Coconut Oil - Does it raise cholesterol?

Yes, it raises cholesterol. No, it is not going to burn fat or have any other miracle cures. If a site claims any food help burns fat, you know this is not a reliable source of information
The coconut oil miracle properties are a fad, and a potentially dangerous one. Use in moderation if you like it.

http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/uploads/Evidence_paper_coconut_August_2014.pdf
https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/ask-the-expert/coconut-oil
http://heartfoundation.org.au/healthy-eating/food-and-nutrition/fats-and-cholesterol/replace-unhealthy-fats-with-healthy-fats
http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/coconut-oil
http://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/coconut-oil-supervillain-or-superfood

elga_thres wrote: »

high in saturated fat

Saturated fat is fine.

It's good for making popcorn and makes my hair soft and shiny.

But it's oil. It has calories, and like all oil, probably not good to consume too much of it and It doesn't magically burn fat.

It probably raises HDL, and may raise LDL but it is probably due to an increase in pattern a, so overall it is a good thing.I think the main risk for worsening cholesterol is pairing high carbs (in the form of highly processed foods) with high fat - it's not working well for people.

Plus the link between total cholesterol and CAD is outdated, in my opinion.

It depends how you use it. I eat a shed load of the stuff as I'm doing a ketogenic diet. I get most of my calories from healthy fats and less than 1g of ideal body weight per day. Yes, it will raise HDL, this is not a bad thing.

Here's a good person to follow that posted about the fatty acids found in coconut oil.



Here's the text for pic:

Medium chain triglycerides (MCT's) are fatty acids with aliphatic tails of 6-12 carbon molecules. What makes them unique is how the body uses them...they go straight to the liver to be turned into energy. They bypass many of the processes that other fatty acids have to go through which makes them excellent sources of energy. They have also been shown to reduce markers of metabolic disease and have been shown to reduce body fat levels in people who substitute some of their regular fats with MCT's. There is ongoing science in the brain boosting effects of MCT's as well...in fact it is recommended for people with brain degenerative disorders like dementia and Alzheimer's. The health and performance benefits of MCT's are endless however they do not provide essential fatty acids therefore it is important to also consume other fatty acids like your omega 3's. Natural sources of MCT's are coconut oil and palm oil. I personally consume MCT's regularly in my diet and I find that my exercise performance benefits as a result. They also help me stay lean even while consuming more calories. Some studies have even suggested that a gram of MCT's contains less than 9 calories per gram making them lower in calories per gram than their long chain counterparts. Animal and human studies demonstrate that MCT's are the ultimate "fat burning fat." MCT's have also been called the "carbohydrate" of fats because they produce such quick energy...except they don't get stored easily as fat like carbs or sugars do. All in all I love MCT's and I recommend them to almost everyone