Feedback on Coconut Oil?

It's saturated fat, so it's a mixed bag. It does have some health benefits, but being a saturated fat, it still helps contribute to atherosclerosis. So, it's ok in moderation, but I wouldn't take it just to take it.

Sooo wrong (the bit about contributing to "atherosclerosis" - it is one of the one "good" saturated fats.......

Coconut oil contains MCFA (Medium Chain Fatty Acids) which help to lower the risk of both atherosclerosis and heart disease. It is primarily due to the MCFA in coconut oil that makes it so special and so beneficial. (as per Coconut Research Centre)

There are some excellent information on the Coconut Research Centre's website about why coconut oil is different to the other saturated fats if you are interested...

Dr. Mercola recommends it, here are several articles:

http://search.mercola.com/search/Pages/results.aspx?k=coconut oil

To be fair, if Mercola likes it, that's a pretty good indication that it should be avoided.

I'm not fond of the guy, but not every single thing he says or does has to be dismissed.

I cook with it if I need oil (which isn't often) but I love coconut oil for the fact that it treats my eczema on my stomach and arms. If I get a flare up, it only takes 3-5 days of using coconut oil as a lotion and the itch and rash is GONE. For years I had gone through all kinds of creams and remedies and nothing worked. I love my coconut oil lol.

@ Naturemade and PaulS70,

Experts are indeed sometimes wrong, but please don't advocate that a patient with cardiovascular disease ignore the counsel of a cardio specialist. I find that type of behavior to be very irresponsible.

And for the record, no the cardiologist is NOT behind the times. For the average, healthy adult, saturated fats are usually not harmful (though I'd still advocate for moderation). However, for a patient with a history of cardiovascular disease... putting saturated fats into a damaged system is unwise, possibly suicidal. It's like telling a diabetic to eat twinkies.

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About coconut oil in general, I agree with tigersword. Pros and cons. I think it's a reasonably healthy oil choice. I'd suggest that olive oil is probably better, but that could be my bias talking.

Um not its not. I have a family member that has healed his Cardiovascular disease with a high fat (high in saturated fats), moderate protein and low carb (carbs coming from fruits and vegetables).

It has healed the scarring from a previous heart attack to the point of there is no longer any evidence he even had a heart attack. His Cardiologist is the one that put him on this all natural eating plan.

Science has proved time and time again that cholesterol and saturated fat is NOT the issue where CVD and CHD are concerned. It is from inflammation coming from refined carbohydrates and most vegetable oils, not saturated fat. The high Omega 6 content in vegetable oils causes inflammation as so refined carbohydrates, which includes so called "whole grains".

Here is another story about someone that has healed their body with the moderate to high use of saturated fats. The proof is there.

http://katedeering.com/archives/954

You can also not compare saturated fat which is natural to twinkies which is about as unnatural as it gets.

@ Naturemade and PaulS70,

Experts are indeed sometimes wrong, but please don't advocate that a patient with cardiovascular disease ignore the counsel of a cardio specialist. I find that type of behavior to be very irresponsible.

And for the record, no the cardiologist is NOT behind the times. For the average, healthy adult, saturated fats are usually not harmful (though I'd still advocate for moderation). However, for a patient with a history of cardiovascular disease... putting saturated fats into a damaged system is unwise, possibly suicidal. It's like telling a diabetic to eat twinkies.

__________

About coconut oil in general, I agree with tigersword. Pros and cons. I think it's a reasonably healthy oil choice. I'd suggest that olive oil is probably better, but that could be my bias talking.

Um not its not. I have a family member that has healed his Cardiovascular disease with a high fat (high in saturated fats), moderate protein and low carb (carbs coming from fruits and vegetables).

It has healed the scarring from a previous heart attack to the point of there is no longer any evidence he even had a heart attack. His Cardiologist is the one that put him on this all natural eating plan.

Science has proved time and time again that cholesterol and saturated fat is NOT the issue where CVD and CHD are concerned. It is from inflammation coming from refined carbohydrates and most vegetable oils, not saturated fat. The high Omega 6 content in vegetable oils causes inflammation as so refined carbohydrates, which includes so called "whole grains".

Here is another story about someone that has healed their body with the moderate to high use of saturated fats. The proof is there.

http://katedeering.com/archives/954

You can also not compare saturated fat which is natural to twinkies which is about as unnatural as it gets.

Yes, it is. Are you an MD? No? Do you have 8 to 12+ years in higher education studying the human body? No? Then you should not be advocating that someone dismiss an MD's advice because it 'worked' for a handful of people.

I'm happy for your family member. I really am. But when you're dealing with a life-or-death situation, you deviate from the prevailing dogma only after very careful consideration... In your family member's case... well I don't know the situation, but I'll bet money his/her MD decided that weight loss was more critical than saturated fat intake in terms of saving his/her life. That may not be the case with everyone. Also, because the 'saturated fats are fine' idea is relatively new, it has not been time-tested and it is therefore up to the MD and the patient- not you- to decide whether a high fat, high saturated fat diet is 'right'. There are PLENTY of studies to contradict every study you've posted.

