Saturated Fat And Cholesterol Support Health
Lets talk about saturated fat and cholesterol because they are actually vital for good health. Did you know that your brain is mostly made of cholesterol and saturated fat? Cholesterol promotes the growth of new brain cells, facilitates communication between neurons, and is a critical component of the myelin sheath, the protective covering of our nerves. It may also protect against Alzheimers disease. A study conducted in New York City including 1,130 elderly people found that higher HDL cholesterol levels were associated with a significant decrease in the risk of Alzheimers, even when adjusting for other factors including vascular disease, age, sex, education level, and genes that predispose to the disease.11 A more recent Mayo Clinic study found that those participants who consumed the most fat were 42 percent less likely to have cognitive impairment.12 And finally, a study published in the medical journal The Lancet measured lipid and serum cholesterol levels in 3,572 men, ages 71-93 years old, and found that those with the lowest cholesterol levels were more likely to die from any cause.13
Are The Saturated Fats In Coconut Oil Different
Roughly 80 percent of the fat in coconut oil is saturated. Yet some people claim that coconut oil doesnt raise LDL. Not true, says Sacks.
The evidence is straightforward. Some of the short-chain saturated fatty acids in coconut oil dont raise LDL cholesterol. But they dont counteract the effects of the oils longer-chain fatty acids, which do increase LDL cholesterol. So coconut oil raises LDL cholesterol in the same way that, say, butter does.
In a 2016 paper, researchers reviewed the evidence from seven small trials that compared coconut oil to monounsaturated or polyunsaturated oils, like olive or soybean. They found that LDL cholesterol levels were higher when people ate coconut oil. The increase was statistically significant in six of the seven studies.
Granted, no large trials have tested coconut oils impact on heart disease. In the absence of any 10,000-person study, we have to go on the best available evidence, which shows that coconut oil raises LDL cholesterol, says Sacks. And coconut oil has no demonstrated benefits to offset the rise in LDL.
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Reduce Your Risk Of Diabetes
Coconut oil improves insulin resistance, which is a contributor to diabetes. Diabetes can have major health implications so you donât want to have to worry about developing it. At the same time, coconut oil can help control your weight, which is another easy way to lower your risk of diabetes.
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May Aid Relief In Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic Dermatitis is the itchy inflammation of the skin. It is also known as Eczema. It causes rashes over the skin, leading to a lot of itching and irritation.
Coconut oil has moisturizing properties that soothe the rashes and relieves the person. It even has anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce the spread of infection and controls inflammation.
Coconut Oil Has Been Linked To Alleviating Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms
This is a claim in its very early days – and one that isn’t supported by much, if any, solid evidence.Studies have shown that some of the components of virgin coconut oil – like MCTs and ketones – can provide an alternative energy source to the brain and improve brain function, respectively.It’s important to note that this evidence isn’t directly related to coconut oil itself though, and lots of research is still to be done to prove these health benefits .
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Patient And Public Involvement
The BBC originally proposed the idea of a study to examine claims about the health benefits of coconut oil in response to public interest the study would be part of their Trust me, Im a doctor series. The study was designed as a randomised trial with participants from the general community in discussion with the BBC.
No Coconut Oil Is Not Good For You
Coconut oil contains around 90% saturated fat, which is much more than the 64% saturated fat content found in butter.
Eating too much saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels, which increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Coconut oil is also known to raise cholesterol levels more than other plant-based oils like olive oil or sesame oil.
Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and become liquid when melted. “Think of it as going into your body as a liquid and then turning to that solid in your arteries,” says Colleen Christenson, a registered dietitian and nutritionist. “This is essentially the basis for why it’s recommended to avoid excessive saturated fat intakes.”
Coconut oil is also a high-calorie food, meaning if you don’t consume it in moderation it could cause weight gain. Fats contain nine calories per gram, which is much higher than the ratio found in carbs or protein, which both contain four calories per gram.
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Main Outcomes And Measures
The primary outcome was change in serum LDL-C secondary outcomes were change in total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol , TC/HDL-C ratio and non-HDL-C change in weight, body mass index , waist circumference, per cent body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and C reactive protein.
There Are Better Options For Your Skin Than Coconut Oil
Im sure youre wondering what to use if coconut oil is bad for your rashed skin condition.
Dont worry! There are a lot of other natural oils to use on your skin that are probably a better fit.
The natural plant oils that I recommend include jojoba oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, sunflower seed oil, and olive oil. These each have different components in them and help your skin from the outside-inward in different ways.
