About Coconut Oil - Is coconut oil good or bad for heart health. What are the effects of coconut oil on heart health

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Is Coconut Oil Good or Bad For Heart Health?
Coconut's Effects on Cholesterol & Health

Who doesn’t love the tantalizing aroma of a simmering coconut Thai curry, or the crunchy coconut flakes in a cookie or mithai, but is this divine fruit and its oil contributing to our raised cholesterol levels?

Coconut oil has been the most popular cooking medium in the coastal areas of Asia and the Pacific since generations. It has been described as having a "haunting, nutty, vanilla flavor" that also has a touch of sweetness that works well in baked goods, pastries, and sautés (Wikipedia). The medicinal value attributed to it, the economic factor, easy availability in many areas, heat stability and resistance to rancidity probably added to its widespread use.

Once accused as one of the worst cooking mediums for heart health, it is now being upheld by many as a valuable food for maintaining good health. This article evaluates both sides of the battle line.

What is coconut oil composed of?
Oils and fats are made up of different kinds of fatty acids- either saturated or unsaturated. Most animal fats (except some fish oils) contain saturated fatty acids, which are harmful for the arteries, since they cause their clogging and hardening. Most vegetable oils (except coconut & palm oil) contain unsaturated fatty acids which are considered heart friendly.

Coconut oil has a high percentage of saturated fats and is thus considered by many doctors to be bad for the heart.

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User Comments

12 May, 2012 | Twobee | Reply

Vijayalakshmi Iyengar..in 2011 you said "The hype about Coconut oil being bad for health is slowly being dispelled as it is now clear that only the hydrogenated version of refined coconut oil, rich in Trans fats is the one that is harmful for the heart" ...In May 2012 you say " Hello Mr Elouard
Yes, coconut oil is composed predominately of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). It is supposed to be healthy but there are still more studies needed for any conclusive evidence to give the go ahead to any of the health benefits claimed from coconut oil.
Neither the American Heart Association (AHA) nor the U.S. government's 2010 Dietary Guidelines suggest that coconut oil is any better or preferable over other saturated fats. So as part of the saturated fat intake it should be limited to 7%-10% of calories because it can increase risk for heart disease, according to the AHA and 2010 Dietary Guidelines.
Thank you
SO WHICH IS IT? Is it true it's only the "hydrogenated Coconut Oil" is bad...OR we need more studies? You are also saying it's very good for the Brain, which we now see evidence it's bringing some people, with Early stages of Alzheimer's, back into the World to the point of being able to function w/o supervision. You also say " Great news, at last they have sufficient evidence that dietary cholesterol does not affect blood cholesterol." A few of your posts seems to support the usage of Coconut Oil, and another seems to add warning before one uses it...Also, are you an M.D??

05 May, 2012 | Elouard | Reply

Im confused with the coconut oil saturated fat and the term medium-chain-t. Is the saturated fat in coconut oil a medium chain t???

Is also the saturated fat in coconut oil proven to cause inflamation by trials or theory. Becouse some theories are ingridient base but coconut oil has many things that influence the health in it and should be proven by science with the complete coconut oil as raw as posible and organic.

09 May, 2012 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

Hello Mr Elouard
Yes, coconut oil is composed predominately of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). It is supposed to be healthy but there are still more studies needed for any conclusive evidence to give the go ahead to any of the health benefits claimed from coconut oil.
Neither the American Heart Association (AHA) nor the U.S. government's 2010 Dietary Guidelines suggest that coconut oil is any better or preferable over other saturated fats. So as part of the saturated fat intake it should be limited to 7%-10% of calories because it can increase risk for heart disease, according to the AHA and 2010 Dietary Guidelines.
Thank you

05 August, 2011 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

Coconut is also a rare source of alpha-tocotrienol, a powerful form of vitamin E. And new research* suggests this little-understood vitamin may have a strong influence on brain and nerve health.Unlike saturated animal fats, coconut and palm oils contain medium-chain triglycerides (MCT)… and MCTs don’t carry the heart-health risks of other saturated fats. So if you’d like to get more alpha-T3 in your diet, moderate use of these oils should be fine.
*Park, H.-A., et al, “Natural Vitamin E a-Tocotrienol Protects Against Ischemic Stroke by Induction of Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein,” StrokeAHA. June 30, 2011;

19 April, 2011 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

Great news, at last they have sufficient evidence that dietary cholesterol does not affect blood cholesterol.

30 March, 2011 | vishaka | Reply

After a long time I have come across an article that speaks good about coconut oil. I am basically from the coastal area and our everyday meal is incomplete without a fish. Also most of our cooking happens with coconut oil. There is no history of heart disease in our family. Is there any reasoning for this.

31 March, 2011 | Sangeetha Narayana Swamy | Reply

Hello Ms.Vishaka,

To develop heart disease there are many risk factors that are involved. You have not mentioned anything about the lifestyle of your family. What type of work they do and how often do they consume other greasy/high fat and sugar food.

30 March, 2011 | Parul Bhatnagar | Reply

Each and every food item we consume has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is same with coconut oil. Coconut oil is rich in medium chain triglycerides so helpful in digestion.
But as it is high in saturated fats it has to be used in limited amount.

30 March, 2011 | Alpana Deshmukh | Reply

What is virgin coconut oil and is much superior than regular coconut oil?

30 March, 2011 | Parul Bhatnagar | Reply

Virgin Coconut oil is derived from fresh coconut and chemicals and heating is not further used to preserve as natural coconut has longer shelf life. Refined coconut oil is extracted from dry copra and heated to refine, bleach and deodorize.

29 March, 2011 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

The hype about Coconut oil being bad for health is slowly being dispelled as it is now clear that only the hydrogenated version of refined coconut oil, rich in Trans fats is the one that is harmful for the heart
1. Coconut oil being a medium chain fatty acid is easier & faster to digest and thus advisable to people who find it difficult to digest fats. More important it is easily miscible in our body fluids and also gets absorbed readily and is carried to the liver were it can quickly oxidise to release energy.
2.Coconut oil is almost always used in infant milk formulation to supply fat. This facilitates absorption of both calcium and magnesium essential for bone development. Mother's milk, especially the `Colostrum’, is rich in `lauric’ fatty acid is the one responsible for protecting the newborn baby against disease and many more. Lauric acid is also a major component of coconut oil.

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