What have you heard that is bad?
Things like this:
en.wikipedia.org
The American Heart Association, advises that coconut oil's is detrimental to cardiovascular health and promotes heart disease. By way of contrast Enig[3] states, "Hostmark et al (1980) compared the effects of diets containing 10% coconut fat and 10% sunflower oil on lipoprotein distribution in male Wistar rats. Coconut oil feeding produced significantly lower levels (p=<0.05) of pre-beta lipoproteins (VLDL) and significantly higher (p=<0.01) alpha-lipoproteins (HDL) relative to sunflower oil feeding."[4]
For many years now, the primary serum cholesterol-elevating fatty acids have been demonstrated to be the saturated fatty acids with 12(Lauric), 14(Myristic) and 16(Palmitic) carbon atoms, with a concomitant increase in the risk of coronary heart disease. Monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid are as effective in reducing serum total and low-density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol levels as polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic. {Vessby,B.1994. INFORM 5(2):182-185.}
A study at the Heart Research Institute in Sydney, Australia used coconut oil and safflower oil (a polyunsaturated fat) in two otherwise identical meals. The study found that:
“...three hours after eating [the coconut oil meal], the lining of the arteries was hindered from expanding to increase blood flow. And after six hours, the anti-inflammatory qualities of the good cholesterol were reduced.
“But [the safflower oil meal] seemed to improve those anti-inflammatory qualities. Also, fewer inflammatory agents were found in the arteries than before the meal.”[5].
Although the above study involved only 14 subjects and does not detail how the oils used were processed, it supports the view that coconut oil's saturated fatty acids make it less healthy to consume than polyunsaturated oils, such as safflower.
Other information claims that coconut oil has gotten a bad rap because is has been lumped together with all high saturated fats. This type information claims that coconut oil has medium chain triglycerides as opposed to long chain triglycerides and that the medium chain triglycerides are good for you.
I thought that you might have some personal knowledge about this. |
