why do people say coconut oil is bad for you?

samco66
samco66 Posts: 126 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So, i have about 1 tbs is coconut oil in my coffee every morning. Now, i keep hearing / reading people say it’s not that good for you since it is high in fat. Coconut oil is made of MCFA (medium chain fatty acid) therefore instead of the fat being stored, it is used immediately. So why are people saying its bad for you, am i missing something? if there is something im missing i would like to know, i don't want to be eating something that is bad for me. Im open to learning new things, so please no rude answers calling me an idiot ( i have seen it on here) im asking a question, not saying i am right.

i know some kinds are not the best for you, i eat Artisana's extra virgin 100% raw coconut oil
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Replies

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,217 Member
    Ironically I hear the opposite.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    What people?
  • samco66
    samco66 Posts: 126 Member
    What people?


    People online. When i was researching it i found a lot of good and bad things about it so i wasn’t' sure. i like to get answers from a lot of different places. i don't just trust one person or website and assume they are right. so i wanted more opinions about it.
  • SofaKingRad_II
    SofaKingRad_II Posts: 591
    I've never heard this.
  • AmykinsCatfood
    AmykinsCatfood Posts: 599 Member
    I eat it almost every day. It's a great source of good fats. It's high in saturated fats which is why people say it is bad for you, but they don't realize that some forms of saturated fats are good for you.
  • MakePeasNotWar
    MakePeasNotWar Posts: 1,329 Member
    I'm not an expert either, but I generally avoid saturated fats. I use coconut oil sometimes to replace butter (which is already saturated) but generally I go for liquid oils when I can.

    I have seen some references to studies on the benefits of coconut oil but I am not convinced yet. Some of it looks promising but I still worry about the saturated fat. I may change my mind in future but for now I am not sure the benefits outweigh the risks, as I currently understand them (and my understanding is far from complete)
  • SofaKingRad_II
    SofaKingRad_II Posts: 591
    What people?


    People online.

    That's why. It's the internet.
  • Julene64
    Julene64 Posts: 63 Member
    Organic virgin cold pressed coconut oil is one of the most healthful fats you can eat. One of its many benefits is it can actually increase your metabolism. Tropicaltraditions.com has a lot of info on their website about the benefits of coconut oil. In no way is it an unhealthy fat. :)
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    What people?


    People online.

    That's why. It's the internet.

    dont-believe-everything-you-see-on-the-internet.jpeg
  • starrylioness
    starrylioness Posts: 543 Member
    Weird. I've always heard the exact opposite, that it's better for you.
  • jbc43221
    jbc43221 Posts: 39 Member
    Bonjour
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • oroblar
    oroblar Posts: 68 Member
    Coconut oil is really good for you. My wife uses it for so many different things. We cook with it, use it as a stomach soother, moisturizer, etc. The stuff is great as long as you are getting the natural stuff. I strongly suggest doing a quick search for all the uses and take advantage of it.
  • samco66
    samco66 Posts: 126 Member
    What people?


    People online.

    That's why. It's the internet.

    dont-believe-everything-you-see-on-the-internet.jpeg


    and THATS why i am asking. Not everyone thinks coconnut oil is healthy enough to eat, thats why i am asking this.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    I've only heard that it is good fat, and good for you. I have never heard that it wasn't. So, I don't know.

    When you do research on something like this, use credible sources, not what someone says on yahoo chat forums.

    So, here's some very interesting information...this is why I love science over just people blabbing: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-and-health

    This.
  • samco66
    samco66 Posts: 126 Member
    I've only heard that it is good fat, and good for you. I have never heard that it wasn't. So, I don't know.

    When you do research on something like this, use credible sources, not what someone says on yahoo chat forums.

    So, here's some very interesting information...this is why I love science over just people blabbing: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-and-health

    thanks for the info!!! :)
  • Hadabetter
    Hadabetter Posts: 942 Member
    Diets high in saturated fats are associated with an increase in heart disease. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, and I'm not sure we're at a point yet where we can say with certainty that coconut oil is somehow, a healthy saturated fat. Plus, Dr Oz likes it, so I tend to be more skeptical of it.

    I wouldn't stress too much about eating though. There are plenty worse foods...like trans-fat.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,217 Member
    Diets high in saturated fats are associated with an increase in heart disease. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, and I'm not sure we're at a point yet where we can say with certainty that coconut oil is somehow, a healthy saturated fat. Plus, Dr Oz likes it, so I tend to be more skeptical of it.

    I wouldn't stress too much about eating though. There are plenty worse foods...like trans-fat.
    Possibly look at data that isn't biased and a half century old.
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Domestic seed oil lobby.
  • DatMurse
    DatMurse Posts: 1,501 Member
    I never heard of anyone claiming it to be unhealthy. coconut oil is an MCT that has a higher thermogenic effect than normal fat. Only 7cals per gram vs the normal 9g per gram. It has a higher mobilization than normal fat.
    I'm not an expert either, but I generally avoid saturated fats. I use coconut oil sometimes to replace butter (which is already saturated) but generally I go for liquid oils when I can.

