WORDS
SHEREE MUTTON
PHOTOGRAPHY
GETTY IMAGES
‘the
health
claims aren’t
backed up by
research and
evidence’Coconut oil is extremely
high in saturated fat
a long-chain fatty acid in the body.
In 2013, a study conducted at
the University of Queensland
debunked myths about coconut oil
curing Alzheimer’s disease, lowering
cholesterol and preventing heart
disease. Associate Professor David
Colquhoun, a cardiologist from the
university’s School of Medicine said at
the time that the research didn’t support
any of these claims and coconut oil was
in fact full of unhealthy saturated fat,
which could raise bad cholesterol levels,
clog the arteries and increase the risk
of heart disease. Similarly, in 2017 the
American Heart Association (AHA)
recommended that people
replace saturated fats
(such as coconut oil)
with unsaturated fats.
The AHA reviewed
seven controlled
trials and found that
coconut oil did, in fact,
raise harmful LDL
cholesterol levels.
According to dietitian
Lyndi Cohen, there are other
bizarre claims about the benefits
of coconut oil circulating, particularly
among self-professed wellness experts.
“Coconut oil enthusiasts make claims
of it being a miracle superfood that can
help you lose weight, reduce cravings
and whiten your teeth,” she explains.
“While coconut oil may be good to
use on your skin or hair, most of the
impressive superfood health claims
about coconut oil aren’t backed up
by research and evidence.” Although
coconut oil doesn’t contain cholesterol,
dietitians say the high content of
saturated fat makes it unhealthy to
consume on a regular basis. Lyndi
recommends leaving your jar of coconut
oil for cosmetic purposes and switching
to extra virgin olive oil for cooking
instead. “I prefer to use extra virgin
olive oil daily because there is plenty of
evidence that its high antioxidant levelscan help protect your heart health,” she
explains. The truth is that olive oil is rich
in healthy monounsaturated fats and is
a key component of the Mediterranean
diet, which has been proven to help with
weight loss and increase life expectancy.
The phenolic compounds in olive oil
have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and
anti-inflammatory properties, which
can aid your immune system and lower
your risk of heart disease.Benefits for hair
The praise coconut oil receives for its
hair benefits, however, are deserved. It is
rich in fatty acids and used around the
world in shampoos, conditioners and
treatments for the hair. Coconut oil can
help nourish dry and damaged hair,
moisturise the scalp, enhance shine and
prevent frizz. It has also been used for
years to minimise dandruff, and a 2003
study found that coconut oil reduced the
protein loss for both undamaged and
damaged hair when used as a pre- and
post-wash grooming product.Did you
know?
A CHOICE investigation found
that one tablespoon serving
of coconut oil has more than
13 grams of fat, with saturated
fat making up about
11 grams of that.
The recommended
daily allowance
for additional
saturated fatty
acids for an
average adult
is 24 grams,
according to the
Australia New
Zealand Food
Standards Code.C
oconut oil has soared in
popularity in recent years, largely
due to celebrity endorsements
and the wellness movement that has
encouraged consumers to opt for
plant-based products. Supermodel
Miranda Kerr says coconut oil is a staple
in her kitchen, while paleo advocate and
television chef, Pete Evans has replaced
butter, margarine and virgin olive oil
with coconut oil in cooking. But does
this supposed miracle oil live up to
the hype?What is coconut oil?
The Philippines, Indonesia and India are
the main producers of coconut oil, which
can be processed and refined. Coconut
oil is extracted from the white flesh of
coconuts and is 100 percent pure fat,
leaving behind the fibre, carbohydrate
and protein. There are numerous
types of saturated fatty
acids in coconut oil –
the predominant kind is
lauric acid. Coconut oil
has a long shelf life and
is used in everything
from cooking to
haircare products, yet
coconut oil provides
little to no vitamins or
minerals for the human body.Fact vs fiction
Coconut oil is extremely high in
saturated fat – the fats that raise LDL
(unhealthy) cholesterol in the blood and
increase your risk of developing heart
disease. However, many coconut oil
supporters believe that the saturated fat
in coconut oil isn’t processed in the
body the same way as other saturated
fats that you would find in meat, butter
and cheese. Many point to coconut
oil being a rich source of medium-
chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs
are absorbed quickly by the body and
used for energy, which prevents fat
storage. Because of this, they claim that
coconut oil doesn’t affect our health
negatively. However, most coconut
oils found in the supermarket contain
only a small amount of MCTs and
are high in lauric acid, which acts asbe informed
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