Message #41596

[mccoy]

The diet-heart hypothesis is not far from being true. Atherosclerosis is one of the main drivers of premature death, since it causes cardio-vascular and degenerative diseases. Atherosclerosis is caused by fat plaques on arteries. There is ample consensus in the scientific literature that excess cholesterol (mainly ApoB, of which LDL-C is a proxy) increases mortality hazard.

Since coconut oil is saturated fats mainly and saturated fats tend to increase blood cholesterol, I would be cautious with that. Never mind the paleo or the low-carbers or keto buffs narrative.

But there is a way to find out. You can have your lipid panel done, best if you add to it ApoB, before eating coconut. Then you can start eating coconut products like crazy. After a few months, do another blood panel plus ApoB. If ApoB and LDL-C have not increased, then in your individual case coconut fat is not detrimental. Otherwise, it is.