Too much coconut oil in our diet can have long-term harmful effects on our health.
Coconut oil seems to be used for just about everything these days. Coconut oil appears to be here to stay, whether as a skin moisturizer, a hair ointment, or a culinary fat.
Even while it has gained a reputation as a popular "healthy" oil, there is still a lot we don't know about the benefits and drawbacks of using it.
While further research into the long-term effects of ingesting coconut oil is needed, specialists have discovered that it may not be as beneficial as we've been led to believe.
Continue reading to discover some of the unexpected adverse effects of taking too much coconut oil.
1. It might boost your cholesterol levels.
Coconut oil has been demonstrated to have harmful impacts on our cholesterol and cardiovascular health, even though many people believe it is good.
Compared to other oils, including palm, olive, and grape seed oil, a paper from Circulation revealed that coconut oil considerably raises our LDL cholesterol (often known as "bad cholesterol") levels.
2. You'll consume a lot of fat-based calories.
Although many people believe coconut oil to be a healthy oil, it contains about 80 to 90 percent saturated fat, which amounts to about 11 grams per tablespoon.
Because of its link to high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting your saturated fat intake to less than 6% of your total daily calories.
Coconut oil consumption is comparable to that of most other saturated fats, according to Nutrition Reviews, and there isn't enough evidence to tell whether it could be regarded as a healthier option.
3. It might cause diarrhea.
Too much coconut oil can cause mild stomach pain in some people. A study of 32 participants who consumed coconut oil twice a day for eight weeks was published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Around 72 percent of the subjects had diarrhea, while only roughly 19 percent had stomach discomfort.
Because the participants in this study were only between 18 and 25, more research on the effects of too much coconut oil on other age groups is needed.
If you have these stomach-related adverse effects after eating coconut oil, it could be an indication that you're ingesting too much of it, regardless of your age.
4. There is yet insufficient research to support coconut oil.
There is still a significant gap between popular perceptions of coconut oil's health advantages and scientifically verified benefits. According to a survey conducted by the New York Times, 72 percent of Americans believe coconut oil is healthful, but only 37 percent of nutrition experts agree.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, many individuals mistakenly believe that because people in certain parts of the world who eat a lot of coconut oil have lower cardiovascular disease and cholesterol rates, it must be good for them.
They also note that other factors such as nutrition and lifestyle may play a more significant role in these areas. Therefore coconut oil may not have the same impact on a western diet.
It should also be mentioned that many of these nations do not use the same type of refined coconut oil that is often consumed in the western world.
While further study into the long-term health impacts of coconut oil is ongoing, it's vital to stick to the saturated fat dietary requirements wherever possible.