As dietitians, we tend to have a sixth sense about whether a nutrition claim might be legitimate or not, which can be difficult to explain to clients. A current example would be the fuss surrounding “seed oils” (certain refined vegetable oils, including canola, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, rice bran, safflower, soy, and sunflower), spurred by the American health secretary’s recent claims that they are harmful and the subsequent media (and social media) attention.

This Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health fact sheet for consumers describes the properties of coconut oil and examines popular health claims.

  2020-06-26 – Handout

A critical analysis of a recent study.

A synthesis of the recommendations and evidence regarding Functional Food/Nutraceuticals - Coconut.

  2023-07-25 – Summary of Recommendations and Evidence