Coconut Oil: Is it helpful?

Preface:

This author does not agree with the popularity of coconut oil for its health benefits.  Other articles included in this blog are more positive.  The sources he gives are from 1987 and 2001, so it would seem that science or other evidence has changed some of the thinking around this oil between then and now.  

The makes no mention of Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson's Disease in this article.  These are the health conditions that were referred to as benefiting from coconut oil taken daily.

Because Dean Ornish has been the health Guru that makes the most sense to me, seeing his name in the article gets my attention.  Heart health is of great importance and cocnut oil seems counter intuitive to anyone who has followed Ornish's principles.  At the same time, Viagra was a heart drug that found new uses, we need to keep an open mind. 

If  you hear from credible sources that a natural substance can help  manage symptoms, keep an open mind and look into it.  ....


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Coconut Oil: An over-rated, and potentially dangerous source of fat?

 Is coconut oil a health-promoting food? 

Some of the health benefits claimed include: stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, the treatment of candida and pancreatitis, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, improved dental care, and bone strength.

None of these claims have been substantiated by human clinical trails, and in my view, are largely misleading. A bigger concern is the fact that the regular use of coconut oil may actually promote some very deleterious health effects, especially in regard to cardiovascular disease.

Coconut Oil and Cardiovascular Disease

Although there have been no formal coconut oil loading studies in humans that address lipid changes, there is strong indirect evidence that regular use of coconut oil will raise blood cholesterol and increase risk of thrombogenic conditions (e.g. deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attacks, etc).



The human body has no requirement for saturated fat. Dr. William Castelli, the medical director of the Framingham Heart Study and Dr. Dean Ornish have provided compelling evidence that, the lower one’s total saturated fat intake (from all sources), the lower the risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, angina etc. 

Dean Ornish has provided evidence to show that a virtually zero content saturated fat diet, along with moderate exercise and meditation, can reverse atherosclerosis, as demonstrated by angiography studies. 

 

Saturated fatty acids:  

The liver can synthesize saturated fat (primarily palmitic acid), as well as the monounsaturated fat, oleic acid, from carbohydrates consumed in the human diet. 

After age 5, there is no nutritional need for dietary saturated fat or cholesterol. 

 

*Fatty acid composition of coconut oil

Common name	Composition	Mean %
Caproic acid	C 6:0	0.44
Caprylic acid	C 8:0	7.05
Capric acid	C 10:0	6.59
Lauric acid	C 12:0	50.63
Myristic acid	C 14:0	18.10
Palmitic acid	C 16:0	8.26
Stearic acid	C 18:0	3.07
Oleic acid	C 18:1	4.65
Linoleic acid	C 18:2	0.8
Other	C 18:3 C 24:1	0.31

*http://www.kokonutpacific.com.au/OilSales/OilCoconutoil/Oil_specs.html



Online References for Coconut Oil

1. S. Renaud. Thrombogenicity and atherogenicity of dietary fatty acids in rat. Atherosclerosis. Oct 2, 1987
2. Summary of the Scientific Conference on Dietary Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Health (Conference Summary From the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association) Circulation. 2001;103:1034.)

 Source:
Coconut Oil: An over-rated, and potentially dangerous source of fat
 http://www.meschinohealth.com/ArticleDirectory/Coconut_Oil_Over-rated_Potentially_Dangerous_Source_Of_Fat