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Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

usatoday.com

41–50 of 77 posts

Re: Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

#42
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Population of Kerala : 34.8 million and many more live in Persian Gulf and other parts of India. This is a huge population, about size of Venezuela. When you talk about a State in India it pretty much is a large sample size.

When you're talking about India, 34 million people is a rounding error. It's also a country with unusually high population diversity which means that genetically speaking you could be talking about a group of people that are naturally immune to the effects of whatever they're consuming. You'd have to take a broader sample to find out.

> When you're talking about India, 34 million people is a rounding error.

I don't understand your point. Sure its a rounding error when compared to the rest of India. But for the purposes of observing the effects of a certain foodstuff, that is certainly a large enough sample size of humans.

> It's also a country with unusually high population diversity which means that genetically speaking you could be talking about a group of people that are naturally immune to the effects of whatever they're consuming. You'd have to take a broader sample to find out.

This is highly unlikely. If there was such a genetic trait, I think it would be very apparent (e.g. we know certain populations in Africa are prone to sickle cell disease). Besides, its not just Kerala: most coastal regions in India have many many (delicious) coconut based cuisine which have been regularly consumed for generations.

Re: Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

#43
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it expensive?

I've found that avocado oil is really expensive. I've only been able to find it at my local Whole Foods. Haven't checked Trader Joe's, though I'd wager that if they did have it, it'd be a bit less expensive than WF.

Perfect: the next fad superfood.

Re: Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

#44
OMG the back and forth is exhausting.

What I've personally decided is: my entire family has been using coconut based products for generations and my grandparents have lived to sufficiently long ages. I would be happy to live just that long and thank you, I will continue to use coconut oil.

Re: Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

#45
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>There is an entire state in India where Coconut Oil is a main ingredient (Kerala) for centuries. Don't they also defecate openly there? Doesn't seem like the best area to mimic public health wise.

Please refrain from Ad hominems like this. Depending on where you are from, I can probably find a similarly unpleasant public health characteristic, but does it really get anywhere in the argument? Besides, they actually don't. Its one of the most progressive states in India with 100% literacy etc.

I'm just pointing out that "well India has done it for a long time so it must be good" is a logical fallacy as not all practices engaged in there will positively effect health. No offense intended.

Re: Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

#46

It's precisely the fact that Coconut oil is 100% plant-based, saturated fat that it IS healthy. The notion that saturated fat causes heart disease has been thoroughly debunked as sham science. It's the inflammation in the arteries stimulated by excess sugar consumption (refined carbs, table sugar, soda, etc) that causes the problem. The body sends cholesterol to the scene to patch the damage. Reference: http://www.ny…

[deleted]

Re: Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

#47
Look, everyone should be making their own informed decisions about their health and nutrition. I've made mine, and that's to completely cut out extraneous carbohydrates, and eat adequate amounts of protein, with healthy fats thrown in for flavour and satiety. I've never felt healthier, more focused, and full of energy in my life. For me, I stick to green and cruciferous vegetables. My fats include olive oil, butter, avocado oil, and coconut oil, in that order. Canola oil is used sparingly. And of course, any fats normally found in meats, nuts, eggs, and dairy.

Even if you don't subscribe to my way of eating, please understand that the American Heart Association has a financial interest in promoting this biased research. They receive most of their funding from private donors, and are backed by pharmaceutical companies that produce statins which they sell to us for big money. Finally, in the US, a lot of your food is labeled with the AHA's Heart-Check Food Certification Program.

To meet the AHA's Heart-Check requirements, you need to adhere to these requirements: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/He...

They have a financial interest in promoting these loaded facts so that companies keep paying them for the label.

Coconut oil is definitely not going to meet those requirements. These are the same people that keep telling you to eat less butter, and eat more grains. If that worked, then why are so many of us struggling with our weight, diabetes, and heart disease? Moreover, I'm sure these studies increased fat intake without decreasing carbohydrate intake at all, which completely changes the interactions in the body.

Do your research, and judge for yourself. I just hate that folks are being told these loaded facts and are being set up for failure.

BTW, as of today, I've lost 18.6 lbs in 53 days with this new lifestyle. It does work, and I'll be getting a follow-up blood panel in 3 months to confirm it.

Re: Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

#48
Unfortunately, I am failing to readily find good references, but coconut oil has long been medically recommended for serious stomach disorders, including cystic fibrosis (which causes pancreatic insufficiency, among other things) and stomach cancer. This is in part due to the fact that it can basically be used directly by the body without digestion. It can simply be absorbed.

I have no idea if it is heart healthy, but this sort of broad dismissal is unfounded. Maybe it does bad things for your heart, but if you have gut problems that are literally killing you, coconut oil has a long track record of helping with those. This can be life saving if your gut issues are severe enough.

Re: Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

#49

I feel vindicated. All my hipster friends cook with this crap... My main issue is it makes everything taste like coconut.

I'm sorry your hipster friends have given you such a bad taste for coconut oil. Personally, I use it all the time in cooking and find its taste rather enriching. The other day, I was making collard greens, but instead of cooking the onions in veg oil or butter, I used coconut oil... it certainly adds a hint of coconutty flavor, but its not overpowering; on the contrary I found it rather delicious :).

Re: Coconut oil isn't healthy and it's never been healthy

#50

As someone who drinks Bulletproof coffee (ala Brain Octane oil), how does this fit in? Is the concentrated coconut oil in brain octane oil also just as bad? Or is the fact that its very concentrated mean it contains less of the negative qualities? I feel like what this article is saying is that, just guzzling oil isn't good for you, which is obvious, but in small doses, is it ok?

when you say "concentrated oil", what do you mean?

I think he means that the non-mct fats have been removed, so compared to standard coconut oil for mct, it's "concentrated".
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