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Organic & Nutrient-Dense Foods
AHA Advises Against Using Coconut Oil and We Disagree
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently released a report advising against the use of coconut oil. We asked David Getoff for his take on this advice and I think you’ll find his rebuttal very interesting. David was kind enough to record his audio answer below.
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The Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease Advisory from the AHA reviewed existing data on saturated fat, showing coconut oil increased LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in seven out of seven controlled trials. Researchers didn’t see a difference between coconut oil and other oils high in saturated fat, like butter, beef fat and palm oil. In fact, 82% of the fat in coconut oil is saturated, according to the data — far beyond butter (63%), beef fat (50%) and pork lard (39%).
From the AHA Presidential Advisory referenced below: “Because coconut oil increases LDL cholesterol, a cause of CVD [cardiovascular disease], and has no known offsetting favorable effects, we advise against the use of coconut oil,” the American Heart Association said in the Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease advisory.
Frank Sacks, lead author on the report, said he has no idea why people think coconut oil is healthy. It’s almost 100% fat. Past weight loss studies might be responsible.
Here is the complete American Heart Association Advisory:
AHA Presidential Advisory on Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease
Listen to the rebuttal by David Getoff (18-minute audio):
Referenced in David’s audio above:
- Eat Fat, Get Thin: Why the Fat We Eat Is the Key to Sustained Weight Loss and Vibrant Health by Mark Hyman M.D.
- The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet by Nina Teicholz
David mentioned an interview with Nina Teicholz:
The truth about fats- which are good, which are bad and what the science actually says, has been an elusive area of science for decades. Finally, a science writer and investigative journalist has done it! She has written the single most comprehensive book ever written covering the facts about lipid (fat) research. She has shown that the emperor has no clothes and that what most of our population has known about fats for the past 20+ years IS WRONG.
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David Getoff, a traditional naturopath, board-certified clinical nutritionist, and Vice President of the Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation, has been helping his patients and students improve their health for over 25 years using what he refers to as Results Based Nutritional Medicine®. David can be reached at 619-441-8700.