Coconut oil... Good or bad??

[Chemistry]

Hello!

I have been reading many things about coconut oil, saying that's it really good for you etc...

The problem is that it has 64% of your RDA in sat. fats!
Some say that the saturated fats are made of medium fatty acid chains, that are easily digested and don't raise the bad cholesterol level.

Some say that it's sat. fat, and so it is bad and should be consumed sparingly.

What do you think?

Thanks!

[ghchealth]

Coconut oil can be a very healthy and nutrient-rich addition to your diet. First of all, make sure that the product that you buy has been minimally processed and is raw and organic. Also, a dark container is preferable if possible to reduce the exposure to light while the product is transported and waiting to be purchased. Much of the commercially-processed coconut oil that is used as a fat in products has been highly processed and partially-hydrogenated to make it harder.

The old argument that fat is bad and that all saturated fats are undesirable does not really address many of the more complicated issues. As you mention, coconut oil does naturally contain MCTs, or medium-chain triglycerides. These are fatty acids that are relatively short and are processed much more quickly that other, longer types of fats.

The body tends to use them as a source of calories or for other functions. In fact, athletes some times take refined MCTs for the energy during workouts. Additionally, some of these fatty acids such as caprylic acid and lauric acid can actually be beneficial to the body’s defenses against parasites and viruses. Additionally, in unrefined coconut oil, you can also find nutrients such as vitamin E, including the tocotrienol components, carotenoids, and other fat-soluble nutrients.

The truth is that the quality of the oil is probably the most important factor when purchasing coconut oil, so purchase from a respectable, health-oriented company. You will most likely use it sparingly as the high fat content tends to make you feel full rather quickly. Also, consider using it instead of other sources of saturated fat so that you do not dramatically increase your saturated fat intake but rather trade one type for a better, healthier one.

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