Coconut Oil

[LasVegasFitGirl]

So I bought some because of all your comments on it. I put a spoonful on steamed veggies and man is it delicious. I crave the taste. My question is, how much a day and how much per serving? I know it's fat and it's bad to use too much, but how much does everyone use and is it your only fat serving?

[thebratee1]

I've read 2 to 3 tablespoons a day is a good amount.

Regina

[Katerchen]

I know there is a trend right now that coconut oil is the magic bullet for health. However, 1 tablespoon still has about 120 calories and is loaded with saturated fat. Additionally, besides websites that try to sell coconut oil and its supplements, the view of coconut oil is not as flattering:

The United States Food and Drug Administration,[2] World Health Organization,[3] International College of Nutrition,[4] the United States Department of Health and Human Services,[5] American Dietetic Association,[6] American Heart Association,[7] British National Health Service,[8] and Dietitians of Canada[6] recommend against the consumption of significant amounts of coconut oil due to its high levels of saturated fat. Advocacy against coconut and palm oils in the 1970s and 80s due to their perceived danger as a saturated fat caused companies to instead substitute trans fats, unaware of their health-damaging effects.[20]

Coconut oil contains a large proportion of lauric acid, a saturated fat that raises blood cholesterol levels by increasing the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol[21] that is also found in significant amounts in breast milk and sebaceous gland secretions.[22] This may create a more favourable blood cholesterol profile, though it is unclear if coconut oil may promote atherosclerosis through other pathways.[21] Because much of the saturated fat of coconut oil is in the form of lauric acid, coconut oil may be a better alternative to partially hydrogenated vegetable oil when solid fats are required.[23] In addition, virgin coconut oil is composed mainly of medium-chain triglycerides,[24] which may not carry the same risks as other saturated fats.[23][25] Early studies on the health effects of coconut oil used partially hydrogenated coconut oil, which creates trans fats, and not virgin coconut oil, which has a different health risk profile.[26]

A repellent made from coconut oil can be used to prevent tungiasis-causing sand fleas from invading the body.[27]

[edit] Uses

[Dela]

It appears the original studies focused on Partially hydrogenated coconut oil, which likely is terrible for you, but I believe most people are selling and buying the Virgin coconut oil and I'm unclear the stance on the virgin oil from these comments.

I have a hard time taking the governments advice on nutrition, seems like everything they say is motivated by some kind of "interest" they are protecting.

[fit44]

Tosca Reno talked about how she has the best abs at the age of 50....
No grain diet except for Quinoa and Oats and 3 TBSP of coconut oil every day.

I can tell you from my own personal experience eating a low grain diet, I do not have to worry about my fat or calorie intake. It's only when I'm eating a lot of starchy carbs I find myself having to count calories....and starchy carbs always take over.
I can eat starchy carbs until I'm sick and still never feel satisfied.

[RapidBreath]

Originally Posted by LasVegasFitGirl

it's bad to use too much, but how much does everyone use and is it your only fat serving?

I completely disagree with that statement, fat is not bad, this is the best kind of fat for your body, embrace it. A good dosage for your thyroid health is 4 tbsp/day. More than that tends to make a person too hot (literally.)

Coconut oil is good fat. Fat is good, its your friend, it will make you thin and give you energy.

[LasVegasFitGirl]

I think the key words in that statement were "Too Much". I know a certain amount of fat is required in our diets. I am seeing how much others incorporated into thiers.

Thanks for all the replies ladies.

[Katerchen]

October 7, 2011 | Comments: 0

Tropical Oils: Healthful or Not?

Tropical oils are being touted as a healthier alternative to partially hydrogenated oils, which contain trans fats. Are they really better for you?

Tropical oils were once the favored fats for giving processed foods a pleasing texture and good shelf stability. But starting in the late 1980s, these oils fell out of favor because most of the fats they contain are saturated, and saturated fats were linked to elevated blood cholesterol. Partially hydrogenated oils, which largely replaced tropical oils at the time, were subsequently found to be even worse for your heart because of their trans fat.

Now, tropical oils are back again. You can find them in an increasing number of packaged foods, including crackers, cookies, pie crusts, energy bars and spreads, as well as microwave and movie theater popcorn.

Tropical oils: understudied and unclear

Lab research suggests that palm oil, though highly saturated, may act more like healthful unsaturated fats in the body, in terms of its effects on blood cholesterol. But the evidence is conflicting. One study from Brazil, for example, found that palm oil improved cholesterol in healthy people. In contrast, a study from Thailand found it increased cholesterol in women who already had high cholesterol. Meanwhile, population studies have not consistently linked consumption of palm oil to heart disease. In reality, there have been too few human studies in English-language journals to know if palm oil is detrimental, neutral or possibly even beneficial.

Published research on coconut oil is even more scant. In one study, in Lipids, women who consumed coconut oil for 12 weeks had no undesirable changes in cholesterol. And in some countries where people consume a lot of coconut oil, cholesterol levels tend to be low. There’s no evidence, however, that coconut oil strengthens immunity, improves digestion or prevents heart disease, arthritis or other chronic diseases, as some websites claim. Due to its chemical structure, it does take a few more calories for the body to process coconut oil, compared to other fats—but any calorie-burning effect would be minimal at best. It is certainly no treatment for obesity.

A breakdown of tropical oils

All fats are mixtures of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Though most of the fatty acids in tropical oils are saturated, not all saturated fats are harmful. In some studies, palm oil’s main fatty acid, palmitic acid, had no effect on cholesterol. Palm oil also contains a fair amount of monounsaturated fats. Similarly, though coconut oil is highly saturated, its fats seem to have a neutral effect on cholesterol levels in most people.

Moreover, the effect of saturated fat varies from person to person, depending on genetics, weight, other dietary and lifestyle factors and even gender. In addition, tropical oils contain other substances that can affect the risk of heart disease—and how the oils are processed may matter, too. What’s key is your overall diet. Adding tropical oils in the context of a healthy diet is unlikely to affect blood cholesterol significantly.

Our advice

Early research that raised red flags about tropical oils was faulty. You should still limit these oils, however, since their effects on cholesterol aren’t fully understood. And snack foods containing tropical oils tend to be high in calories—and low in nutrients. Be aware, also, that manufacturers may use a process called interesterification, which changes the structure of the oil so that it performs like a partially hydrogenated oil without the trans fat. That sounds great but we don’t yet know whether interesterified fats might have their own adverse health consequences. If you see the term “fully hydrogenated” palm or palm kernel oil on a food label, it may indicate that interesterified fats are present.

Berkeley Wellness Alerts - Tropical Oils: Healthful or Not?


Don't eat coconut oil because of positive health effects but eat it because you like it.