evidence: Healthy Eating Best Healthy Foods Confused by Coconut Oil: Is it Good or Bad for Your Health? Here's What the Science Says You may have heard it was the healthiest oil—and then you heard you should never touch it. So what's the deal with coconut oil? By Lisa Valente, M.S., RD Lisa Valente, M.S., RD Lisa Valente is a registered dietitian and former senior digital nutrition editor for EatingWell. She studied at the University of Vermont, where she completed her undergraduate studies in nutrition, food science and dietetics, and attended the dietetic internship program at Massachusetts General Hospital to become a registered dietitian. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 15, 2022 Close Seems like everyone is talking about coconut oil-and how it's no longer amazing for you and doesn't deserve its healthy halo-because of a new American Heart Association (AHA) advisory report. But was it ever really super-healthy, and did the AHA ever say so? Not really. So what's all the fuss about? The New Fat Revolution: Are All Fats Really Healthy? Coconut oil became really trendy in recent years. People add it to everything from eggs and coffee to cookies and salad dressing.