At one point, coconut oil seemed to be the secret elixir to life—as it was believed to aid skin, hair, and help users shed weight among a variety of other benefits. According to a report from the American Botanical Council’s (ABC) HerbalGram, coconut oil experienced a decrease in sales in 2017. To be exact, the herbal supplement experienced approximately a 23 percent decline in sales.
What could account for this? While the report does not get into specifics, some nutrition experts remain skeptical of the true health benefits. A 2016 survey by the New York Times found that although 72 percent of consumers believed coconut oil was healthy, only 37 percent of nutritionists agreed.
So what exactly is the controversy? Many of the supposed benefits of coconut oil are “small, inconclusive, and animal- or lab-based,” according to findings summarized by Medical News Today. For example, focusing back on weight-loss potential, some experts caution against consuming too much coconut oil because it is high in saturated fat (82 percent). The American Heart Association ultimately advised against consuming saturated fats altogether citing concerning links to cardiovascular disease.
