Coconut oil
For a while it seemed like coconut oil was promoted as a must-use for everything from cooking to skin care. But dietitians say that not everything is as it seems with this popular oil. “Coconut oil is thought to be somewhat more beneficial to heart health than animal fats like butter, but not as heart-healthy as cooking oils that are made from plants like olive, canola, or soybean oil,” says Sollid.He explains that coconut oil is mostly saturated fat, more so than other cooking oils from plants. With that being said, not all types of saturated fats impact health in the same way. “Coconut oil has been shown to raise LDL cholesterol (the ‘bad’ kind of cholesterol), while also raising HDL (the ‘good’ kind) more than other types of saturated fat, particularly when it replaces carbohydrates,” says Sollid.His advice? Coconut oil shouldn’t replace a significant amount of other plant oils in your diet. “If you enjoy the flavour of coconut oil, consider using it in place of butter or shortening, or paired with other cooking oils, keeping in mind that only small amounts should be used,” he says.Try: Organic Traditions’ Coconut Oil ($14, houseofwellness.ca).(Related: The Health Benefits and Risks of Coconut Milk)