NO to Coconut Oil: Experts

What’s an example of a “bad fat”? Harvard University Professor Karin Michels, as reported in USA Today, does not mince words: Michels calls coconut oil, “pure poison” and, “one of the worst foods you can eat.” Response to these words has been swift. Yahoo! Sports picked up on Michels’ story, adding that coconut oil is about 86% saturated fat. Fox6Now.com also reports on this explosive claim, and additionally cites a New York Times poll showing that while 72% of Americans consider coconut oil healthy, only 37% of nutritionists think so. The New York Post also waded into the controversy, asking nutritionists Keri Glassman and Tanya Zuckerbrot to look at the pros and cons of each of the popular fats and oils. The general consensus? For everyday cooking, monounsaturated fats like canola oil are the preferable choice.