Question about coconut oil

I just bought some at Trader Joe's but more for my dry skin on my body than for cooking.
But I noticed that it seems VERY high.in.saturated fat.
1Tbsp has 14g of fat and of that 12 g is Saturated. It is 60%of your recommended daily value of saturated fat.
I thought this was a healthier alternative to.other cooking oils, but that seems quite high.in saturated fats no?

Question about coconut oil

Coconut oil is high in saturated fat but has medium chain fatty acids that are healthier..they are smaller, easily digested, and stimulate metabolism. Overall it's good for you. I bought it recently and plan to use it in cooking and on my hair.

Re: Question about coconut oil

Coconut oil is a very big trend right now however there isn't a lot of clinical evidence that it is good for you. The American heart association does not say that coconut oil is a good saturated fat (better than others) and still suggests to limit your days worth of saturated fat. It's not to say that more research won't show in favor of it but there really isn't much clinical evidence that it is "good" for you at this time.

Re: Question about coconut oil

Thanks for the replies! I do remember a few years back reading that you should be careful with products that contained coconut because of the high saturated fat content.
When I read the label I saw they weren't kidding!
I think I will stick with olive oil for cooking and use the coconut oil for my.skin.

Re: Question about coconut oil

I use coconut oil for cooking and love it. A little goes a long way. If you are using it in moderation and eating relatively healthy otherwise (and barring any major health issues), I think you should be fine.

Re: Question about coconut oil

It is high in saturate fat, but b/c it's made up of the medium changes and is used immediately and not stored as fat. It is also the only oil fat that has the smallest amount of calories per fat gram. I have been eating a tablespoon in my smoothies and not only have I not gained any weight I actually lost weight. I eat this daily as well as use it for my skin and hair. Love this stuff.

Re: Question about coconut oil

Question about coconut oil

It is a controversial topic and research will show different things. Some experts feel that the body processes the saturated fat in coconut oil differently than the saturated fat in animal products. They also say that because coconut oil contains lauric acid ( also found in breast milk) it has health benefits. There are also studies that show very low heart disease rates amongst Sri Lankians, whose diet contains large amounts of coconut based products. On the other hand, some people are concerned about the high very saturated fat content and the high caloric content. Personally, I avoid using much oil in my cooking. When I use coconut oil, it is for the occasional baked good. I also LOVE it for body and hair care. If I eat coconuts, it is either shredded coconut or coconut butter ( ground whole coconut). I think this is less processed and more nutrient dense.