why do people say coconut oil is bad for you?

2

Replies

  • lorivega
    lorivega Posts: 2 Member
    Everything in moderation. I say if you like it and you aren't over doing it then keep using it for your coffee. I have yet to try cooking with coconut oil but I've been curious to see how it would tastebecause I don't like using butter.
  • samco66
    samco66 Posts: 126 Member
    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.

    i can barley taste it in my coffee, i drink plain balck coffee and i like the slight taste it does give
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,207 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.
    The basic problem with these assertions is the basic belief that cholesterol and saturated fat is and has been a major factor in heart disease.....they basically use that as their cornerstone for their stance. Of course we would need to see the studies that they use as that cornerstone and show the direct causation that they belief to be true.......so far there aren't any studies that show causation.........unless you can direct us to some.
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  • jorge_007
    jorge_007 Posts: 70 Member
    It's one of the better oils to cook with because it doesn't denature as easily due to its high heat threshold as compared to other oils such as olive, soy, corn, etc.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Ironically I hear the opposite.

    This ^^ Many MFP posts make it sound more necessary than bad. It is neither.
  • missADS1981
    missADS1981 Posts: 364 Member
    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

    because they don't research and know the facts.
    extra virgin though is the way to go, there is a difference between extra virgin coconut oil and just regular.
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
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    I have never heard anyone say this about coconut oil.
  • 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.

    You didn't read what I said. I said I rely on research. The first part was my opinion, the second part was science. The first page of the article states that they don't really know if it's healthy or not. They also go on to say that in general, liquid oils are better for you, as they understand right now.

    So, it's inconclusive, for the most part. I would go with that over people's opinions.

    Wow, I really didn't mean to upset you so much. Maybe I misunderstood your first post - you seemed to be implying that medical science was endorsing coconut oil and anyone who didn't agree was just an internet tin-hat who didn't know anything.

    I sincerely apologize if I misread you. I wasn't trying to be snarky (though I admit I was a bit miffed by what I thought you meant, so I may have come off more aggressive than I intended to.) The funny thing is, I was actually trying to say what you just said - that the matter isn't settled, so people really can't say that science supports them, and disproves everyone else.

    Again, sorry if it came off harsh.
  • emilyisbonkers
    emilyisbonkers Posts: 373 Member
    hey id carry on with the coconut oil.. its great for skin and hair too
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    Palm oil is what it's all about people. Everything tastes amazing when I cook with it.
  • nytrifisoul
    nytrifisoul Posts: 499 Member
    regardless if its good or bad for you, why do you put it in your coffee? I mean would it not be better to use coconut milk instead? Just not understanding why you would want to add fat in coffee.
  • NeverCatchYourBreath
    NeverCatchYourBreath Posts: 197 Member
    Some people say that because it is saturated fat as opposed to unsaturated. Just one of those things where people believe if it's saturated fat that it's bad and should never be eaten.

    Why do you put it in your coffee?
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  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    It's a spoonful of pure fat. Whether it's "good" or "bad" for you depends on the context of the rest of your diet.
  • sugaspice999
    sugaspice999 Posts: 164
    People keep saying coconut oil is saturated fat and saturated fat is like the devil. Its trans fat that's bad, we all need some sat fat in daily intake just like mono/polyunsat.

    Just confusion and thinking that fat you eat turns into body fat I guess (which isn't true btw)
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Back in the late 90's and early 2000 when I was going through school it was touted as a "bad" saturated fat along with palm oil. This was just the infancy of the research on transfat, so it was still focused on all things sat fat. They were saying since it was found in so many processed foods that it was possibly a cause in heart disease.

    Now you have everyone on the coconut oil is good for you bandwagon. While I do agree there are some beneficial properties, I dont think it is the panacea that everyone is claiming now, and there continues to need to be more research. It's just another form of fat that when included in a varied, moderate diet can "possibly" show improvement in cardiovascular health.

    So what is the lesson for us all to learn here?

    There is no such thing as bad food...and repeat...
  • sugaspice999
    sugaspice999 Posts: 164
    Exactly ^^^^

    And reminds me of the whole agave nectar obsession/fad. Now I'm hearing not to use it, sub with coconut sugar?

    ALSO how we were supposed to avoid butter and sub with margarine? Now I'm hearing to avoid margarine and USE butter/ghee. Its supposed to actually be good you.

    A little bit of everything (UNPROCESSED/NON-GMO) seems to be the best idea (for fats/sweeteners) because you can get the benefits of all of them. (e.g. molasses, stevia, coconut sugar, agave, dates, dried fruits, coconut/almond/grapeseed/olive oil, ghee etc)
  • MrsFowler1069
    MrsFowler1069 Posts: 657 Member
    All oils are high in fat. That's a given.

    Coconut oil first got a bad rap during the movie popcorn drama during the 90's. The coconut oil used in the popcorn's "buttery topping" was often partially hydrogenated, which results in transfats.

    Regardless, coconut oil is naturally almost all saturated fat (12 g per serving), with a small amount of poly-and monounsaturated fats (.2 and .8 g per 1 T. serving, respectively).

