Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Health Benefits vs Warnings of Coconut Oil

There is some debate over the healthiness of coconut oil and whether the types of fats found in this oil are dangerous or healthy.
  1. Saturated Fat

    • Coconut oil contains 92 percent saturated fat, the most dangerous kind of fat in the diet and the kind linked to heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. However, the saturated fat in coconut oil is made of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which proponents of this oil say are easier on the body.

    Lauric Acids

    • Lauric acids, a disease-fighting compound that may also lower bad cholesterol while raising good cholesterol, is prevalent in coconut oil.

    Hydrogenation

    • There is a difference between virgin coconut oil and partially hydrogenated coconut oil, found in many prepackaged foods. Hydrogenation causes dangerous trans-fats to form, so this type of coconut oil is always considered unhealthy.

    High Smoke Point

    • Coconut oil has one of the highest smoke points of any cooking oil, which means it will not burn over high heat. Heating oil too hot is thought to produce toxic chemicals that can damage health, making coconut oil possibly safer than oils with low smoke points.

    Warning

    • Doctors, scientists and organizations on both sides of this issue agree any oil can be unhealthy if used in excess.
 More information regarding the health benefits of coconut see:  Coconut Water Health Benefits Sleep
resource: eHow.com