From cooking to skincare, coconut oil is the new craze

Canada AM: The benefits of coconut oil

Coconut oil is popping up everywhere these days. From cooking to skincare, the tropical oil is in the spotlight as the new ‘it’ food.

Coconut oil is a staple in nutrition consultant Wendy McCallum’s kitchen.

“Coconut oil, for me, is really my go-to, high-temperature cooking fat,” says McCallum.

She says it is easy to incorporate into your diet. It can be melted and substituted for other oils, butter, or lard in baking.

“Because it has a naturally sweet flavour, it’s actually pretty fantastic in most cakes, and cookies, and muffins.”

Certain fats, such as olive oil, break down at higher temperatures. Coconut oil has a higher smoke point and retains its properties, making it a good choice for high-heat cooking.

“You can use it in its solid form, just put it in a pan and let it melt and use it as a fat to stir-fry, or sear meat or veg,” says McCallum.

Studies have looked into the effects of coconut oil in relation to metabolism, weight loss, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s.

Dietitian Angela Dufour says there is some supporting evidence to suggest particular health benefits.

“It may potentially have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,” says Dufour.

Coconut oil is mainly made up of medium-chain fatty acids, which are broken down differently in the body than other fats.

“What that means is, can we actually metabolize it faster than maybe carbohydrates, or other longer chain fatty acids, and maybe potentially use it as an energy source,” says Dufour.

While many athletes use coconut oil as a source of energy, Dufour says more research is needed to support a direct connection.

Some studies in the obese population have suggested a low-calorie diet, combined with two tablespoons of coconut oil a day can help reduce waist circumference, but again, Dufour says the evidence is not solid.

“We have to be careful about using the research and reading between the lines.”

When it comes to nutrition, one main component sets coconut oil apart from the others.

“Calorie for calorie, you’re going to get the same amount of calories, the same amount of fat, it’s the type of fat that differs in the oils,” says Dufour.

Coconut oil is one of the only oils that is mainly comprised, over 90 per cent, of saturated fat - a number to keep in mind when adding it to your diet.

“If you want to start using it as part of your two, to three overall servings of added fats a day, great, but the bottom line is don’t make it all of your added fat choices, probably one or the other,” says Dufour.

“Just keeping that in moderation, using it in small amounts, is always the best approach,” says McCallum.

Like olive oil, coconut oil comes in virgin and non-virgin varieties.