Jojoba oil is excellent for your skin mainly because of how similar it is to human sebum. If youre not familiar with the term sebum, its an oily substance naturally produced by your skin that lubricates and waterproofs your skin.
There are a number of proven anti-inflammatory effects associated with jojoba oil. It can help with skin repair for acne and many types of dermatitis . Jojoba oil is also recommended for many skin conditions like infections and aging.
Avocado oil is another healthy oil to try. It contains many vitamins, minerals, and skin-supporting oils like linoleic acid. Its excellent for dry, damaged, or chapped skin. And Ive had a number of readers share with me how helpful avocado oil has been for supporting softer, calmer skin.
Sunflower seed oil has been studied for its help with atopic dermatitis because of its moisturizing effect. It has a high concentration of a fatty acid called linoleic acid which helps the skin barrier by enhancing the outer layer of skin cells.
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Products Used In The Study
VCO was produced by Siam Paradise Health Products Co. Ltd. The oil contained lauric acid 50.4%, myristic acid 17.5%, caprylic acid 9.0%, palmitic acid 7.9%, capric acid 7.0%, oleic acid 5.9%, stearic acid 1.6%, and linoleic acid 0.9%. The control regimen was 2% CMC solution, produced by the Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University. A 2% CMC solution was chosen as the control regimen instead of other types of oil in order to avoid any effects of other oils on the lipid profiles.
Coconut Oil And Health
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The Benefits Of Olive Oil Versus Coconut Oil And Others
It has been argued that both olive oil and coconut oil are two types of healthy oils that can be used for weight loss and improved digestion. Olive oil contains long-chain triglycerides whereas coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides, which tend to be absorbed into the body faster. Hypothetically, one’s body would be able to burn medium-chain triglycerides faster than long-chain triglycerides. However, coconut oil contains much higher levels of saturated fat compared to olive oil, which contains monounsaturated fatty acids.18 Coconut oil is associated with a positively high-density lipoprotein count.19 HDL transfers unnecessary fat molecules through water inside and outside cells around the body. This allows for the body’s cholesterol levels to maintain normality by removing excess cholesterol from the muscle tissues to the liver for disposal from the body.20
In one animal trial on rats medium-chain fatty acids were injected into one rat and long-chain fatty acids were injected into a second rat. The two rats were watched and compared over time. It was found that the rat with the medium-chain fatty acid injection lost more weight without exuding extreme amounts of energy, compared to the second rat. It was also noted that the first rat gained only one-third the amount of weight than gained by the second rat.22
Coconut Oil And The Boost In Hdl Good Cholesterol
Written By Michael Greger M.D. FACLM on January 28, 2021
The effects of coconut oil were compared to butter and tallow. Even if virgin coconut oil and other saturated fats raise LDL bad cholesterol, isnt that countered by the increase in HDL good cholesterol?
According to the experience and wisdom of 200 of the countrys leading experts in cardiovascular diseases, in a report representing 29 national medical organizations, including the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, weve known for nearly half a century that coconut oil is one of the most potent agents for elevating serum cholesterol level. As I discuss in my video Coconut Oil and the Boost in HDL Good Cholesterol,studies showing coconut oil elevates cholesterol date back to 1955, when it was first shown experimentally that switching someone from coconut oil to soybean oil could drop cholesterol from around 200 down to 150, as you can see at 0:39 in my video.
Coconut oil can significantly raise cholesterol levels within hours of consumption. In fact, a significant increase in blood cholesterol was found within hours of eating a slice of cake made from either coconut oil , but not from the same cake made from flaxseed oil.
I love topics that give me an excuse to talk about scientific concepts more generally, like various study designs in my video Prostate Cancer and Organic Milk vs. Almond Milk or my discussion of direct versus indirect risk factors in this one.
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How Much Coconut Oil Should You Consume
Coconut oil can be used for both baking and cooking. Since coconut imparts such wonderful fragrance, it has been used to cook tropical style dishes and prepare exotic drinks such as coconut milk and citrus juice, which are often so nourishing. If you are consuming coconut oil on a regular basis, try not to push it to more than 3 and a half teaspoons. Taking more would be harmful.
Coconut Oil Is Not The Superfood We Thought It Was Study Says
For years, the world has sung the praises of coconut oil. Cook with it! Put it in your hair! Use it as makeup remover! Moisturize with it! It was the cure-all for a seemingly endless list of wellness and beauty woes. Well, the honeymoon with this so-called superfood is over: The American Heart Association is calling out coconut oil for what it is an oil.
