Coconut oil has earned and lost its reputation as a so-called superfood in recent years. That’s rightly so, according to a Harvard professor who has labeled it “pure poison.”Karin Michels, professor of the department of epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, explained recently that, regardless of the advice peddled by unqualified and self-appointed online health gurus, consuming coconut oil carries a raft of health risks.Michels said that the substance poses a greater risk to heart health than lard as it is almost entirely made up of saturated fatty acids. These are believed to block our arteries. 

Generally, fats packed with fatty acids are those that are solid at room temperature. According to the American Heart Association, the average person should only consume around 11 to 13 grams of saturated fat per day, or 5 to 6 percent of their total daily calories.Unsaturated fats such as those found in olive oil, on the other hand, should also be eaten in moderation, but they could improve blood cholesterol. 

Michels is the latest to question the health benefits of coconut oil. Last year, the American Heart Association updated its science advisory, urging the public to avoid consuming coconut oil if possible. Following an analysis of over 100 studies dating back to the 1950s, researchers concluded saturated fats raise so-called bad cholesterol, or LDL. Coconut oil was found to spike LDL levels in seven controlled trials. 

GANDER, Kashmira. Disponível em: https://www.newsweek.com/ coconut-oil-pure-poison-says-harvard-professor-1082046. Acesso em: 1 nov. 2018. Adaptado. 

According to Karin Michels,