Depending on who you believe, coconut oil is either a nutritional miracle food or pure poison. Nearly 70% of Americans view coconut oil as a health food—but only about 37% of nutritionists view it that way.
Coconut oil is 88% fat, most of which is saturated fat. However, the structure of fat in coconut oil differs from animal-derived fats and oils, which consist mainly of long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) and is linked to elevated cholesterol level.