I’m going to respectfully disagree with your post. There’s so much that can be said on this topic that it would be beyond the scope of a comment.

But I’ll try to be concise, because it’s important for readers to have multiple perspectives before making changes to their diets, which is something that should be taken very seriously.

First…the AHA

Regarding the American Heart Association (or any other health organization for that matter), I like to maintain a healthy level of skepticism when it comes to their claims.

As someone much wiser than me once told me: "Always follow the money.” So let’s follow the money for a moment...

Let’s at least consider the fact that the AHA has historically received funding from Proctor and Gamble (a consumer goods manufacturer whose products have included foods, snacks, and beverages) as well as funding from donors that include PepsiCo.

In fact, Proctor and Gamble had once successfully marketed Crisco, a hydrogenated fat used for cooking. But when Proctor and Gamble was made aware of its potentially harmful effects, it took actions to cover up those findings:

“P&G worked behind the scenes to cover them up. One scientist who worked for P&G, Dr. Fred Mattson, can be credited with presenting the US government’s inconclusive Lipid Research Clinics Trials to the public as proof that animal fats caused heart disease. He was also one of the baleful influences that persuaded the American Heart Association to preach the phony gospel of the Lipid Hypothesis [emphasis added].” (source)

So blind faith in claims made by the AHA and other organizations can be a dangerous starting point for discussions on health.

In fact, take a quick look at their Heart-Check certified foods list and you’ll see a large number of processed food products included. I wonder who produces these food products? Hmm….I wonder.

The Lipid Hypothesis

Next, the idea that saturated fat contributes to elevated cholesterol, and that cholesterol contributes to the development of heart disease, is formally known as the Lipid Hypothesis.

This was first introduced by Ancel Keys, and has since been debunked. According to the Lipid Hypothesis Wikipedia page:

"Keys' supplementary hypothesis that reducing saturated fat in the diet will reduce cardiovascular disease has been described as a "fallacy".[4][5] A meta-analysis in 2014 finds that "current evidence does not clearly support cardiovascular guidelines that encourage high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of total saturated fats".[32] [emphasis added] This meta-analysis was called "seriously misleading" by Walter Willet, chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard, who explained that the paper contained major errors and omissions [emphasis added], most notably that the foods used to replace saturated fats were other unhealthy foods like refined sugars and starches.[33]"

There’s a wonderful little video on the Lipid Hypothesis and how the research used to develop it was significantly flawed. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in nutrition and health, You can watch that here:

Saturated fats are fatty acids whose carbon atoms have hydrogen atoms attached to all of its positions.

Monounsaturated fatty acids have carbon atoms that are missing a double-bond of hydrogen atoms. Carbon atoms with more than one double-bond missing are polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The effects that fatty acids have on health depends on how saturated or unsaturated they are.

All fats have beneficial health properties related to:

• Hormone regulation (thyroid, adrenaline, etc.)
• Cell membrane structure and fluidity
• Digestion of fat-soluble vitamins

Poly-unsaturated oils are vulnerable to being oxidized and lead to the production of free-radicals in the body. This is a result of the missing double-bonds of hydrogen on the carbon atom.

Unsaturated fats have also been shown to be harmful to the mitochondria while inhibiting thyroid function and supporting the metabolizing of carbohydrates into fat.

Cholesterol

The Lipid Hypothesis suggested that the level of cholesterol in the blood (serum cholesterol) is a direct result of eating foods high in saturated fats.

But the reality is that only a small amount of cholesterol in the body comes from diet. Most (about 80 percent) is produced by the liver.

Cholesterol also has many beneficial health properties:

• It’s used in the production of steroidal hormones (cortisol, progesterone, etc.).
• It’s an antioxidant that supports blood vessel repair.

But in order for cholesterol to be used in the production of hormones, the body must have enough vitamin A and thyroid hormones.

This highlights the fact that many other factors impact the cholesterol levels seen in individuals.

It also shows how high cholesterol simply does not result from eating saturated fats. If anything, it’s a sign that the body is under some stress…and that many factors must be considered before telling people to eat less of this or that.

Now…Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is made up mostly of medium-chain fatty acids. Medium-chain fatty acids are easily digested since they don’t require the presence of enzymes from the pancreas.

This can make it a beneficial source of fats for people struggling with diabetes.

These fatty acids are also quickly used as fuel due to their rapid absorption and transport to the liver—something that can help people with digestive disorders.

Coconut oil’s pro-thyroid effects help support the use of cholesterol in creating steroid hormones. This means that it can actually help lower serum cholesterol.

It can support the immune system, is anti-fungal, and can be beneficial for digestive health since it's absorbed quickly.

Your post makes a valid point: No food can be all healthy or unhealthy. This includes coconut oil. Too much or too little of something can have negative health effects.

I would add that what works for one person may not work for another. Nutrition is highly individualized. And blanket recommendations regarding foods must be looked at with scrutiny and further research.

Health claims that are further fueled by click-hungry news media cause people to become even more confused about their health.

The general public ends up jumping from one idea to the next without ever taking the time to find what truly works for them based on their own needs, health history, environment, and other factors.

I think it's great that we're all on board for helping others to become healthier. These types of discussions are good opportunities for all of us, and hopefully...together...we can continue to move forward towards better health for everyone.

References:

1. Rubin, Josh & Jeanne; Understanding Fats; Metabolic Blueprint Course; EastWestHealing
2. Peat Ph.D., Ray; Coconut Oil; Article: http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/coconut-oil.shtml