Karin Michels, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, spoke out against coconut oil in a 50-minute YouTube video that has since gone viral. Coconut oil had previously been touted as a weight loss and immune system boost.
“Coconut oil is pure poison,” the Harvard professor said, according to a translation by Business Insider. “It is one of the worst foods you can eat.” The video has nearly a million views on YouTube.
Last year, the American Heart Association released a report, advising that consumers should avoid excessive coconut oil consumption.
Coconut oil has become a popular item amongst self-appointed “wellness experts” and “health gurus” online, according to the Chicago Tribune. It’s been tied to fat-burning and hunger-curbing, though there’s no study to support those beliefs. Michels argued that coconut oil can pose a risk to heart health, due to its high levels of saturated fatty acids, which can clog arteries.
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