Just as we begin to become accustomed to the idea of the great, holy powers of “Coconut Oil”, somebody had to step in and tell us that everything we know about the newly discovered sustenance is false.
“Somebody”, however, isn’t just anybody. He is doctor Walter C. Willett, M.D. of Harvard University’s Department of Nutrition.
He explains that coconut oil is comprised of about 90% saturated fat- higher than butter (64%), beef fat (40%) and lard (40%). We are told to avoid saturated fat because it increases levels of LDL cholesterol, thereby raising the risk of suffering from heart disease.
Karin Michels of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health even goes as far as to call it “pure poison” and “one of the worst foods she can name” in her talk Coconut Oil and Other Nutritional Errors.
Yet still, self-proclaimed health gurus online continue to ensure us of coconut oil’s uses for digestive help, hair and skin nutrition, cooking, and even its ability to help “mental boosts” (the last one might actually be true). Katie Wells, author of Wellness Mama’s 101+ Best Coconut Oil Uses and Benefits for Home and Beauty describes the many uses for pure poison -I mean coconut oil- whilst giving no citations or names of “studies” to verify her claims.
Ok people- put down your torches and pitchforks, coconut oil isn’t ALL bad. Because it contains HDL cholesterol (the good kind), it is high in MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) which has been proven to provide the brain cells with energy, making it a so-called “mental booster”.
So, to conclude, coconut oil is a good source of MCT and is a realistic option if you feel like your brain isn’t “boosted” enough prior to school. But take all this “healthiest substance on the planet” stuff with a massive grain of salt. Coconut oil contains more saturated fat than butter and can increase the risk of getting heart disease, so I would recommend you moderate yourself with how much you consume. The choice remains yours, but as always, everything is best in moderation.
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