• Vitamins & Supplements
  • Food & Drink
  • Sports Nutrition
  • Free From
  • Natural Beauty
  • Weight Management
  • Offers
  • Summer Shop
  • The Health Hub
  • Learn more Healthbox
  • Account
Track your order Delivery & Returns Help Centre My subscriptions

Customer Service

  • Contact us
  • Site map
  • Site map
  • Store locator

About us

  • Who are we
  • Working at Holland & Barrett
  • Press releases
  • Privacy & cookie policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Holland & Barrett More
  • Holland & Barrett International
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Modern Slavery Statement

Connect with us

Store
0370 606 6606
My account
Rewards
  • Sign in
  • How do I join?
  • What are the benefits?
  • FAQs
Holland & Barrett :: the good life
  • Menu
  • Account
  • Store
  • Basket
    Search for
    • Vitamins & Supplements
    • Food & Drink
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Free From
    • Natural Beauty
    • Weight Management
    • Offers
    • The Health Hub
    • Healthbox

    Home / Food & Drink / Food / Coconut / 5 major myths about coconut

    5 major myths about coconut

    You can’t avoid coconut today – a quick scroll through Instagram shows numerous fitness gurus cooking with coconut oil, while celebs are lining up to endorse the latest coconut products, like coconut water or coconut butter, and beauty bloggers are praising coconut oil for hair and skin. But how healthy are they really?

    We take a look at the top 5 coconut myths and reveal the truth.

    1. Is coconut water bad for you?

    In short – no, quite the opposite. It’s hard to work out where this myth comes from, as there’s a huge amount of evidence that coconut water is bursting with health benefits. Studies show not only is it an excellent way to rehydrate after exercise – it contains five times more potassium than leading sports drinks. However, it does contain some natural sugars, so shouldn’t totally replace water, and has less sodium than some sports drinks; serious athletes may need a supplement. But most of us are fine to simply start sipping on coconut water.

    2. How healthy is coconut oil?

    Coconut oil is very healthy. Coconut oil is the little black dress of wellbeing – everyone should have some! But it is still a saturated fat (albeit a much better version than animal fat) so you should treat it the same as any other fat to avoid overloading on calories. The good news is the majority of this fat is made up of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that your body breaks down for energy rather than storing as fat.

    3. Is coconut healthy?

    Coconut oil is a saturated fat, meaning it can contribute to weight gain if you eat too much. Rather than simply adding coconut oil to your diet, use it to replace your usual fats like olive oil or butter but also think about where you can cut down on fat overall.

    4. Is coconut oil good for your skin?

    The high level of antioxidants in virgin coconut oil means it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines. Those with oily skin may worry about putting more oil on their faces, but if you’ve been using oil-reducing products, your skin overcompensates by producing even more oil. Coconut oil helps rebalance this process and leaves you less oily in the long run. Although try not to overload your skin, which can lead to blocked pores – remove it thoroughly if you are using coconut oil as a cleanser, and start with a small amount as a moisturiser to see how your skin responds.

    5. Does cooking with coconut make everything taste like coconut?

    Definitely not. Adding coconut milk to Thai or Indian recipes doesn’t make them taste like macaroons, so coconut milk is fine to use in smoothies or salad dressings. Coconut sugar tastes similar to brown sugar, rather than sickly sweet coconut, while coconut water barely tastes of anything! Some people say the oil does have a slight coconut flavour, but this depends on the particular brand, type of coconut oil and personal taste. Why not find out for yourself? We’ve got the best coconut recipes to enjoy during your day.

    Shop Coconut Oil

    Tweet
    Follow on Instagram
    Coconut

    You may also like

    Is coconut oil safe for dogs?

    Article

    Is coconut oil safe for dogs?

    There are many uses for coconut oil, including as a moisturiser, for cooking and baking..

    READ MORE...
    The healthiest types of oil

    Article

    The healthiest types of oil

    Oils may be used for sautéing, baking and as a drizzle or salad dressing -..

    READ MORE...
    What is fractionated coconut oil?

    Article

    What is fractionated coconut oil?

    Gone are the days where we avoid fats and oils like the plague. More and..

    READ MORE...

    Connect with us

    • Log in Register
    • rewards for life

    Customer service

    • Store locator
    • Contact us
    • Site feedback
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Delivery & returns
    • Site map
    • My account

    About us

    • Who we are
    • Working at Holland & Barrett
    • Press room
    • Privacy & cookie policy
    • Terms & conditions
    • Holland & Barrett More
    • Holland & Barrett International

    Brands

    • Holland & Barrett
    • Bootea
    • Dr Organic
    • Precision Engineered
    • Manuka Doctor
    • Good n Natural
    • Miaroma
    Register
    Click to verify if this website is operating legally

    Copyright © Holland & Barrett Retail Limited, 2017. All rights reserved. hollandandbarrett.com is a trading name of Holland & Barrett Retail Limited,. Registered office: Samuel Ryder House, Barling Way, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV10 7RH. Registered in England: company no. 2758955. Registered VAT no. 211727395.