Coconut Oil And Heart Health
While conventional wisdom is that all saturated fats are bad for your heart, this may not actually be the case, as indicated by an exhaustive 2010 review.
“There is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD or CVD,” the authors concluded(8).
So don’t feel bad about cooking with coconut oil.
In fact, coconut oil can help regulate cholesterol levels(9), having beneficial effects on both lipid parameters and in vitro LDL oxidation. That’s good news when it comes to preventing cardiovascular disease.
Choosing Coconut Products
There’s no shortage of coconut products on the market, especially as the food gains popularity among Western consumers. How do you know which products to buy?
When in doubt, always go organic. Due to the increasing popularity of coconut products, many are sourced from unreliable companies that use chemicals or process the coconut in ways that damage its nutritional value. Check for the USDA certified organic seal.
Always buy raw and unsweetened coconut shreds, and extra-virgin, cold-pressed or raw coconut oil – this ensures that you’re getting a product that’s gone through only relatively minimal processing.
Finally, opt for GMO-free brands whenever you can – while GMO coconut products won’t kill you, they’re often unsustainable and can have a negative impact on the environment and the livelihoods of coconut farmers.