Is Coconut Oil Good for Your Health?

We don’t know why nutrition controversies seem to be especially emotional. Battles over butter, eggs and salt have raged on for years. Other fats may also trigger heated arguments. Is coconut oil good or bad for you?

Is Coconut Good or Bad for Cholesterol?

Q. For years coconut oil was much maligned as being very bad for cholesterol. Now it is touted as being not only OK, but good for high blood cholesterol. Are there any reputable studies that would confirm or deny those new claims?

A. A review of research on virgin coconut oil (VCO) found that “there may be health benefits associated with VCO” (Postgraduate Medicine, Nov., 2014).  The authors point out, however, that there are no good head-to-head studies comparing VCO to olive oil, for example. That said, both the animal studies and human trials seem promising with respect to heart health.

A recent analysis suggests that the idea that saturated fat would clog coronary arteries was not supported by good evidence (BMJ, April 13, 2016).  Some health experts now consider coconut oil good and encourage their patients to cook with VCO.

A recent review of 21 studies found that coconut oil ingestion raises total and LDL cholesterol more than unsaturated vegetable oils but less than butter (Nutrition Reviews, Apr., 2016). With the latest research showing only a modest effect of butter on cardiovascular risk (PLOS One, June 29, 2016), coconut oil seems innocuous.

A reader shared this observation:

“I have been cooking with coconut oil. My husband is still alive at ninety-three and so am I. Coconut oil has not raised our cholesterol at all, so I do not see any harmful effects.”

If you would like recipes that feature coconut and other healthful ingredients, you may be interested in our book, Recipes & Remedies from The People’s Pharmacy.