Results of a six-week study published in the August 1995 issue of the "Journal of Lipid Research" looked at the effects of coconut oil, safflower oil and butter on 28 adults with moderately high cholesterol. Researchers concluded that total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly elevated in the group of study participants that consumed butter; however, both levels also increased in the participants who consumed coconut oil compared to the safflower group.
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If your doctor recommends statin drugs for high cholesterol, use of these medications goes hand in hand with changes in eating habits. MayoClinic.com states that you should get no more than 10 percent of your daily calories from saturated fat; the Cleveland Clinic recommends a more conservative number — less than 7 percent of your daily calories. Rather than cooking with coconut oil, choose plant-based oils rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, such as olive, canola, cottonseed, corn, soybean, safflower and sunflower oils. Consuming these heart-healthy oils can actually improve your cholesterol levels. The Cleveland Clinic recommends getting most of your fat calories from unsaturated fats. Get between 25 and 35 percent of your daily calories from fat, and try to avoid eating trans fat entirely. Limit yourself to no more than 300 mg dietary cholesterol daily, or 200 mg if you have heart disease.
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