    I have seen some references to studies on the benefits of coconut oil but I am not convinced yet. Some of it looks promising but I still worry about the saturated fat. I may change my mind in future but for now I am not sure the benefits outweigh the risks, as I currently understand them (and my understanding is far from complete)
    Read this article to the re-analysis of saturated fat study.
    http://group.bmj.com/group/media/latest-news/study-raises-questions-about-dietary-fats-and-heart-disease-guidance
  • AmykinsCatfood
    AmykinsCatfood Posts: 599 Member
    Diets high in saturated fats are associated with an increase in heart disease. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, and I'm not sure we're at a point yet where we can say with certainty that coconut oil is somehow, a healthy saturated fat. Plus, Dr Oz likes it, so I tend to be more skeptical of it.

    I wouldn't stress too much about eating though. There are plenty worse foods...like trans-fat.

    You might not be able to say it with confidence, but the scientists can.
  • ljw5021
    ljw5021 Posts: 48 Member
    Don't listen to them - coconut oil is a superfood.
  • DatMurse
    DatMurse Posts: 1,501 Member
    Diets high in saturated fats are associated with an increase in heart disease. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, and I'm not sure we're at a point yet where we can say with certainty that coconut oil is somehow, a healthy saturated fat. Plus, Dr Oz likes it, so I tend to be more skeptical of it.

    I wouldn't stress too much about eating though. There are plenty worse foods...like trans-fat.
    There is no evidence that saturated fat is associated with heart disease
  • MakePeasNotWar
    MakePeasNotWar Posts: 1,329 Member
    I've only heard that it is good fat, and good for you. I have never heard that it wasn't. So, I don't know.

    When you do research on something like this, use credible sources, not what someone says on yahoo chat forums.

    So, here's some very interesting information...this is why I love science over just people blabbing: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-and-health

    I read that article and it didn't seem to me to unequivocally support coconut oil at all. How do you use this link to justify that "science" says coconut oil is good and anyone who disagrees is just "people blabbing"

    Directly from the article:

    "Coconut oil, according to recent reports, is the latest food cure-all. Claims abound that coconut oil is a health food that can cure everything from poor immune function, thyroid disease, and heart disease, to obesity, cancer, and HIV.

    So should you stock up on coconut oil? Not so fast.

    The evidence that coconut oil is super-healthful is not convincing and these claims appear to be more testimonials than clinical evidence.

    There is very limited evidence on disease outcomes, says Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, of Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health. "All that has been studied well is the impact of coconut oil on cholesterol levels and the findings are intriguing but we still don't know if it is harmful or beneficial," Mozaffarian says.

    Neither the American Heart Association (AHA) nor the U.S. government's 2010 Dietary Guidelines suggest that coconut oil is any better or preferable over other saturated fats. Coconut oil, like all saturated fats, should be limited to 7%-10% of calories because it can increase risk for heart disease, according to the AHA and 2010 Dietary Guidelines."

    and

    ""Coconut oil is better than butter and trans fats but not as good as liquid vegetable oils," says Penn State University cardiovascular nutrition researcher Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD.

    Mozaffarian agrees that coconut oil is better than partially hydrogenated trans fats and possibly animal fats.

    "But even though coconut oil is cholesterol-free, it is still a saturated fat that needs to be limited in the diet and if you are looking for real health benefits, switch from saturated fats to unsaturated fats by using vegetable oils like soybean, canola, corn, or olive oil," says Kris-Etherton, a member of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines advisory committee and Institute of Medicine's panel on dietary reference intakes for macronutrients (which include fats).

    So the AHA is just blabbing on the internet?

    BTW I'm not necessarily arguing against your position on coconut oil, just your logic. "Science" is far from decided on this. Maybe it will turn out to be a superfood, but the debate is far from settled.
  • lilbearzmom
    lilbearzmom Posts: 600 Member
    I love coconut oil. I have only heard of the benefits. I use it now instead of butter. As with anything, it's moderation. Spreading two inches of it onto your biscuit probably isn't going to be good for you. I measure mine out carefully. Enjoy it- it's yummy and fabulous!
  • CassandraBurgos83
    CassandraBurgos83 Posts: 544 Member
    I use it for the opposite, I use it for all of the benefits. There may be 1 or 2 bad effects, but skrew it and use it for the other 50 plus positive benefits!
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    Considering how far we've come technologically, it's amazing what we don't know about nutrition. Unfortunately, like with many foods, you have people saying it will kill you and people saying it will save your life. The truth is doubtless somewhere in between but I really think for a lot of things we just don't know. 1 T a day doesn't seem like too much so if you feel good and your bloodwork is good, I see no reason to stop using it.
  • krokador
    krokador Posts: 1,794 Member
    Wait, that study is saying canola oil is good for you? O_o

    Seriously, as with everything, take with a grain of salt. All things in moderation (fats included. Seriously. They're not the enemy). There will always be people trying to prove opposites all over the place. If it works for you and you're not getting any adverse effects, I really don't see why a study would change your point of view.
  • MrsBingley
    MrsBingley Posts: 145
    What I want to know is, does it taste good in your coffee?

    My mom uses it, but to be fair, she jumps on most bandwagons.

    People have been eating coconut and it's oil forever, so I'm going to assume it is not harmful in regular doses at least :) I have not looked into the research personally.
  • gmthisfeller
    gmthisfeller Posts: 779 Member
    I've only heard that it is good fat, and good for you. I have never heard that it wasn't. So, I don't know.

    When you do research on something like this, use credible sources, not what someone says on yahoo chat forums.

    So, here's some very interesting information...this is why I love science over just people blabbing: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-and-health

    +1

    "Enjoy coconut oil if it is your preference but do so in moderation until further research indicates it is better than other saturated fats."

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