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Conduct a quick Google search, and you’ll find miraculous claims about a In contrast, many other health and nutrition experts disagree. Coconut oil has long been on the list of ''unhealthy'' fats due to its high saturated fat content. So, whom should you believe? Before you twist off the lid on a new jar, here are the real, unbiased—and research-supported—facts about coconut oil. In a (Coco Nutritionally speaking, coconut oil contains 9 calories per gram, as do all other fats, making it a calorie-dense food. Dietary fat from all sources should make up no more than 35% of your daily calorie intake. Probably more importantly—and where the controversy lies—is that more than 90% of the fat in coconut oil is saturated fat. Decades of research have determined that saturated fat is detrimental to the health of your heart and blood vessels (more on that later). That's why healthy adults are advised to consume no more than 10% of their calories in the form of saturated fats. (For people with heart disease--or at high risk for developing it--that amount is even lower: Less than 7% of their calories should come from saturated fat each day.) So, how would coconut oil fit into those guidelines? For a SparkPeople member following a diet of 1,200-1,550 calories per day, their upper limit of saturated fat is 17 grams daily. A single tablespoon of coconut oil contains about 12 grams of saturated fat (and 117 calories) and would bring someone very close to that upper limit—without eating any other sources of saturated fat. If you like the flavor or texture that coconut oil provides in cooking, go ahead and use it—but only in moderation. Use it just like you would any other high-fat cooking ingredient, such as oil or butter—in small, not copious, amounts. As always, measure how much you use, and track your food intake on SparkPeople's free Nutrition Tracker. Keep an eye on your total calories, fat—and saturated fat—intake to make sure all are within your recommended ranges. Coconut Oil Can Be Confusing If You're Not a Chemist We know that fats with medium chains (called medium-chain triglycerides or ''MCTs'') are metabolized much differently than fats with shorter and longer carbon chains. When consumed, MCTs are transported directly from your intestines to the liver, where they are more likely to be burned as fuel, as opposed to shorter and longer chains, which typically get stored as fat in the body. MCTs require fewer enzymes and bile acids for digestion, too. So, where can you get these amazing MCTs? Many people claim they're found in coconut oil, but that is only a half-truth. No source of food is ''purely'' any single type of fat. Even olive oil, touted for its heart-healthy monounsaturated fat content, also contains small amounts of saturated fat, for example; it's just that most of the fat is the healthy kind. Similarly, foods contain a blend of short-, medium- and long-chain fats. No single source of MCT is available—it's only manufactured and used in medical or research settings. Many people who make positive health claims about coconut oil are actually using research on medical-grade MCT oil, which is not available as a dominant source of fat in any food. It's true that MCT can be distilled from coconut oil, but it is not the same thing as the coconut oil you buy in a jar at the store. Chemically speaking, these two oils are very different. MCT oil comprises caprylic acid (8 carbons) and capric acid (10 carbons). Therefore 99.9% of MCT oil composition comes from medium chain fats. On the other hand, coconut oil only contains about 10%-15% of these MCTs (caprylic acid and capric acid). Lauric acid (a 12-carbon chain) makes up 45%-50% of coconut oil. The remaining fatty acids in coconut oil include caproic acid (6 carbons), myristic acid (14 carbons), palmitic acid (16 carbons), and stearic acid (18 carbons). The Research on MCT However, to imply that the research data from a study on MCT also applies to coconut oil is erroneous and a misinterpretation of the data. The carbon chain make-up of MCT oil and coconut oil is entirely different, as shown in the chemistry lesson above. Caprylic acid and capric acid make up 99.9% of MCT oil, and only 10%-15% of coconut oil. Also, coconut oil’s main fatty acid is lauric acid. This fatty acid, along with coconut oil’s myristic and palmitic acids, have been shown to markedly raise LDL (''bad'') cholesterol. A Word on Saturated Fat We now know that different types of saturated fat can affect the body differently. Previously, all saturated fats were considered the same, but research now shows that the saturated fats in coconut oil are somewhat different from the saturated fats in meat and butter, and might therefore affect the body differently. However, researchers still don’t know for sure that this makes coconut oil good for your heart. Some studies suggest that some types of saturated fat might lower risk factors for heart disease, and other studies show the exact opposite. Until we know for certain, it is still best to be cautious and keep your total saturated fat intake at or below 10% of your daily calories. What about Populations That Eat Diets High in Coconut Oil? However, this claim was based on a single electrocardiogram (ECG) test, not on death or autopsy. And it is important to note that the ECG is not considered a reliable way to assess cardiovascular health. Also realize that these populations had a low intake of sugar, cholesterol and salt in their diets, and consumed far more fiber, plant sterols, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish. They also had a more active lifestyle and used little tobacco. This study is often used to promote the use of coconut oil, but the study is very limited in its actual application, and it was not a well-controlled study. Plus, as we all remember from sixth-grade science: Correlation does not prove causation. If these islanders were, in fact, healthier and at low risk of heart disease (which wasn't necessarily proven, remember), there is no possible way an uncontrolled study like this can attribute that result to their consumption of coconut oil. A myriad of other diet and health behaviors that impact heart health were not isolated and controlled for in this observational study. Other Coconut Products
The Bottom Line Think of coconut oil as a condiment, rather than your daily ''go-to'' oil. Remember: A little coconut oil can go a long way in adding the flavor and texture you desire to certain foodsyou’re your best to keep your total fat and saturated fat intake within the healthy range recommendations that are based on decades of research. This is the case for heart-healthy olive oil just as much as it would be for coconut oil. Like many things in nutrition, moderation is key. Even if coconut oil were as healthy as people claim it to be, you can have too much of a good thing. This is the case for fats, proteins, fiber, water—pretty much anything you eat or drink. It's all about balance. As always, SparkPeople will continue to evaluate the research as available to keep our recommendations and guidelines safe and effective for our members.
Sources Cunningham, E. ''Is there science to support claims for coconut oil?,'' Journal of the American Dietetic Association. |
