What to know about coconut oil claims

(Aging Untold) — Coconut oil has been marketed as a health food that can help with weight loss, control blood sugar, lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation.

But Mayo Clinic experts say coconut oil will not boost your health.

Public perception

A survey conducted by The New York Times and Morning Consult found that 72% of Americans believe coconut oil is healthy.

However, coconut oil is 90% saturated fat, Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a preventive cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, said.

“Saturated fat we know can raise our cholesterol levels,” Kopecky said.

He said high cholesterol raises the risk of heart attack and stroke, and review articles in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, confirm that eating coconut oil raises the risk of heart disease.

Other health claims fall short

Kopecky said studies have shown that coconut oil does not help regulate blood sugar, lower weight or reduce inflammation.

“The studies have shown that it doesn’t, that it does not help your sugar. It does not lower your weight or lower your fat and is not anti-inflammatory,” Kopecky said. “So all these things that we had hoped would be true just aren’t.”

Kopecky said people don’t have to totally give up coconut oil, but they shouldn’t use it as their main source of fat. He recommends extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil or nut oil instead.