People who are still consuming coconut oil, as a supposed “healthy fat,” should think again. In a new review analysis of 16 previously published studies, scientists found that the use of coconut oil was tied to a substantial increase in LDL (bad) cholesterol, placing people at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Relative to the other plant-based oils (olive oil, canola oil, and soybean oil), consuming 3-4 tbsp. of coconut oil a day was linked to a 9 percent increase in LDL levels.

As to why, the researchers pointed out the following: Coconut oil is largely composed of saturated fat (even more than butter!), and saturated fats are a firmly established culprit for raising bad cholesterol levels. According to Harvard’s esteemed nutrition and metabolism expert, Frank Sacks, MD, who wrote an editorial accompanying the article, coconut oil is one of the “most deleterious” of oils in terms of boosting the risk of cardiovascular disease.

I hope this new report convinces folks under the illusion that coconut oil is healthy to rid it from their kitchens. Here are the best oils to keep in your cupboards.

Circulation,2020 https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.044687