When it comes to good fats, coconut oil can be a controversial ingredient. If you talk to a professional within the mainstream medical system, they may tell you it’s extremely unhealthy.
On the other hand, a well known doctor, Mary Newport M.D., claimed that coconut oil cured her husband’s Alzheimer’s when she gave him a couple of tablespoons per day.
Is Coconut Oil Good for You?
For the last decade one of the most frequently asked questions I’ve received is--is coconut oil good for you? Read on to learn more about coconut oil and what coconut oil is best to use.
What Coconut Oil is Good For
According to Udo Erasmus’s book, Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill,
“Tropical oils got a bad reputation for increasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels that supposedly cause cardiovascular disease. An unconfirmed rumor suggests that the soybean oil industry-financed the successful campaign against tropical fats to kill imports and increase soybean oil sales.”
He goes on to say:
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“Tropical oils used in their countries of origin have been shown in several studies to decrease cholesterol levels. The difference in results may be due to several causes; deterioration in tropical oils during storage (oxidation); processing (hydrogenation); differing experimental design; or a combination of the above.”
Coconut Oil Benefits
If that’s not enough, here’s the story on coconut oil (and other tropical oils such as palm) told by my Dad, Ezra Amsterdam: who just finished work editing the latest edition of the Manual of Preventative Cardiology; for the American Society of Preventative Cardiology:
“These oils are like meats and dairy products in that they have a substantial content of saturated fatty acids (i.e., saturated fats). Saturated fats raise low-density cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) levels and this is the form of cholesterol associated with heart attack, stroke and other blood vessel diseases. The saturated fatty acid in coconut oil is myristic acid, that’s the short of it, which now appears to not be the whole story. Although myristic acid does raise bad cholesterol levels, the ratio of total cholesterol to bad cholesterol (a key risk factor of heart attack, etc.) is not affected by myristic acid and it has desirable effects on other blood fats such as lowering triglycerides and raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol. So the picture is a complex one“.
So, in summary, I’d say, “Coconut oil contains saturated fat which does raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, one of the most important risk factors for heart attack and other blood vessel disease. But the picture is not so simple, since the fat in coconut oil also has desirable effects on other blood fats such as increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol and lowering triglycerides. To be on the safe side, consumption of only modest amounts of coconut oil is a wise course.”
Refined vs Unrefined
I’ve received numerous questions about the difference between refined vs unrefined coconut oil. Refined is made from dried coconuts and has a milder scent and flavor. Refined has a higher smoke point (heat up to 400°).
Unrefined is made from fresh coconuts and is minimally processed leading to a strong coconut flavor. Unrefined has a lower smoke point (heat up to 350°), and is known as virgin coconut oil.
What Brand is Best for Cooking?
I use Spectrum Organic to add a “tropical” flavor to some of my baked goods. I also recommend:
Recipes with Coconut Oil
Here are my favorite recipes including this fantastic oil.
Keto Mint Chocolate Chip Fat Bombs
A keto vegan fat bomb recipe you can’t resist! My fat bombs are vegan since they’re made of coconut oil and nut butter, rather than the usual ghee or butter.
Keto Brownies
The smell of Keto Brownies filling our home is delightful.
This Keto Brownies recipe is a win-win that lets you stick to your Low-Carb Diet while satisfying chocolate cravings.
Coconut Bars
These rich and moist Coconut Bars are made of not one, but three different forms of healthy coconut –oil, flour, and shredded.
If you want to knock your coconut bars out of the park, drizzle them in some chocolate.
Cooking with Coconut Oil
What is your favorite use for coconut oil, do you cook with it often?
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