{"id":2950,"date":"2026-07-07T06:38:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T06:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whmnews.ir\/En\/?p=2950"},"modified":"2026-07-07T06:38:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T06:38:52","slug":"the-one-healthy-food-that-might-be-spiking-your-bad-cholesterol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whmnews.ir\/En\/index.php\/2026\/07\/07\/the-one-healthy-food-that-might-be-spiking-your-bad-cholesterol\/","title":{"rendered":"The One Healthy Food That Might be Spiking Your ‘Bad’ Cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"

The One Healthy Food That Might be Spiking Your ‘Bad’ Cholesterol<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coconut oil has enjoyed a long run as a wellness favorite. It’s been blended into smoothies, stirred into coffee, and promoted as a natural alternative to more heavily processed cooking oils. However, coconut oil is high in saturated fat and can raise LDL cholesterol if you eat too much.<\/p>\n

Why Coconut Oil Can Raise ‘Bad’ Cholesterol<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite its health halo, coconut oil can raise LDL cholesterol levels.\u00a0LDL cholesterol<\/a>\u00a0is often referred to as “bad cholesterol” because elevated levels can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries over time, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.1<\/sup><\/p>\n

“The main reason is its saturated fat content,”\u00a0Johannah Katz, RD<\/a>, a registered dietitian, told Verywell. “Coconut oil is much higher in saturated fat than most common cooking oils, and saturated fat has been shown to raise LDL cholesterol by making it harder for the body to clear LDL particles from the blood.”<\/p>\n

In fact, coconut oil contains even more saturated fat than many people realize.<\/p>\n

“Coconut oil is roughly 80% to 90% saturated fat,2<\/sup>\u00a0higher than butter or lard,” said\u00a0Kylie King, MS, RD<\/a>, a registered dietitian. “Almost half is lauric acid, and another quarter is myristic and palmitic acid, two of the most LDL-raising fatty acids we have identified.”<\/p>\n

And that saturated-fat profile appears to have a measurable effect on cholesterol levels. One review found that coconut oil raised LDL cholesterol by about 10.5 mg\/dL compared with oils such as olive, canola, soybean, and sunflower oil.2<\/sup><\/p>\n

So, Why Do People Think Coconut Oil Is Healthy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Part of the reason is its association with medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a type of fat often linked to benefits such as rapid energy release. However, experts say coconut oil isn’t the same thing as MCT oil.<\/p>\n

“The lauric acid in coconut oil raises cholesterol the way long-chain saturated fats do, not like the quick-burning MCTs in MCT oil,” said King. “The ‘it’s all healthy MCTs’ framing oversells it.”<\/p>\n

Some people also point out that coconut oil can raise HDL, or “good,” cholesterol. While that’s true, Katz said the increase in HDL doesn’t necessarily offset the higher LDL levels.<\/p>\n

How It Compares to Other Cooking Oils<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not all cooking oils affect cholesterol the same way. The biggest difference comes down to the type of fat they contain.<\/p>\n

“Coconut oil is dominated by saturated fat,” said King. “The oils I steer clients toward are dominated by monounsaturated fat, and that swap is where the LDL benefit comes from.”<\/p>\n

Here’s how some\u00a0healthier cooking oils<\/a>\u00a0compare:<\/p>\n