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Superfoods Coconut oil has long been hailed as the most useful oil, as it provides energy, helps reduce weight, and could even help preserve heart health due to medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) such as lauric acid. But what do actually the cardiologists say?

Dr. Deebanshu Gupta, an intervention cardiologist), has recently matched the debate: "Coconut oil is more than 80 percent saturated fat. Although it does elevate the HDL (good) cholesterol, it markedly raises LDL (bad) cholesterol, the major cause of atherosclerosis and heart disease. He insisted on the fact that the overall impact of the risk of cardiovascular disease is worrying even though it is not the entire story.

The larger health organizations are in agreement with this opinion. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), coconut oil should not be used regularly; it increases LDL more than most other fats and must be used sparingly like butter or lard. Cardiologists at Harvard Health and Mayo Clinic agree; though some articles indicate that coconut oil has fewer harmful cholesterol attributes than butter, it does not fare as well in comparison with unsaturated vegetable oils (e.g., sunflower, canola, olive). Substitution of coconut oil with them decreases the amount of total and LDL cholesterol.

Recent meta-analyses In recent meta-analyses (which included 2025 available data on virgin coconut oil), it was found that there are positive effects of decreasing triglycerides as well as an increased HDL, as well as no evident decrease in the total risk of heart disease. Excess intake is problematic to most individuals, particularly the individuals with high cholesterol or heart-related issues.

The Conclusion: Coconut oil is neither a miracle nor a poison; it is not necessarily a good or bad thing in insignificant amounts. Consume infrequently (cooking or baking occasionally, part of a balanced diet consisting mainly of vegetables) in a balanced, plant-based diet. Extra-virgin olive oil, nuts, avocados, and fatty fish are time-tested winners as far as protecting the heart on a daily basis is concerned. But go easy about it; it is good exercise for the heart! Seek the advice of your medical practitioner.