|
HowToPreventHeartDisease.com |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Is Coconut Oil Really Heart-Healthy? For the past, coconut oil has never been considered as healthy oil. But lately, plenty of articles appeared in books, magazines and many advertisements suggest that coconut oil has heart benefits because it can raise HDL (the good cholesterol), and it contains healthy fat that can provide benefits ranging from weight loss to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. According to a survey conducted in July 2016 by The New York Times, 72 percent of Americans think coconut oil to be a healthy food while only 37 percent of nutritionists agree. Other claimed health benefits include controlling blood sugar; reducing stress; maintaining shiny hair and healthy skin; preventing liver disease; reducing asthma symptoms; fighting candida; and improving satiety. While a number of investigations have looked into the possible benefits, it should be noted that majority studies supporting its benefits have not yet been carried out on humans. Many of the benefits claimed for coconut oil are attributed to its high medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) content. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, a healthy fat that is packed with MCTs, which is rapidly absorbed by the body and quickly metabolized for energy. Some research suggests its quick absorption helps boost metabolism and aid in weight loss, while long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), found in olive oil, fish, nuts, and avocado, are slowly absorbed and stored as fat.
It is also believed that coconut oil can provide
an alternate energy source for the brain to reduce the mental losses from
Alzheimer’s disease. The theory is that the fat in coconut oil metabolizes more
quickly than other fats because of the high MCT content. The argument goes that
the brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s disease are unable to use glucose
properly and so starve. Coconut oil is an easier-to-use source of energy and so
keeps brain cells going. This may be an interesting idea, but not one based on
evidence, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.
As shown in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, one tablespoon (or 15 ml) of coconut oil contains 120 calories; 0 gram of protein; 14 grams of fat, of which 12 grams is saturated, 1 gram is monounsaturated, and 0.5 gram is polyunsaturated; 0 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol. It does not contain fiber and little to no vitamins or minerals. Hence, coconut oil is about 90 percent saturated fat, which is a higher percentage than butter (about 64 percent saturated fat), beef fat (40 percent), or even lard (also 40 percent). High saturated fat in the diet can definitely raise LDL or the bad cholesterol, which in turn will increase the risk of heart disease. A review published in March 2017 in the ‘Journal of the American College of Cardiology’ recommended that people avoid coconut oil, citing that it is high in saturated fat. Another article published in March 2016 in the journal ‘Nutrition Bulletin’ also link coconut oil consumption to increasing LDL levels. Researchers from Harvard analyzed data from more than 2 decades of research and found that people who consumed high amounts of the saturated fats, including lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid, were more likely to have the risk of heart disease increased by up to 18 percent. They also argued that heart disease risk could be reduced between 6 and 8 percent by replacing just 1 percent of those fats with polyunsaturated fats, whole grains, or plant proteins. Their findings were published in November 2016 in the journal ‘BMJ’. The AHA (American Heart Association) issued in June 2017 a new science advisory against using saturated fats, including coconut oil, based on the findings of over 100 research studies, dating from the 1950s. The conclusion was that coconut and other tropical oils have a high saturated-fat content, and that coconut oil raised levels of LDL cholesterol.
Using small amount of coconut oil occasionally
should not be a problem if one wish to enjoy its wonderful flavor. But it is
certainly not a good idea to treat coconut oil as a healthy source for daily
use. Date: June 13, 2019
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright
2007-2012 © HowToPreventHeartDisease.com . All Rights Reserved.d........ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