    There are also a lot of purported health benefits. So many, in fact, that a red flag goes up for me - anything that's so trendy and presented as a "miracle food" sends up a similar flag for me, though. It's nothing personal against coconut oil and I'm not saying that none of them are valid.

    My daughter swears by it and uses about a 2-lb tub of it per 5-6 weeks. She is also a vegetarian who eats a lot of vegan meals, so she gets very little saturated fat from anywhere else. I eat it like I do other oils - sparingly, but with relish. It's expensive, too, especially for the "good stuff" - the organic extra virgin cold-pressed variety. This is also probably at least in part due to its current popularity. The price definitely makes it less of a great option for me, so while we have it in the house, it's primarily for my girl's use.

    If I were you, I would do some reading/research and decide to what extent it meets your overall health goals and eat it to that degree.


    ETA: It is actually pretty tasty stuff! :)
  • cadaverousbones
    cadaverousbones Posts: 421 Member
    I have heard that coconut oil and olive oil are both very good for you. Having a tsp/tbs in your coffee is fine. Anything in excess can be bad for you. As long as you aren't drinking a full coffee mug of oil, don't worry about it,
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  • sabrinamiles
    sabrinamiles Posts: 1
    I'm a registered and licensed dietitian. Coconut oil is 92% saturated. The current research supporting the use of coconut oil is limited Better selections include olive oil, that monounsaturated and other polyunsaturated fats like in your diet. Remember your diet should be relatively low in fat. A Tablespoon of any fat has approximately 100 calories. I recommend checking out information on Web MD. A registered dietitian writes their nutrition articles. Always seek a dietitian's advice!
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,207 Member
    I'm a registered and licensed dietitian. Coconut oil is 92% saturated. The current research supporting the use of coconut oil is limited Better selections include olive oil, that monounsaturated and other polyunsaturated fats like in your diet. Remember your diet should be relatively low in fat. A Tablespoon of any fat has approximately 100 calories. I recommend checking out information on Web MD. A registered dietitian writes their nutrition articles. Always seek a dietitian's advice!
    Surely there must be hundreds of studies of indigenous peoples of the tropics that have been consuming coconut oil for thousands of years.................Web MD is not a good source in my opinion.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 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.

    don't believe everything you google...
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    I'm a registered and licensed dietitian. Coconut oil is 92% saturated. The current research supporting the use of coconut oil is limited Better selections include olive oil, that monounsaturated and other polyunsaturated fats like in your diet. Remember your diet should be relatively low in fat. A Tablespoon of any fat has approximately 100 calories. I recommend checking out information on Web MD. A registered dietitian writes their nutrition articles. Always seek a dietitian's advice!

    Thank you for dragging this ancient post back up. I'm sure OP is still tuning in! :laugh:
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    I'm a registered and licensed dietitian. Coconut oil is 92% saturated. The current research supporting the use of coconut oil is limited Better selections include olive oil, that monounsaturated and other polyunsaturated fats like in your diet. Remember your diet should be relatively low in fat. A Tablespoon of any fat has approximately 100 calories. I recommend checking out information on Web MD. A registered dietitian writes their nutrition articles. Always seek a dietitian's advice!

    Low fat is so 1980's.

    02da73983e03aa033cf329c89276bba8.png
  • caramammal
    caramammal Posts: 147 Member
    Ive just discovered this, apart from it being absolutely delicious, it's amazingly great for your health. I'm also going to stop using my lovely 'L'Occitane Almond oil' on my skin and use coconut oil instead as it'even purer.
  • MSorosiak
    MSorosiak Posts: 1
    There are plenty of "Experts" who believe that liquid vegetable oil is better for you than coconut oil. These are highly educated people, with advanced science degrees - AND THEY ARE WRONG! They are the same people who recommend that diabetics eat more carbs than they should and also recommend that these same diabetics eat FRUIT. I heard one just yesterday saying that diabetics should limit their fat and protein intake, when the exact opposite should be done! Registered Dieticians are only as good as the philosophy they were trained in.

    I am a diabetic who sees a dietician that sees things much differently than the dietitians who continue to warn against the dangers of proteins and fats and understands that the real culprits have been the carbs and refined grains that they pushed on us for years!

    The only bad fat is a transfat! Saturated fats are not bad for you (see link below)

    http://www.menshealth.com/health/saturated-fat
  • Natmarie73
    Natmarie73 Posts: 287 Member
    Palm oil is what it's all about people. Everything tastes amazing when I cook with it.

    Argh NO!!! Palm oil is terrible mainly for the fact huge tracts of rainforest are being flattened for palm oil plantations. Think of the poor orangutangs!
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Now, i keep hearing / reading people say it’s not that good for you since it is high in fat.

    That's not the problem.

    The problem is that coconut oil is a highly processed food, which makes it unclean.
    Palm oil is terrible mainly for the fact huge tracts of rainforest are being flattened for palm oil plantations.

    Where exactly do you think coconuts come from? Canada?

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