Gwyneth Paltrow shakes it around her mouth to kill bacteria. Oono sprinkles it on dinner the night before a big speedskating race to energize the next day. Health and Wellness Influencer (via Instagram) doctor oz showtouting coconut oil as a “miracle” elixir for skin problems, heart disease, and weight loss. But are its myriad health benefits all they’re cracking down on?
In the latest episode of Gastropods, co-hosts Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilly explore the history behind the coconut’s global dominance, from its spread across the tropics to the health fad of paleofueled coconut oil .
Historically, medical advice has warned consumers to avoid coconut oil. This is because coconut oil is mostly composed of saturated fatty acids. Coconut oil is 92 percent saturated fat, compared to butter’s 63 percent. The science of how saturated fat consumption contributes to heart disease is complex, Evolve — is one of several interrelated dietary risk factors, and its influence is difficult to extract from diet and lifestyle as a whole. That said, all major medical institutions — world health organization, American Heart Associationand others — it is recommended that you reduce your intake.
However, in recent years, claims that coconut oil actually prevents heart disease and helps with weight loss. These claims are based on the idea that coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). Fats and oils are made from fatty acids and can be classified in two ways. The first is whether it is saturated. For example, olive oil is unsaturated, butter is saturated, and coconut oil is also saturated. But another way fats can be classified is by the number of carbon atoms attached at the tail (short, medium, or long).Almost 2/3 of the Fatty Acids in Butterfor example, is composed of fatty acids with long tails.
of fatty acids in coconut oilIn contrast, is almost 50% lauric acid, has fewer carbon atoms and is labeled as medium chain. (Coincidentally, lauric acid is a major component of breast milk – coconut oil lovers want to mention why it must be good for you, too.)
The chain length of fatty acids affects how our bodies process them. Regarding digestion, the difference is very technicalbut basically, short-chain fatty acids seem to be transported to the liver faster and metabolized much faster, while long-chain fatty acids circulate in the bloodstream before being broken down. Not only does it affect whether it is used quickly or stored as fat, it also affects overall blood cholesterol levels.
Fans claim that thanks to its MCT content, coconut oil makes you feel full faster, is converted into energy instead of being stored in fat, and can raise levels of HDL, also known as “good cholesterol.” doing. Therefore, the risk of heart attack and stroke is reduced. However, the reality is almost the opposite.
One problem, to say the least, is that the science on the benefits of MCT oil in humans is still very limited and inconclusive. human and one mouse, which shows some small advantages.The men felt slightly fuller and the mice had slightly lower cholesterol. that“further research needed” as far as weight loss is concerned, and that “MCT oil does not affect total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol levels.”
But there is an even bigger problem. Studies demonstrating the positive effects of MCTs have found that Synthetic MCT oil“When you talk about MCTs, you’re talking about one structure. When you talk about coconut oil, you’re talking about another,” says a Brazilian Jane Mara Bullock, a fat and oil expert at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, explained to gastropods.
Indeed, MCT oil can be synthesized from coconut oil, but the final structure is made up of short fatty acids, unlike those that make up coconut oil. is, or acts like, a long-chain fatty acid. After all, when digested, lauric acid actually behaves metabolically like a long-chain fatty acid.
Block told Gastropod that it’s not really possible to extrapolate the benefits of MCTs. Might be so We have coconut oil (already in a precarious situation) because our bodies process them differently due to their different structure. research Being present when consuming coconut oil instead of MCT shows that it actually is raise total cholesterolcontaining both HDLs When “Bad” LDL Cholesterol.
Even some of the most minor coconut oil benefits are largely unsupported. Coconut oil is often said to have antibacterial properties. This claim is based on the presence of chemicals within coconut oil. some studies suggest For example, when used as a mouthwash, it can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria in humans.
As you may have noticed, all of these claims share a common problem: the magical properties attributed to coconut oil come from the benefits derived from the individual ingredients rather than the coconut oil as a whole.
This lack of context also applies to food culture as a whole. Coconut oil fans like to point out that people who eat a lot of coconuts, whether in Polynesia, India, or the Philippines, have lower cholesterol levels and fewer cases of heart disease than people in Western countries. , people in these places tend to eat oil as part of the coconut pulp, which also contains a lot of fiber and various minerals. Standard western food. With all of these other factors at work, it is simply impossible to attribute their health to coconut oil.
“Overall, when you start putting it in context, it starts to get a little complicated,” Block says. “And people don’t want that. People want quick and quick. People want miracles.” , said it was largely a marketing miracle.
If you think it’s the first time coconut oil has sparked controversy, treat yourself to good old Monty Python in the latest episode of Coconut Water Wars, Coconut Cult, or even Gastropods. Follow and subscribe to explore how and why we went to Coco for coconuts.
