John Myers
“Coconut oil is pure poison,” said a Freiburg professor – and many media jump on it. Unfortunately without checking the statement beforehand. Spoiler: It’s not healthy — but calling it poison is an exaggeration.
Coconut oil is almost 90 percent saturated fat. In excess, these can worsen cholesterol levels. However, there is not enough evidence that this increases the risk of a heart attack.
It’s definitely not poison. Other foods like butter and cheese are also high in saturated fat. Studies show: Coconut oil causes higher blood lipids than canola and olive oil. But lower than butter. Although butter has fewer saturated fatty acids, they have a different composition.
It’s sometimes argued that while coconut oil is high in saturated fat, a large proportion of it is medium-chain fat (lauric acid in particular). Lauric acid is metabolized differently and transported directly to the liver. Athletes in particular expect better fat burning and a positive effect on health. But the fact is: it is not proven.
Whole nutrition counts
So it depends on the entire diet and the amount on it. Small amounts for frying are harmless. Frying at high temperatures even makes sense with coconut oil, since no harmful trans fats are produced.
With all the health all-clear, there is also a major disadvantage: It comes from Asia and has a bad climate balance. This is another reason why nutritionists recommend local oils such as rapeseed oil or linseed oil. They are also “healthier” for the body in large quantities because they contain a lot of unsaturated fatty acids. They also have the advantage that they are regional and therefore have a much better ecological balance.
Incidentally, coconut oil is also used in cosmetics — for example to care for skin and hair. That is completely harmless.