As a cooking fat, coconut oil used to be considered the good kind because it raised HDL, or good cholesterol levels, despite its high saturated fat content, and lowered the ratio of LDL, or bad cholesterol levels. According to a new study published in the June issue of Circulation, the sweet oil actually raises LDL enough for it to be potentially dangerous to our health. The AHA advises against eating it, saying it can put people at risk for cardiovascular disease. Nooooo!
Researchers found that when lined up against other, less trendy fats, coconut oil does not live up to its supposedly superfood reputation. It raises LDL levels more than olive oil and has more saturated fat than butter !
Its not the first time the overinflated health benefit claims of coconut oil have come under fire. Last year, a survey of 672 nutritionists found that only 37 percent of them classified the oil as a health food.
Whats your reaction to this upsetting coconut oil news? Let us know !
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Is Coconut Oil Bad For Your Cholesterol
Ever since I started using coconut oil, my cholesterol has spiked, writes this weeks house call. Im afraid coconut oil with all that saturated fat is creating more harm than good. Should I continue to use it?
Since I expressed my love for medium-chain triglyceride oil or MCT oil, Ive received this question several times.
I call MCTs a super fuel for your cells because your body uses this kind of fat very efficiently. Your cells burn MCTs for energy while storing very little as fat, boosting your metabolism and supporting your immune system.
MCTs also help balance many hormones, including the ones that control your appetite. They keep you feeling full and satisfied. They actually improve your cholesterol profile.
They also help your body burn fat. One study found that consuming MCT oils helped reduce body fat and triglycerides more than omega 6 vegetable oils. After eight weeks, the experiment showed the MCT oil group lost more weight, body fat and subcutaneous fat, all while experiencing a 15 percent drop in triglycerides and LDL.
At the same time, as MCT-rich coconut oil becomes more popular, it also becomes a concern among some folks because of its high amounts of saturated fat and potential for raising cholesterol.
The reality is, cholesterol is not black and white. Classifying it as good or bad vastly oversimplifies this molecule, which among its duties helps synthesize vitamin D and hormones while maintaining cell structure.
Wishing you health and happiness,
Health Benefits For Heart Disease Are Still Unsupported
When a friend told me about “the wonders of coconut oil,” it sounded a bit like a Saturday Night Live sketch.
It’s a health food. It’s a skin conditioner. You can use it in your hair. It’s even great as a natural wood polish for your furniture! But wait, there’s more! You can use coconut oil to improve your IQ and shrink your bunions!
Okay, I made up those last two, but I was easily able to find more than 100 recommended uses for coconut oil. Indeed, it seems as though everywhere you look, someone is singing its praises.
Maybe it’s the way that coconut oil evokes the image of swaying palm trees in a tropical paradise. Or, maybe it’s that the bright white color suggests an all-natural purity that’s appealing in a world full of highly processed consumer goods. Or maybe we’re all just looking for the next big thing in healthy foods, all-natural beauty products, or innovative jet fuel .
Whatever the explanation, coconut oil does sound good. But is it too good to be true? I won’t comment on its usefulness to polish furniture or power a 747, but I am interested in the health claims.
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Coconut Oil And Cholesterol
Overview
Coconut oil has been in the headlines in recent years for various health reasons. In particular, experts go back and forth debating about whether or not its good for cholesterol levels.
Some experts say you should avoid coconut oil because of its high levels of saturated fat .
Others say that the structure of the fat in coconut oil makes it less likely to add to fat buildup in the body and that, for that reason, its healthy.
There are a lot of conflicting reports about whether or not coconut oil can help:
- maintain healthy cholesterol
- help raise good high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels
Research hasnt been definitive, but there are many facts known about this oil. These may help you choose whether or not to incorporate coconut oil into your diet. Consulting your physician is also a good idea.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the oil from fresh coconuts contains a high proportion of medium chain fatty acids. These dont seem to be stored in fat tissue as easily as are long chain fatty acids.
Experts say that coconut oils lauric acid, which is a healthy type of saturated fatty acid, is quickly burned up by the body for energy rather than stored. Thats why some people think of coconut oil as a potential weight loss tool.
All types of fat have the same number of calories. Its only the difference in the fatty acid makeup that makes each fat distinct from the others.
In a saturated fat to soybean oils 15 percent.