Coconut oil isn’t as healthy as we thought, study finds

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Time To Jump Off The Coconut Oil Trend because apparently it’s Doing Your Body More Harm Than Good

The wellness space is constantly pushing the newest miracle product. Whether it be an essential oil or the trendiest way to approach your self-care routine, living well has never been so celebrated. Social media outlets are being flooded with one oil in particular, and wellness lovers use it when they cook, as part of a beauty regimen, and even to clean around the house!

Derived from mature coconuts, this oil is proclaimed to have a variety of health benefits.

Many people use coconut oil as a face moisturizer or as a hair mask to give their locks added shine, and some health-conscious consumers even add it to their favorite food recipes.

Coconut oil is even known to improve your immune system, control your blood sugar, increase your energy, and keep your teeth in good shape. The benefits seem to be endless, leading many to use this solid oil while preparing a variety of meals.

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Rethinking the obsession

A Recent Report May Have You Rethinking Your Coconut Oil Obsession. Although coconut oil seems to be heaven-sent, it may not be beneficial to all of your organs. A report released by the American Heart Association has revealed that consuming coconut oil may be detrimental to your heart health.

Coconut oil is filled with saturated fats, and the Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease Advisory found that coconut oil increases bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in seven out of a total of eight controlled clinical trials. According to the report, coconut oil actually contains considerably more saturated fat than beef and butter, and an alarming 82% of the fat in coconut oil is saturated.

The AHA Is Recommending You Avoid It Completely

High levels of bad cholesterol is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, which leads the American Heart Association to advise against the consumption of this popular oil.

“Because coconut oil increases LDL cholesterol, a cause of CVD [cardiovascular disease], and has no known offsetting favorable effects, we advise against the use of coconut oil,” stated the Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease Advisory.

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There Are Other Less Harmful Ways To Get Your Fix

Don’t ditch your coveted container of coconut oil just yet.

Although researchers recommend using vegetable or olive oil while cooking, coconut oil works well — and safely — as a hair and skin moisturizer. “You can put it on your body, but don’t put it in your body,” stated Frank Sacks, the lead author of the American Heart Association’s report.

Keeping up with the neverending laundry list of wellness products can be daunting, but staying up to date on the health risks of these fads can keep you living your best life. Consider your heart the next time you think about cooking something up with some coconut oil!

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You know that saying, “I’ve got 99 problems, but coconut oil solved 90% of them?” While it may be a slight exaggeration, there’s still a lot of truth to it! Coconut oil is so useful and versatile due to its myriad of health benefits especially when used for cooking. This is mostly due to the type of fat that it’s composed of (medium chain fatty acids or MCFAs). Most of the fats that we consume take longer to digest, but the MCFAs found in coconut oil provide the perfect source of energy because they only have to go through a three-step process to be turned into fuel, whereas other fats go through a 26-step process. This makes particles in coconut oil easier to digest and harder to readily store as fat, which makes them available to be used immediately for energy. Coconut oil is also an anti-inflammatory food, which helps restore a healthy gut microbiome. When our gut environment is healthy, it ensures that all of our vitamins and minerals are fully absorbed. When our gut is inflamed, this can lead to poor digestion. 95% of our serotonin is found in our gut (that’s why it can be referred to as our second brain) and why it’s extremely important to make sure our gut is healthy so that we can stay happy. Additionally, coconut oil has a higher smoking point than olive oil, which makes it better to cook with. If you’re looking for a good coconut oil be sure to look for the cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil. And if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget that coconut oil can also be used as makeup remover, body lotion, sunscreen and many more things I’m sure! On top of being amazing for inside the body it is also amazing outside the body as well. It is is an amazing moisturizer to use on your skin and scalp if you have dry skin and you’ll notice the difference within the day!

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