Coconut Oil Question

Spanaval
Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Coconut oil appears to be popular around these parts as a source of good fats. Anyone know of good scientific sources that would substantiate this claim? Pretty much every organization out there, from FDA to American Heart Association, recommends limited intake. I've looked a bit on Pubmed, and can't find anything to justify considering coconut oil to be a good fat (granted, it's mostly medium chain, and contains a large % of lauric acid).
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Replies

  • naomi8888
    naomi8888 Posts: 519 Member
    Sorry I haven't really seen any scientific evidence but there is a stack of anecdotal evidence on here. Any specific reason you want to take coconut oil?

    ETA - personally I love it because it tastes great, I use it in coffee :)
  • lisa28115
    lisa28115 Posts: 17,271 Member
    Sorry I haven't really seen any scientific evidence but there is a stack of anecdotal evidence on here. Any specific reason you want to take coconut oil?

    ETA - personally I love it because it tastes great, I use it in coffee :)

    I use coconut oil to sautee and fry things with
    I have never tried it in my coffee, does it give your coffee a flavor???
  • riskiestlavonn
    riskiestlavonn Posts: 207 Member
    It's WONDERFUL for your hair (as in not eating it but actually rubbing it on your hair). :-)
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    ANY and ALL processed foods are bad for you. Coconut oil is a processed food. If you want coconut fat in your diet, eat raw coconut.
  • lisa28115
    lisa28115 Posts: 17,271 Member
    It's WONDERFUL for your hair (as in not eating it but actually rubbing it on your hair). :-)

    hummm


    maybe I should try this

    rub it in as a conditioner and then rinse out ???
  • BitteOrca
    BitteOrca Posts: 74 Member
    i can't help you with substantiating health claims, but i do use it frequently as a moisturizer (best thing ever for shaving legs) and hair treatment. i've also heard due to it's anti-inflammatory qualities that it's great for treating dermatological autoimmune diseases like eczema. magical!
  • AmandaCaswell1982
    AmandaCaswell1982 Posts: 170 Member
    I've used it for my scalp psoriasis- It's the only thing aside from topical steroids(which I don't like to use too often!) that gives any relief. I have also used it for my hair-- I rub it into my scalp, all through my hair, leave it on overnight and wash twice with shampoo. Hair is gorgeous when I do this. Your pillow can get greasy, so I use cruddy pillow cases when I do this and pile my hair in a messy bun.
  • AnkeAkke
    AnkeAkke Posts: 23
    I'm not sure how coconut oil with no additions is a processed food?

    I've bought it today. I've read a lot about it and I think it fits in a healty diet. I already found out you can cook perfectly with it. It seems to have a lot of health benefits, although I really don't believe all of them are true.

    I also bought it as a mosturizer (I suffer from mild psoriasis, and my boyfriend from severe eczema). We already use a coconut cream, but I hope pure coconut oil works even better.
  • Spanaval
    Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
    The part of India I come from uses coconut and coconut oil VERY heavily in our cooking (and everything else too; pretty much every part of the coconut is used). My dad has heart disease and avoids coconut/coconut oil, and I was wondering if there was something I was missing out in terms of scientific evidence that it does not contribute to IHD. When he visits, we're careful about not using coconut/coconut milk/coconut oil in cooking because he won't eat it.
  • AnkeAkke
    AnkeAkke Posts: 23
    I've read that it does not cause or worsen heart disease. Yes, it does contain a lot of saturated fats. However, these are mostly medium-chain fatty acids, compared to the long-chain fatty acids in most other oils. These medium-chain fatty acids don't have the same negative effect on cholesterol as long-chain and they will even protect against heart disease.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    I'm not sure how coconut oil with no additions is a processed food?

    I've bought it today. I've read a lot about it and I think it fits in a healty diet. I already found out you can cook perfectly with it. It seems to have a lot of health benefits, although I really don't believe all of them are true.

    I also bought it as a mosturizer (I suffer from mild psoriasis, and my boyfriend from severe eczema). We already use a coconut cream, but I hope pure coconut oil works even better.
    Is it a coconut? It's a portion of a coconut, not the complete coconut. The non-oil parts of the coconut have been removed from the food, to leave behind just the oil.

    ALL oils are processed food. ALL oils are incomplete food. ALL oils are MORE CALORIE DENSE than their whole food counterparts. OILS ARE THE MOST CALORIE DENSE FOOD ON THE PLANET, REGARDLESS OF SOURCE! And, 100% of the calories are from fat.

    And as a moisturizer/shaving cream, my girlfriend loves it, but i hate it, because it leaves the shower all slippery!
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    ANY and ALL processed foods are bad for you.


