How2GetHealthy

11 responses so far ↓

• 1 beautyscientist // Dec 7, 2007 at 8:03 am

  I hate to be negative but I am afraid I think this article on coconut oil is completely off the point. Coconut oil is not particularly different to other oils - it is a bit less prone to oxidation than most which is handy. It is also one of the cheaper oils, which is also handy. Other than that it is nothing very special.

• 2 Brenda // Dec 7, 2007 at 11:41 pm

  Do you use it? Have you tried it? Do you know anyone who has?

  The refined processed coconut oil is cheap. The virgin coconut oil isn’t, at least not when compared to corn, soy oil or even some olive oils. When compared to skin care products, however, its a real bargain and works better that anything I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried loads).

  Here is link to more information about research on coconut oil.
  Know your fats.

• 3 Colin // Dec 19, 2007 at 7:53 am

  Yes Brenda, I have been using coconut oil in various grades for 25 years. It is a nice oil. I agree that it is probably better for your skin neat than some cosmetics that cost a lot more. It isn’t anything out of the ordinary though.

• 4 Brenda // Dec 22, 2007 at 9:10 pm

  Hi Colin,
  I only discovered Coconut Oil 2 years ago and compared to oils I have used in the past, olive oil aside, it is far superior. I’ve replaced about 1/3 of my fat/oil intake with coconut oil and feel that this is beneficial to me. This is my personal opinion based on my experience.

  There is a lot of marketing hype on the internet about Coconut Oil and it is hard to find unbiased information. There is also very little research available. I did find this small article which I think sums up the situation and explains some basic differences between coconut oil and other fats.

  Taken from http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=221

  What do you think of coconut oil?

  Recent studies are showing the health benefits of coconut oil, which had been looked upon as a source of saturated fats and therefore to be avoided for those individuals with concerns over their cholesterol levels.

  While it is true that coconut contains saturated fats, what is now being brought to light is that there are actually different types of saturated fats, just like there are different types of fats in general, and some types of saturated fats are good for you.

  A very traditional food, coconut oil is making a comeback these days as a popular cooking oil. Much of the saturated fat in coconuts is not long chain, but medium-chain fatty acids; in fact, coconut oil contains between approximately 55-65% 62% medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), including the healthy fats, lauric acid, caprylic acid, and capric acid. (Lauric acid is the most plentiful of the MCFAs in coconut oil, and sometimes accounts for as much as 75% of this oil’s total MCFAs). MCFAs have been used for many years as dietary supplements in situations where absorption of nutrients needs improvement, including situations involving premature infants and adults with compromised bowel function. In some areas of the world where coconut oil is a regular component of the diet, the milk of nursing mothers is rich in MCFAs, and may be related to desirable health trends in later life.

  While the research points in this direction, there doesn’t seem to be enough clinical research to conclusively state this at this point. I have also noticed that coconut oil is a very well promoted subject on the web, with many claims for its health benefits, notably for its antiviral activity. But from the research I have seen, many of these conclusions seem very preliminary given that there has not been that much research published on this subject and that which has been conducted has often been done on individual components of coconut oil. Yet, the research published to date suggests coconut oil is healthful.

  Another good thing about coconut oil is that its saturated fatty acid profile gives it a higher smoke point than many polyunsaturated or monounsaturated oils. Therefore, while I don’t like to use oil in high heat applications, I understand that some people do. Coconut oil may be a good oil for this type of cooking.

• 5 Colin // Dec 23, 2007 at 9:46 am

  Brenda,

  I stand by my opinion that there is nothing wrong with coconut oil, but that it is a fairly standard food component. Almost all oils have predominantly medium chain length fatty acids. Coconut oil has a very low level of unsaturated fatty acids, but this is more helpful in handling and storing than in any health benefits. I would say that it is probably preferable to use an oil that hasn’t been processed and in particular doesn’t contain synthetic anti-oxidants and hasn’t been hydrogenated.

• 6 Brenda // Jan 1, 2008 at 11:11 am

  Hi Colin,
  You’ve highlight two of the key characteristcs that I believe make coconut oil beneficial.

  Medium Chain Fatty Acids - Peat’s article was comparing Coconut Oil with other saturated fats (not with unsaturated fats) and pointed out that unlike other saturated fats, Coconut Oil (like other vegetable oils) has predominantly medium chain fatty acids as opposed to long chain fatty acids (like animal fat). So coconut oil is a healthier saturated fat that animal fat.
  Now to compare with unsaturated oils:

  Low Levels of Unsaturated Fatty Acids - There are important health benefits related to storing and handling. Rancid oil is thought to be a carcinogen. Coconut oil does not go rancid easily as many vegetable oils do. Many people do not store their vegetable oil is the refrigerator or freezer and may be consuming rancid oil.

  Further, cooking with unsaturated vegetable oils at high temperatures releases free radicals increasing risk of cancer. You can cook at higher temperatures with coconut oil (but beware, it can still burn).

  Perhaps this is why rigorous medical research shows that when people are put on low saturated fat diets mortality rates increase. The main cause of death is not heart attacks, but ‘other causes’ such as cancer and strokes.
  http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/14/1/97
  http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0815/is_2_28/ai_97467588/pg_1

  Thanks for challenging this. It has forced me to look again and, in my opinion, I still see very useful benefits to using coconut oil.

  Nonetheless, some claims on sites marketing coconut oil are unproven and may be exaggerated. But with no research available, all we can do is try it.

  Brenda

• 7 beautyscientist // Jan 6, 2008 at 10:27 pm

  Brenda,

  I am a big fan of coconut oil and use it a lot. I just found Raymond Peat’s article went much too far and simply read like a piece of puff.

  Colin

• 8 steve // Jan 30, 2008 at 1:40 am

  i have just got into the whole coconut oil world.. it is expensive.. costing me £9.99 a tub and that will last about 2 weeks.. I kills viruses,it gives you energy,it boosts your immune system,it treats thyroid problems.. it slows down aging.. the list goes on.. i had an abcess in one of my teeth a couple of weeks ago.. started using this and it’s gone! by now i would have been punching walls and in extreme pain!

• 9 Brenda // Feb 2, 2008 at 8:22 am

  Thanks Steve.
  How much do you use and how do you use it?
  Also what kind?
  Brenda

• 10 Gia // Mar 19, 2008 at 12:47 am

  Yeah I believe coconut oil is alot of media hype, I’ve used organic unrefined coconut oil and the claims i heard, was not present with me
  They said it won’t break you out, well i sure did, and it didn’t help my frizzy hair, as it claim it does

• 11 Brenda // Mar 30, 2008 at 7:43 am

  A shame it did’t help you. I’ve been using it on my skin twice a day for about 8 months and it doesn’t break me out. It’s all I’m using at the moment. It’s great for me.
  On my hair, it’s fairly good. I’ve had a bit of heat damage that it didn’t help much with. It’s very nice on my daughter’s hair. She’s 8 years old.

  Certainly there is hype around coconut oil. I haven’t read that it helps frizzy hair, but that it helps dry hair (which can be frizzy). Olive oil will likely do the same.
  Do what works for you, drop what doesn’t!

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