Myths Busted: Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

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Using olive oil, eating avocados, and drinking green tea are not health fads.

But you can't say the same for Bulletproof coffee and coconut oil.

That's why today we are going to look at 3 myths about coconut oil and 1 overwhelmingly strong benefit.

So let's dive in.

Myth #1 It's Just Coconut Oil!

No. It's not.

There are 3 varieties of coconut oil based on the processing technique.

The first one, refined coconut oil, is produced by processing the oil above 400o F and then bleaching and deodorizing it. That's why refined coconut oil is a very poor quality oil and must never be consumed.

Virgin cold-pressed and expeller-pressed coconuts oils are similar in the sense that they are processed at lower temperatures (below 120 degrees and 210 degrees, respectively), and are of superior quality (because of which they are often used for cooking food in Southern India).

Myth #2 Coconut Oil Tastes...well, Coconuty!

Depends on which kind of oil you are "drinking".

The refined version of this oil loses all its flavor and odor because of the extreme processing temperature, and should not be consumed.

The cold-pressed one, on the other hand, has a genuine flavor of raw coconut in it, which is mild and delicious.

But the expeller-pressed coconut oil is the best because it has the distinct nutty flavor of toasted coconut.

Myth #3 Coconut Oil is Good For Your Health.

Regardless of the hype, coconut oil is not a good choice of cooking oil.

This is because it is high in saturated fats, which is known to increase "bad" LDL cholesterol in our body. And we all know what high cholesterol leads to.

In fact, while 1 tablespoon of olive oil contains only 1 g of saturated fats, its equivalent spoonful of coconut oil contains 12 g!

And though the saturated fats found in coconut oil are the medium-chain kind (that is, they also increase "good" HDL cholesterol levels), consumption of such high amounts of fat (more than the amount found in butter and beef) can definitely lead to health problems in the long run.

But does that mean coconut is a bad fruit? If it is a fruit at all...

No. The coconut is not a bad drupe.

In fact, if you are an athlete, you should seriously consider throwing out your regular sports drink and switch to coconut water.

As a matter of fact, coconut oil isn't all that bad either. That is if you use it purely for enhancing the health of your skin and hair.

Or to treat fungal infections.

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