    Care to back that up, Sparky?
  • Spanaval
    Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
    I've read that it does not cause or worsen heart disease. Yes, it does contain a lot of saturated fats. However, these are mostly medium-chain fatty acids, compared to the long-chain fatty acids in most other oils. These medium-chain fatty acids don't have the same negative effect on cholesterol as long-chain and they will even protect against heart disease.

    See, my problem is that while this makes intuitive sense, there don't seem to be any studies to back this up. The best I've managed to pull up seem ambiguous, in the sense they say that X Y and Z in coconut oil has these benefits, but overall, that may not negate the overall negative effects and artherosclerotic potential.

    The FDA, WHO, Dept. of Health and Human Services, American Heart Association, American Dietetic Association, International College of Nutrition, Dietitians of Canada, ALL recommend consuming coconut oil in small quantities. Are they ALL wrong?
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    It's WONDERFUL for your hair (as in not eating it but actually rubbing it on your hair). :-)

    hummm


    maybe I should try this

    rub it in as a conditioner and then rinse out ???

    I use it as a pomade after I blow out my hair. I rub a VERY TINY! amount between my palms, then smooth out the frizzies. Works great in humid weather.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    ANY and ALL processed foods are bad for you.


    Care to back that up, Sparky?
    I'll reword it, sparky: Processed foods are never as healthful as the original foods they are processed from.
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    ANY and ALL processed foods are bad for you.


    Care to back that up, Sparky?
    I'll reword it, sparky: Processed foods are never as healthful as the original foods they are processed from.

    Stop making things up. Repeating your false claims is not the same as presenting evidence.

    Put up or shut up.
  • kboggs6763
    kboggs6763 Posts: 35 Member
    The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.
  • jackieatx
    jackieatx Posts: 578 Member
    I read a great book on it. I used it all over my tummy during my second pregnancy and I have zero stretch marks.
  • beckyinma
    beckyinma Posts: 1,433 Member
    I love using it with evoo, 50/50 for sautéing food.

    I also use it when I give myself and hubby manicures/hand/foot massage. Great stuff!!!
  • sashanicole88
    sashanicole88 Posts: 180 Member
    interested in this as well
  • kriskel
    kriskel Posts: 29 Member
    i can't help you with substantiating health claims, but i do use it frequently as a moisturizer (best thing ever for shaving legs) and hair treatment. i've also heard due to it's anti-inflammatory qualities that it's great for treating dermatological autoimmune diseases like eczema. magical!

    I've used it eczema, works great!
  • EmergencyGraphics
    EmergencyGraphics Posts: 132 Member
    Where do you buy it?
  • jackieatx
    jackieatx Posts: 578 Member
    Have you ever actually read up on the process in which virgin coconut oil is made? I would not categorize it with butter. Sure, its a fat, but it has a heck of a lot more nutrients and benefits than most other fats.
  • polarsjewel
    polarsjewel Posts: 1,725 Member
    I put a little bit in my quinoa (1 tbsp per 2 cups of quinoa) gives its a slightly sweet, nutty flavour. :love:

    I also use it as a moisturizer as I have horridly dry skin :frown:
  • Kindone
    Kindone Posts: 138 Member
    I use a product: Artisana Raw 100% Organic Coconut Butter that is simply the whole thing pureed up.. oil, water, flesh and all. You can spread it on things, and I am sure it can also be used as an oil. But i also use raw cold pressed coconut oil in almost all of my cooking. I have heard a lot of talk about it being great for chronic illnesses like fatigue and pain.. I have read several articles on it and I know many people swear by it. Anecdotal evidence is sufficient for me at times. The bottom line, for me, is that it is a very flavorful and satisfying fat. I don't need to use a lot of it and it adds tremendously to whatever I am using it for. For the Win!
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    Where do you buy it?

    Trader Joe's has organic virgin coconut oil for $6.99 per jar. I've seen it at most grocery stores now (along with co-ops, whole foods, etc), but it's cheapest at TJs.
  • deblc6836
    deblc6836 Posts: 59
    This article was posted in another thread:
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/coconut-oil-benefits_b_821453.html
    I use the Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.
  • monipie
    monipie Posts: 280 Member
    ANY and ALL processed foods are bad for you.


    Care to back that up, Sparky?
    I'll reword it, sparky: Processed foods are never as healthful as the original foods they are processed from.

    Stop making things up. Repeating your false claims is not the same as presenting evidence.

    Put up or shut up.

    word.
  • zgdsmith
    zgdsmith Posts: 114 Member
    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/31/coconut-oil-for-healthy-heart.aspx?e_cid=20120531_DNL_art_1

    about 1/2 way down it talks about cooking with coconut oil.
  • tiffany5839
    tiffany5839 Posts: 104 Member
    It's good fat! You have to get the organic unrefined kind that is not processed! Helped me to lose weight and feel great! I put it in my coffee for tons of energy! In salad dressings and smoothies too! LOVE it! Oh yea it's a good lubricant too! lol

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