There has been a lot of discussion about saturated fat and how if you are worried about cholesterol you should stay away from it. However, Dr. Mark Hyman, MD argues that saturated fat really isn’t that bad for you and avoiding it would be a mistake.
On his site, Dr. Hyman responds to a USA Today article that used research from the American Heart Association (AHA) that said eating fat is bad for you. Dr. Hyman debunks this argument, saying that the participants in the AHA research that ate foods with saturated fat were also physically inactive, ate diets that were unhealthy overall, and were even smokers. His argument is that there are several studies showing that there isn’t a connection between heart disease and saturated fat.
It should be noted that this is not an excuse for us to eat whatever fatty foods we like. Dr. Hyman makes it clear that to combine a saturated fat with an empty carbohydrate is not good for your health. Pair fat with a vegetable instead.
He also extends his argument that we consume too many omega-6 oils. These are oils that contain polyunsaturated fat and come from safflower, soy, canola, and corn. Omega-6 oils are very different from omega-3’s which are very good for you. Instead, omega-6 oils can contribute to an unhealthy heart by oxidizing cholesterol.
Dr. Hyman ties this all into the question as to whether you should consume coconut oil. His answer is yes. Coconut oil has been used for thousands of years with no problems. Furthermore, it helps lower your total cholesterol and contains MCT oil that improves your insulin levels and energizes your metabolism.
In short, consuming saturated fat as part of an overall healthy diet is actually helpful to your body, not a detriment. To learn more, read the full article here: Coconut Oil—Are You Coco-Nuts to Eat It?
