Coconut oil is 'pure poison', says Harvard professor

[nitpicker]

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/aug/22/coconut-oil-is-pure-poison-says-harvard-professor

Coconut oil is 'pure poison', says Harvard professor

Ian Sample Science editor

Wed 22 Aug 2018 13.31 BST Last modified on Thu 23 Aug 2018 09.44 BST

For certain health food shops and wellbeing sites it is the panacea that helps everything from bad hair and mental grogginess to obesity and haemorrhoids. But the carefully-crafted image of coconut oil as a cure for many ills has been roundly rejected by a Harvard professor.

Karin Michels, an epidemiologist at the Harvard TH Chan school of public health, poured scorn on the superfood movement and singled out the fad for coconut oil in particular, calling the substance “one of the worst things you can eat” that was as good for wellbeing as “pure poison”.
(snip)

Michels based her warning on the high proportion of saturated fat in coconut oil, which is known to raise levels of so-called LDL cholesterol, and so the risk of cardiovascular disease. Coconut oil contains more than 80% saturated fat, more than twice the amount found in lard, and 60% more than is found in beef dripping.

Last year, the American Heart Association reviewed the evidence on coconut oil among other foodstuffs. While three quarters of the US public considered coconut oil to be healthy, the review noted that only 37% of nutritionists agreed. The authors attributed the gulf in perception to the marketing of coconut oil in the popular press. “Because coconut oil increases LDL cholesterol, a cause of CVD, and has no known offsetting favourable effects, we advise against the use of coconut oil,” the review concluded.

Other organisations have issued similar warnings. “Coconut oil can be included in the diet, but as it is high in saturated fats should only be included in small amounts and as part of a healthy balanced diet,” the British Nutrition Foundation said. “There is to date no strong scientific evidence to support health benefits from eating coconut oil.”
(snip)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. An unclear contentious area of health research, but "pure poison" reflects older research

I've been watching this for several years and it is still not clear but I am leaning slightly in favor of things like MCT Medium Chain Triglyceride Coconut Oil.

Not simply HDL v LDL; there are several kinds of LDL including VLDL. There are plasma lipoprotein particles classified as HDL, LDL, IDL, VLDL and ULDL, and the LDL come in at least two different sizes.

The key seems to be inflammation rather than cholesterol. So eating lots of anti-inflammatories (Omega-3, fruits, berries , vegetables, and anti-oxidants) and reducing inflammatories like sugar and omega-6. The more colorful the food (outside of meat) the better, it seems generally but not always of course.

A Doctor Explains Why Saturated Fat In Coconut Oil Isn't A Problem
By Mark Hyman, M.D. Functional Medicine Doctor

excerpt

Studies show saturated fat raises LDL, yet it also raises HDL ("good" cholesterol). On the other hand, sugar lowers HDL. Ultimately, the ratio of total cholesterol to LDL cholesterol better predicts heart attacks than LDL on its own. Coconut oil can contain up to 40 percent saturated fat, yet interestingly, countries with the highest intakes of coconut oil have the lowest rates of heart disease.

While some research shows coconut oil contains higher amounts of saturated fat and does increase total cholesterol, those amounts do not increase our heart attack or stroke risk. In fact, one study among lean, heart-disease- and stroke-free Pacific Islanders who consumed up to 63 percent of their calories from coconut fat found total cholesterol rose but so did their "good" HDL.

I have a link from 2009 by the same doctor, so it is not something new, but there is increasingly research supporting him.

Heart disease is not caused by high cholesterol so taking statins is 'waste of time', research finds
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141486827

At least two types of LDL
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-sheridan/ldl-cholesterol-size-does_b_8372366.html

[hlthe2b]

2. Having followed the debate for some time, I merely follow my own perception: it tastes awful

So, the one and only time I bought a jar of this crap, I opened once, tried it, and proceeded to throw the damn stuff away... AND I NEVER WASTE FOOD, but I couldn't even stand the smell.

So, I think that's my body's way of settling the issue.

[phylny]

3. I wonder if it was rancid.

I'm not doubting your personal experience, but my coconut oil, which is organic, does not have a bad taste or smell.

[hlthe2b]

4. I don't think so... I love fresh coconut, but detest most things that contain coconut.

Still, one more thing I don't have to worry about.