Guess What? Coconut Oil Is Pretty Bad For You After All!

Guess What? Coconut Oil Is Pretty Bad For You After All!

If you’ve been swirling around the world wide web lately, you’d be aware that coconut oil has suddenly gained the crown of being THE MOST beneficial thing out there. Holy Grail and all that.

While we, mere Indians, were already aware of this household product, the world suddenly went gaga over it after supermodel Miranda Kerr revealed that she gobbled down this ooey-gooey substance daily!

And of course, if a bite-sized, flawless goddess supports this apparent theory of weight loss, it has to be true, right?

Long story short, it was assumed that the medium chain triglycerides aka MCTs present in coconut oil were a rich source of anti-oxidants, and hence took the throne for a great weight-loss method.

Besides Miranda Kerr, Angelina Jolie and fitness guru Jillian Michaels also vouched for this tropical nut!

And what followed this could only be deemed as the power of the internet to turn mole hills into crumbling mountains!

So after seeing people pretty much douse themselves (external and internal) in coconut oil, in the hopes of glowing skin and a skinny waist, research finally called this sudden fad absolute BS…and here’s why it isn’t as miraculous as you think it is!

 

Coconut Oil_Hauterfly

 

“Although coconut oil contains many benefits, there is limit of how much one can incorporate in one’s diet. Remember, one tablespoon of coconut oil contains 130 kcals, and although medium-chain triglycerides might boost metabolic rate slightly, eating more calories than needed could still lead to weight gain.

“Research has shown that coconut oil is most effective when it replaces less healthy fats in the diet, rather than being added on top of the fat you’re currently consuming,” advises Suman Agarwal, Celebrity Nutritionist and founder of SelfCare India.

According to AHA (American Heart Association), the Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular advisory basically found that coconut oil increases the level of LDL, which is basically a bad cholesterol — this means that it has no signs of being any healthier than other saturated fats like butter.

And FYI, an overdose of this will clog your arteries and possibly lead to cardiovascular diseases.

 

Coconut Oil 2_Hauterfly

 

However, there is good news for all you coconutters out there, because there are a whole lot of benefits, in terms of topical application.

Dr Madhuri Agarwal, Medical Director of Yavana Aesthetics Clinic, suggests that coconut oil is definitely good for the skin.

She says, “It is a lightweight oil fortified with proteins, vitamin E, capric and laric acid, all of which benefit your skin — from moisturising it to acting as an antibacterial antiseptic with inflammatory properties.”

A lot of celebrities have recommended coconut oil as an organic way to remove makeup and Dr Madhuri seconds this.

It also has benefits of preventing premature ageing caused by sun and environmental damage, by virtue of its antioxidant properties.”

However, if you’ve got oily or acne-prone skin, you might want to keep off of it, or be prepared to say hello to an oil mine on your face.

In conclusion, don’t believe everything you see on your social media feeds, guys! While coconut oil might give you glowing skin and luscious locks, stick to putting it on your body and not in it.

On a side note — don’t overdo THIS one either. You really don’t want to end up like a slathered potato struggling to get out of the bath, like this poor girl!

I am currently stuck in a bath

Tatiana Dias

Tiny but fierce, our Fashion & Beauty Writer grooves to her own soundtrack. An animal lover at heart, she plays proxy mommy to pretty much all the strays she meets.

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