![]() ![]() Coconut oil is deficient in the essential fatty acids, which makes it much worse than lard or palm oil Professor Tom Sanders, King's College LondonĮarlier this month, the American Heart Association (AHA) warned that coconut oil contains the same level of saturated fat as beef dripping. But where this latest superfood differs from benign rivals such as blueberries, goji berries, kale and avocado is that a diet rich in coconut oil may actually be bad for us. When it comes to superfoods, coconut oil presses all the buttons: it’s natural, it’s enticingly exotic, it’s surrounded by health claims and at up to £8 for a 500ml pot at Tesco, it’s suitably pricey. Sites such as these, along with celebrity endorsements from the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Kourtney Kardashian, have helped UK sales of coconut oil rise over the past four years from around £1m to £16.4m last year, according to consumer research group Kantar. ![]() Everdine recommends using coconut oil “to cook with at every meal due”, while Holland & Barrett claims “coconut oil is very healthy”, adding: “Coconut oil is the little black dress of wellbeing – everyone should have some!” Wellness Mama lists 101 uses including as a mental stimulant, hair conditioner and treatment for insomnia, heartburn, cuts, acne, haemorrhoids, mosquito bites and sunburn. ![]() It’s hard to exaggerate how much hype surrounds coconut oil on health food websites, blogs and YouTube channels. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |