Coconut oil - is it healthy?

[Yoyoyo1]

I'm trying to lower chlorestrol. I am enjoying Deliciously Ella tecipes but a lot contain coconut oil. I've heard conflicting things about whether it's healthy?

Not especially.
I know someone who assumed it was healthy and sent their cholesterol up to 9 point something. Stopped the coconut oil and it went to normal levels again.
Look at the BHF page for advice re lowering cholesterol.

Thank you

What would a healthy alternative be?

My understanding is that it's healthier than seed oils but all oils should be taken in moderation. I stick to olive, avocado and coconut oil

Conflicting message about which foods are or aren’t healthy is par for the course! Which oils are good or bad is such a divisive topic. Some people believe all saturated fats are harmful and should be avoided. Others believe that all processed seed oils are harmful for health and should be avoided. Some believe that reduce fat as low as possible is the key to good health, whereas some believe that its carbs which need to reduced and fat is all good.

Personally, I try to strike a balance. Fat is an important macronutrient, many vitamins are fat soluble and it makes food delicious and contributes to satiety, but I don’t cook day to day in an excess of fat. Most of my meals are cooked in a tablespoon or two of fat in the oven or on the hob. I mostly use olive oil, as that’s the oil which I feel has the most evidence for being a healthy fat, though I also use butter, coconut oil and cold pressed rapeseed oil as needed. One of my favourite recipe books at the moment is a Melissa Hemsley one, which she advises to cook the food in ghee or coconut oil - similar to Ella. If it’s on the hob, I use coconut oil, if it’s in the oven I just use olive oil, as I can’t be bothered dealing with the additional step of melting the oil in the roasting tin.

Is there a healthy oil? Probably just trying to reduce oil usage in cooking in general is the best option. What about eating more vegetarian or vegan meals?

Sorry, missed the last part - I meant eat vegan or vegetarian meals to reduce other sources of cholesterol (meat, dairy, eggs).

Coconut oil has more saturated fat than lard. It would be very low down my list of fats or oils to consume, tbh, if I were attempting to reduce my cholesterol.

If you have 30 mins, and want to learn something and have a laugh, watch this
Dr. Zoë Harcombe - 'Should dietary fat guidelines have been introduced?'

Interesting, i will avoid! I'm a vegetarian already.

Yes, this.
DH moans I don’t use enough oil for roasties etc but I just use the bare minimum. They still brown, there’s no reason to have stuff swimming in oil imo.

I started measuring how much oil I was using when I read how many calories were in one tablespoon. So I don't just pour it on recklessly any more 😂