For too long, the world has believed that cholesterol levels and heart disease are tightly linked. It’s been drilled into us that high cholesterol is the ultimate enemy, and because of that, we’ve been steered away from a natural, heart-healthy food: coconut oil. Why? All due to a flawed study and a determined researcher from the past.
Coconut Oil: Nature’s Health Powerhouse
It’s time to set the record straight. Coconut oil has shown to be:
- A fighter against cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s
- A treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions
- A protector against the toxic effects of chemotherapy
- A metabolism booster and weight loss promoter
Coconut oil has been used for thousands of years, particularly in tropical locations like the Philippines, where coconuts are grown abundantly. But despite its numerous health benefits, the FDA continues to warn against it, rooted in flawed science from decades ago.
The Flawed Science of Ancel Keys
Ancel Keys, a physiologist, started the Seven Countries study in 1956. He aimed to find a correlation between fat consumption and heart disease. The study concluded that more fat equaled a higher chance of dying from heart disease. However, Keys withheld data from sixteen other countries. When researchers examined the full data set, the correlation was much weaker.
Not only was Keys’ methodology flawed, but his data was manipulated to support his conclusions. His influence led to the creation of U.S. Dietary Guidelines and the food pyramid, which condemned fats and promoted carbohydrate consumption.
The Lost Minnesota Coronary Experiment
Another study, the Minnesota Coronary Experiment, examined the effects of a fat-free diet on cholesterol levels. This massive study was headed by Dr. Ivan Frantz, a colleague of Keys. However, despite its size, this study only resulted in a small research paper and no solid statistical evidence.
In 2016, Christopher Ramsden, of the National Institutes of Health, discovered the raw data from the study. He found that a low-fat diet reduced cholesterol—but also found that for every 30-point fall in cholesterol, the risk of dying from heart failure during the study increased by 22%. This groundbreaking finding contradicted everything we knew about cholesterol and heart disease.
Despite the flaws in both of these studies, coconut oil continues to be demonized as a “bad” dietary option.
Incorporating Coconut Oil into Your Life
It’s time to move past the outdated and misleading notion that coconut oil is unhealthy. Here are some great ways to add coconut oil to your diet:
- Replace other cooking oils with a tablespoon of coconut oil.
- Add it to smoothies.
- Replace butter with coconut oil in baking recipes.
- Add it to oatmeal, yogurt, or nut butter.
- Make chocolates with coconut oil.
- Eat raw coconut and other coconut products.
The evidence supporting coconut oil as an important part of a heart-healthy diet is mounting. By adding coconut oil into your eating habits, you can reduce your risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The benefits of coconut oil are too plentiful to ignore, and it’s time to free ourselves from the old misconceptions and outdated science that have held us back from this natural health powerhouse.
