Is Coconut Oil a Trans Fat?

There are some misconceptions that coconut oil is considered trans fat. However, is it true? Is coconut oil trans fat? The answer is NO. Coconut oil is, in fact, a saturated fat. We’ll tell you everything you need about trans fat and saturated fats. 

On June 16, 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided to ban artificial trans fats. Over the next three years, trans fats will be eliminated. Aside from this, there is also a consensus now that trans fats may contribute to heart disease. Before this ruling, some scientific consensus was that trans fats are generally recognized as safe and allowed under FDA policy.

Here are some of the not-so-great facts about trans fats:

• Trans fat is made when vegetable oil is turned into a semi-solid or solid state through the process of hydrogenation
• Most food companies and other restaurants use trans fat to improve the taste and texture of food and increase the shelf life of food products
• Consuming high levels of trans fat boosts the amount of bad cholesterol in the body, which can clog blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke

Is Coconut Oil A Trans Fat?

As mentioned above, coconut oil is a saturated fat, different from trans fat. Saturated fat occurs naturally in food, whereas trans fat is artificial. Trans fat is made to resemble saturated fat.

For a long time, the FDA has deemed saturated fat unhealthy and has been the target of negative public relations campaigns from competitor oil industries. This misinformation was intended to lead the mainstream away from coconut oil.

However, the negative messages about coconut oil’s threat to health are being systematically discredited and recognized as one of the healthiest oil in the world with extensive benefits by many medical and scientific researchers.

Coconut oil has been used for thousands of years by some of the world’s healthiest cultures. Aside from that, studies conducted in Papua New Guinea and the Polynesian Islands, where the diet consists primarily of coconut and is high in saturated fat but low in dietary cholesterol and sucrose, have shown stroke and heart disease to be completely absent. Studies of ancient cultures alone should rebuff the preposterous claims against coconut oil and saturated fats.

Consequently, medium chain triglycerides (MCT) have been shown to contain many health benefits, as well as improve cognitive functioning in those with memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. It is also proven to help reduce seizures for those with epilepsy, delay the development of diabetes, suppress the increase in blood lactate concentration, and extend the duration of subsequent high-intensity exercise for athletes.

Fats are a necessary part of our daily diet and are healthy. However, you have to choose the right fats and consume high-quality.