purported “health benefits.” It was a huge topic of discussion, and a year later, it remains one.
I use CO daily. First thing in the morning before I wake up to oil pull before brushing my teeth, eat it raw at least a tbs twice daily, use it on my face for moisturizer. I use it to cook. All it has done for me has drastically improved my health, energy and skin. Miracle oil!
— An Inspired Artist (@Guru_Vone) August 26, 2018
In August 2018, a Harvard professor continued the discussion after putting out a video calling coconut oil “pure poison.” Many didn’t know how to feel.
Sounds absurd.... People around the world have been consuming such natural oils for thousands of years and find it perfect for human consumption. Such researches are most likely paid ones with a specific target to support artificial and chemicalised products.
— Kiran Kumar Madan 🇮🇳 (@kirankrmadan) August 26, 2018
Karen Michels, the director of the Institute for Prevention and Tumor Epidemiology at the University of Freilburg, and a professor at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, was the one who delivered the lecture. Michels called coconut oil “pure poison” and added that it “is one of the worst foods you can eat.”
There are a few reasons for that, according to Michels. For one thing, there is no study showing significant health benefits tied to eating a lot of coconut oil. Michels also finds it more dangerous than lard because it is so packed with saturated fatty acids. These are known to clog the coronary arteries, leading to heart problems.
What Michels said is similar to what the AHA said: coconut oil has so much saturated fat that it can increase your cholesterol, which could put you at risk for heart issues. Dr. Robert Segal, cardiologist and founder of Manahattan Cardiology and co-founder of LabFinder, told ABC News, “Once you raise your LDL cholesterol, you put yourself at risk for heart disease. What some people don’t realize because instead of doing their research, they followed a health trend, is that coconut oil actually has more fat in it than lard or butter.”
There are many moms losing their minds right now over this.... pic.twitter.com/r0lP8hPvCo
— Lady Manfredi (@JessManfredi) August 26, 2018
So, does this mean you should avoid coconut oil forever? Should you throw out your entire stash?
Actually, the answer to both questions is no. You don’t have to eliminate coconut oil completely to stay healthy… you should just probably stop using it for everything, if you have been. Ginger Hultin, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and registered dietitian, told USA Today that a small amount of the oil shouldn’t hurt — and by that she means less than a tablespoon a day.
This means you shouldn’t be adding spoonfuls of coconut oil to your food or your smoothies. You shouldn’t be replacing something like olive oil with coconut oil, since it just doesn’t have the same health benefits. If you’re using it as a beauty treatment (like a hair mask), you’re probably fine.
Still, some researchers and doctors don’t think it’s as unhealthy as the AHA says. A lot of people continue to defend it.
everything in moderation! it's better than all the over-processed shit these days
— so much (for) salem (@forestrixx) August 26, 2018
Dr. Will Cole, a functional medicine practitioner, told Mind Body Green, “The studies the AHA cite do not link eating more coconut oil to heart disease, they link it to increasing cholesterol numbers. The reality is, total cholesterol is a poor predictor for assessing heart attack and stroke risk. Studies have found that there might be no association between high total cholesterol and heart attack and stroke risk.”
Even so, it’s pretty clear that the amount of saturated fat in coconut oil means it shouldn’t be consumed in excess every single day. The AHA says it’s worse than pork lard, and that’s pretty serious.
The best advice to follow? Everything in moderation. If you like coconut oil, keep eating it in small amounts and don’t overdo it. Most foods become bad for you when you eat too much of them. And if you suspect something is wrong or have questions, always go to your doctor.
This is probably always going to be a heated debate, but at least we know one thing: Coconut oil is not the answer for everything.
