Learning the truth about the coconut oil
Coconut oil is mainly made of saturated fat.
Now What are the Saturated fats?
Saturated fats are the type of fat that are solid at room temperature and is mainly found in animal products. Increased amounts of saturated fat in your diet can cause a rise in the level of ‘bad cholesterol’ (LDL) in your blood and decrease the level of ‘good cholesterol’ (HDL). This can lead to sticky, fatty deposits that build up in your arteries, causing them to narrow and stiffen. This can increase your blood pressure and increase the risk of blockages. If this occurs near the heart it can cause a heart attack or a stroke if near the brain.
Other foods with a higher composition of saturated fat include:
white fat on meats, skin on chicken
full fat dairy products
butter, cream
The message:
Intake of saturated fats is known to contribute to the development of heart disease if consumed in excess.
What to do?
Below is an example food label with some generic targets to aim for when looking at the fat content of foods. Your dietitian will be able to specify appropriate portions of these foods to include in the diet as you work towards your specific health goals.
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