Is Coconut Oil Bad for You?
Is coconut oil bad for you? Coconut oil is considered a superfood that can benefit both your health and your skin. However, it does have its downfalls. While there are many reasons to include coconut oil in your diet and skincare routine, you should be aware of both the positive and negative sides of coconut oil.
Is coconut oil unhealthy? Bad for your skin? Here’s everything you need to know about coconut oil and whether or not it’s worth using. Plus, our recommended coconut oil formulas.
Why is Coconut Oil So Controversial?
Coconut oil actually has a lot of health benefits. That being said, it has gotten a bad rap over the years primarily due to its high saturated fat content, which is associated with cardiovascular risks.
While saturated fats were once universally considered harmful, ongoing debates arise from recent research highlighting the unique composition of coconut oil. It contains a significant amount of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which differ from the long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) found in many other saturated fats. Some studies suggest that MCTs might not adversely affect cholesterol levels as much as LCTs.
Nevertheless, the American Heart Association cautions against excessive saturated fat intake, including from coconut oil after inspecting the findings of over 100 research studies.
Is Coconut Oil Bad for You?
Coconut oil isn’t exactly bad for you. Like most foods, however, it does have its upsides and downsides. It’s rich in vitamin E and fatty acids such as lauric acid which may benefit your health and skin. Let’s take a look at the effects of coconut oil on both your health and your skin.
Health
Is coconut oil healthy or unhealthy? Coconut oil offers all kinds of potential health benefits including reducing cholesterol, controlling blood sugar, and promoting weight loss. However, coconut oil is primarily composed of saturated fat. Conflicting evidence and concerns persist regarding the impact of coconut oil on cholesterol, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consuming too much LDL cholesterol can increase your risk of stroke and heart disease. Studies confirm that while coconut oil has fewer negative effects on LDL cholesterol compared to butter, it can be more detrimental than unsaturated vegetable fats. In other words, coconut oil is better than butter but oils like olive and avocado are significantly healthier than coconut oil.
Skin
Coconut oil is packed with fatty acids and saturated fats. While they might not be so beneficial for your health, they can be extremely helpful for dry, irritated skin. Studies show virgin coconut oil to be highly effective at treating moderate to severe dry skin as it can help promote collagen synthesis and strengthen skin barrier function.
In short, coconut oil is a fantastic moisturizer. That’s why you’ll find it in everything from face creams to oils and lotions. Of course, you can also apply it directly to the skin to soothe and hydrate.
Coconut oil may also be helpful when it comes to treating acne. That’s because it boasts antimicrobial properties that can destroy harmful microorganisms that grow on the skin and contribute to acne. What’s more, its anti-inflammatory properties mean it can alleviate acne which is in itself an inflammatory condition.
The one and only downside? Coconut oil isn’t always recommended to those with oily or acne-prone skin. It’s a bit of a catch-22 situation really. While coconut oil can combat bacteria and inflammation associated with acne, it can also clog the pores which may lead to breakouts. For that reason, it’s best to use a skincare product that contains coconut oil rather than applying it directly to your skin—if you’re acne prone, that is.
Shop Coconut Oil Skincare
Is coconut oil bad for you? While there’s some controversy surrounding coconut oil with regards to its health effects, coconut oil can work wonders for your skin. Here are some of our favorite coconut oil products.
Truly’s Ultimate Glazed Donut Skin Set
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Soak up all of coconut oil’s hydrating, soothing skin benefits with this glazed donut trio. You get the complete Glazed Donut line: Facial serum, cream, and after shave oil. Enriched with coconut oil, grapeseed oil, and vitamin E to nourish, moisturize, and leave skin luminous.
Truly’s Silky Smooth Shave Routine
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Upgrade your shave with this 3-step routine. It features three freshly whipped shaving formulas: scrub, shave butter, and body butter to ensure a silky smooth shave every time. Formulated with a hydrating blend of coconut oil, shea butter, argan oil, and blue tansy for soft-as-satin results.
Truly’s Super Star Routine
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Get plump, radiant skin with this selfie-ready prep kit. Complete with a face mask, serum, and pimple patches formulated with coconut oil, retinol, and vitamin C. It targets everything from fine lines to hyperpigmentation and acne. Plus, your skin will glow from the very first use.
Truly’s Unicorn Babe Routine
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Meet the rainbow-swirled, viral worthy Unicorn Babe Bundle. You get: our iconic Unicorn Fruit Body Butter, Unicorn Fruit Lip Plumping Balm, and our #Heart Your Imperfections Blemish Patches. Supercharged with coconut oil, acai berry, peppermint, and hydrocolloid. Plump, glowing skin is yours in three! With a decadent cotton candy scent everybody loves.
Should You Use Coconut Oil?
You’ve heard all the hype but is coconut oil bad for you? While there’s conflicting opinions regarding coconut oil and its health effects, most experts would agree that it’s fine in moderation. By consuming coconut oil in small quantities, you get to enjoy the benefits without putting your health at risk.
As for its skin benefits, coconut oil is an intensely moisturizing ingredient that hydrates and soothes the skin. It also has antibacterial and antifungal activity which can help with acne and irritation. All in all, we recommend incorporating this natural oil into your daily skincare routine.
