This article was written by Cassie Shortsleeve and provided by our partners at Rodale’s Organic Life.
Coconut oil cures everything—at least that’s the way it looks these days. Healthy chefs cook with it; beauty buffs rub it all over their skin; proponents preach protective powers against diseases like Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
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But does coconut oil really deserve to bask in the limelight? Perhaps not: A recent New York Times survey found that while 72 percent of the American population seems to think coconut oil is healthy, only 37 percent of nutritionists agree. And as for the research on whether or not the oil can fend off disease? That’s iffy, too.
So before you lather up, pig out, or crack open a jar, find out when to think twice before using.