According to Mary G. Enig, Ph.D, in a presentation at the 1996 AVOC Lauric Oils Symposium, virgin coconut oil has many beneficial health properties, ranging from anti-microbial uses to helping reduce heart disease. However, the FDA advises against consuming coconut oil due to its high saturated fat content. Other experts such as Dr Weil, a popular medical personality, take a wait-and-see attitude on including coconut oil in the diet.
The Benefits of Lauric Acid Found in Coconut Oil
Of the fats that make up coconut oil, almost 50% are lauric acid, a powerful health-enhancing fatty acid. Lauric acid has been shown in studies to be antimicrobial and antiviral and to boost the immune system. It is a component in human breast milk that is thought to provide immunological benefits to newborn babies, helping their developing immune systems fight off disease.
No one disputes the benefits of lauric acid, but many people point out that the disadvantages of high levels of saturated fats in coconut oil outweigh the potential benefits.
Types of Fats and Triglycerides in Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains 92% saturated fat, an extremely high percentage touted by its detractors as a reason to avoid consuming it. According to the American Heart Association, saturated fat in the diet is a leading cause of high cholesterol and heart disease.
Proponents of coconut oil point out that the fats in coconut oil are medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), not long-chain triglycerides and that this is an important distinction. At least one scientific study seems to back up this claim. A study from McGill University in Canada found that MCTs boost metabolism and don't end up stored in the body as fat to the same degree that LCTs do.
Pure Virgin Coconut Oil vs Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Even people who rave about the health benefits of coconut oil point out that the processing done to the oil makes a difference. Partially hydrogenated coconut oil gains dangerous trans fats during the process of hydrogenation. Some coconut oil advocates even blame hydrogenation for coconut oil's bad reputation, since studies done on this type of oil will consistently show negative effects on health.
Pure virgin coconut oil is the oil that should be used in scientific studie, advocates claim, and also is what should be used by anyone interested in using coconut oil as a health food. Virgin coconut oil is left unrefined, with good fats intact and bad trans-fats avoided.
Coconut Oil for Cooking on High Heat May Be Healthier than Other Oils
Another health claim about coconut oil is that it is healthier than other cooking oils. The reasoning behind this claim lies in the high smoke point of pure virgin coconut oil, the amount of heat it can withstand before smoking or burning.
Compared to other oils with a lower smoke point, coconut oil doesn't oxidize when heated, which may prevent the formation of toxic compounds that form in other types of oil when burned.
For now, the controversy rages on over the possible benefits or dangers of coconut oil. As more scientific evidence comes in, the picture should become clearer on whether or not coconut oil is a healthy addition to the diet or merely an exotic source of saturated fat.
For more information on different types of cooking oils, see the articles Dietary Oils for Cooking and How to Use Them and Gourmet Cooking with Nut Oils.
Resources:
Kurup PA, et al. Consumption of coconut oil and coconut kernel and the incidence of atherosclerosis. Coconut and Coconut Oil in Human Nutrition. Symposium on Coconut and Coconut Oil in Human Nutrition. 27 March 1994. Coconut Development Board, Kochi, India, 1995
Assunção ML, et al. Effects of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting abdominal obesity. Lipids. Jul 2009
Mary G Enig, PhD. Health and Nutritional Benefits from Coconut Oil: An Important Functional Food for the 21st Century. The Weston A. Price Foundation. Presented at the AVOC Lauric Oils Symposium, Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, 25 April 1996.
Bridget Coila - I'm a cell and molecular biologist, freelance writer and photographer currently living in Beijing, China. I'm fascinated by science, ...
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