Saturated fats are fine for some people... but if you have arthosclerosis, saturated fats will stick to the sticky mess that is lining your arteries and will increase the size of that sticky mess and can indeed cause more problems. Not always. But enough that you shouldn't be crusading for saturated fats for everyone.

As for the cause of artheosclerosis... yes, it's caused by inflammation. NO the inflammation is NOT coming from CARBS! It might not be coming from saturated fats and cholesterol either. I'll give you that. The new data does suggest that the source of the inflammation is not what we think it is. But it is not carbs. Carbs are not evil, refined or otherwise. (My favorite hypothesis these days on the causes of artheosclerosis is it's caused by a number of genetic factors + obesity. And obesity is simply caused by excess nutrient. Fat cells will secrete inflammatory molecules, causing systemic inflammation and chronic metabolic damage. But that's neither here nor there.)

I love how you trust the word of some "experts" while dismissing others. You cannot cherry pick science and medicine. You cannot pick your favorite 'experts', worship the ground they walk on, proselytize their faith, while ignoring hundreds of other 'experts' who contradict your favorite 'experts'. Well you can... but doing so demonstrates bias and intellectual dishonesty.

I just got some organic coconut oil but once I saw the number of calories I have not used it yet. But I have read cool stuff about it. It was $6 for a jar of it so I am going to start using it soon.

Also, because the 'saturated fats are fine' idea is relatively new, it has not been time-tested and it is therefore up to the MD and the patient- not you- to decide whether a high fat, high saturated fat diet is 'right'. There are PLENTY of studies to contradict every study you've posted.

The 'saturated fats are fine' idea is far from new. Many culture's traditional diets were higher in saturated fats than what we eat today. They never thought that the foods they were eating were anything other than fine.

If anything the 'saturated fats cause heart disease' idea is relatively new in the grand scheme of things.

It is a huge misconception that there are PLENTY of studies that indict saturated fat consumption as a significant risk factor for heart disease. This gets thrown out there all the time. The usual result after looking at these "studies" is what happened in the article NatureMade posted earlier.

This one: http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/nutrition/saturated_fat.htm

I have heart disease. Cardiologist told me not to use it. He said triglycerides are triglycerides and the saturated fat would be dangerous to me. He also said the numerous health claims -- weight loss, cure for diabetes, etc.-- are all nonsense.

Use coconut oil if you wish, but I'm staying away from it. I'd like to stick around for a while.

When did your cardiologist get his diploma? 30-40 years ago? Has he kept up with modern science?

Obviously, you missed my later post where I indicated that my cardiologist is pre-eminent in his field.

And where and when did YOU get your medical degree?

And where and when did YOU get your medical degree?

We appeal to authority too much.

I don't see medical doctors as a reliable source for nutrition advice. I was shocked to learn how little in regards to nutrition is taught in our medical schools. Observing 2 close friends go through med school and become doctors has really changed my opinion about the profession all together.

And where and when did YOU get your medical degree?

We appeal to authority too much.

I don't see medical doctors as a reliable source for nutrition advice. I was shocked to learn how little in regards to nutrition is taught in our medical schools. Observing 2 close friends go through med school and become doctors has really changed my opinion about the profession all together.

Exactly

And where and when did YOU get your medical degree?

We appeal to authority too much.

I don't see medical doctors as a reliable source for nutrition advice. I was shocked to learn how little in regards to nutrition is taught in our medical schools. Observing 2 close friends go through med school and become doctors has really changed my opinion about the profession all together.

Well, given that this man saved my life, I would trust his knowledge and advice over that of posters on a message board. If he tells me something is dangerous, I'm going to listen. I don't want to die again, at least not yet.

As I said before, if you or anyone else here wants to consume coconut oil, fine with me. Were all supposed to be grownups here. I'm just sorry some people felt it necessary for their self-esteem to trash my doctor without knowing anything about him.

I would recommend that you don't take any 1 person's advice as gospel. Whether they be a pre-eminent cardiologist or a health conscious message board poster. Do research on all points of view and then come up with what you feel is best for you.

Good luck and good health to you!

I just bought some recently to try it. So far I've used it for frying eggs and it was very tasty to me. I'm going to try it as a moisturizer as well.

Read the coconut oil miracle, and decide for yourself.
I buy it 12 bottles at a time from FIJI it's more economical that way.
I use it for cooking, in coffee, and a separate container for body lotion.
LOVE it

good to know. my dog has occasional skin issues

I love coconut oil and use it whenever possible. I also give it to my dog as a supplement (along with salmon oil). He's also had skin allergy problems for the last couple years, but last summer I started rubbing coconut oil onto his belly and he hasn't had a single skin issue since then.