Although coconut oil is considered healthier according to various studies than more common fats such as olive oil or sunflower oil, ultimately it depends on how much and how you use it.
With those warm days we’ve been having lately, I suddenly have no coconut fat in my kitchen anymore, but coconut oil. At 25 degrees Celsius, the substance melts, and that threshold temperature has long since been surpassed in my house. I use the two oil variants in my kitchen (plain oil and seasoned with Spanish peppers) for frying, as a variation of olive and rice oil. Why? To vary the products I use, because coconut oil is certainly not unhealthy, and because the oil is tasteless.
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Coconut Oil is Popular
Coconut oil is popular, especially among foodies, and therefore expensive. The type of fat is made from, surprise, coconuts and contains a very high percentage of saturated fat. In the past, we were scared that saturated fat was bad for us, but one author after another is gradually retracting that claim.
Something about the length of the fat chains.
But you, like me, probably don’t understand much of that. The vague claims, which are incomprehensible but formulated as if coconut oil is the best thing you can consume, contribute to the mystification of the product. And that’s why it’s so popular. For coconut oil, and all other superfoods and almost all other food products, it is not immediately noticeable. Therefore, on a personal basis, you cannot immediately conclude that coconut oil is good for you. Nor can you conclude that it is not good for you.
Is Coconut Oil Healthy?
Coconut oil is a superfood par excellence: it is expensive, surrounded by vague claims, and you are supposed to put it in your smoothie. But is it really super?
Recently, the Nutrition Centre posted an article about coconut products with a logical explanation: because saturated fats are not good for you according to the Nutrition Centre, it is recommended to consume coconut fats and coconut products in moderation.
Regardless of whether saturated fats are good for you or not, all fats provide 9 kCal per gram.
This is quite a lot of energy in a small amount, compared to proteins and carbohydrates (4 kCal per gram). So here too, it is wise to consume coconut fat, and all other fats, in moderation and to be aware of the caloric content of your smoothie when you add coconut fat and also various chia seeds. Apart from the fact that lauric acid in coconut oil is good for you, there is something else you need to consider.
Coconut oil is also promoted because, unlike other fats and oils, it can be heated to extremely high temperatures without containing harmful substances. That’s a good argument for using it to cook your food, but if you’re going to use coconut oil for frying, you might wonder what exactly your argument is.
After all, we know that frying is not the most sensible way of preparing food. By using coconut oil, it might become slightly less unhealthy, but it doesn’t make a significant difference. So it’s smarter to reduce the frying itself rather than choosing an expensive fat variant.
Ecological Footprint
On the Nutrition Centre website, among others, it is also mentioned that coconut plantations lead to deforestation and that coconut plantations require a lot of water. The coconut plantations, far away from the Netherlands, have a large ecological footprint. If you care about that, I recommend avoiding coconut oil and opting for products that come from nearby.
It is wise, in any case, to consider the origin of products that come from far away.
It can be an additional (principled) consideration you make in your food choices, just as you do with caloric value, quality, micronutrients, price, and taste. For some people, the origin of products is very important, while others prioritize taste.
It’s up to you to think about this.
Using or Not Using Coconut Oil?
You can use coconut oil perfectly well as an alternative to olive oil for frying, because it can be heated well. You can also use coconut oil in your smoothie or, for example, as a spread on your bread or in ice preparations to make them extra creamy. But as with almost all food: make sure you vary. Weigh what you find most important: price, quality, origin, nutritional value, energy value, or something else.
Conclusion
By simply replacing your current fats with coconut oil, you will not suddenly lose weight or become “healthier.” It is a high-calorie product and should be used in moderation, like all fats and like all food products.
Everything in moderation!
