evidence: Coconut oil is touted as a superfood with all kinds of potential health benefits, including weight loss, blood sugar control, reduction of cholesterol and decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, like butter, coconut oil is solid at room temperature and primarily composed of saturated fat. Most other vegetable oils (including several mentioned in the column on healthy cooking oils) are primarily unsaturated fat, which are viewed as a more beneficial type of fat. [...] A 2023 summary of peer-reviewed studies confirms that while coconut oil has fewer detrimental effects on total and LDL cholesterol compared to butter, it can be more damaging compared to unsaturated vegetable oils.[2] Another 2021 meta-analysis concludes that coconut oil significantly raises both LDL and HDL blood cholesterol levels, adversely affecting cardiometabolic health. The benefits of increased HDL cholesterol appear to be outweighed by the drawbacks of increased LDL cholesterol.[3] [...] Taste, pleasure and cultural traditions all matter when it comes to food. For this reason, coconut oil cannot be categorized as "good" or "bad." It has a distinctive flavor and is a rich energy source for people worldwide.