1. Coconut oil is over 90% saturated fatty acids.
This is a lot compared to other vegetable oils. For a long time, this was considered unhealthy because saturated fats were linked to cardiovascular disease – this assessment is now viewed more nuanced.
2. It contains many medium-chain fatty acids (MCTs).
Coconut oil contains lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that is easier to digest and can be used preferentially by the body as an energy source.
3. Not all MCTs are the same.
Many “MCT oils” contain primarily caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10), which act faster than lauric acid (C12), which predominates in coconut oil. Nevertheless, lauric acid also has health benefits, e.g., for heart disease. B. Antimicrobial properties.
4. Coconut oil increases both “good” and “bad” cholesterol
Studies show that coconut oil can raise both LDL (“bad”) and HDL (“good”) cholesterol. This makes health assessments difficult – it’s not clearly harmful, but it’s not a “miracle cure” either.
5. It’s excellent for frying
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