When I was studying nutrition 15 years ago at the University, coconut oil was taboo.  High in saturated fat, it was regarded as bad for heart health.  Naturally I was shocked when my wife came home with coconut oil from the store.  “What are you doing with that?”

If you’ve read the internet, you are aware of coconut oil’s current popularity.  Recent research has shown some health benefits to coconut oil in your diet.  Unfortunately, health pirates have hijacked these truths and have made it a miracle cure all, with claims that are false and unsubstantiated.

Coconut oil is about 60% medium chain fatty acids.  What that means for you, is that it gets shuttled directly to the liver where it can be burned immediately for fuel.  This can raise your metabolic rate slightly (burning an extra 50 calories per day), and slightly suppress your appetite (eating 40 fewer calories per day), not really enough to shed pounds.

On the negative side, individuals who consume coconut oil instead of more heart healthy oils like olive or canola oil have slightly higher bad LDL cholesterol levels.

There is no research to support claims that coconut oil prevents dementia, Alzheimer’s, viral infections, heart attacks or strokes.

The Bottom Line:  coconut oil is a healthy ingredient to use in your diet.  It’s not a miracle cure.  Endurance athletes are increasingly relying on it for energy as an alternative to carbohydrate gels.  Remember it is still a fat, and is energy dense.  No matter what their source, too many calories will cause weight gain, so be judicious !