Written by Megan Dennis

Produced for online by Kurravi Piggott

Coconut oil is the new super-food, but experts warn it may be doing more harm than good and people should not rely on the internet for advice.

Dietitian Zara Nace from Toowong says a perception exists that the oil is good for you, but that is far from the case.

“Coconut oil is seen in the media and is promoted as really healthy and a great alternative to butter and margarine, however it should actually be treated as quite a saturated fat,” Ms Nace says.

High consumption of saturated fat has been linked to high cholesterol and heart disease.

“We all know saturated fats aren’t the good fats, we want to get more of the unsaturated. So things like your olive oil, your avocados, your nuts and your oily fishes,”  she says.

“It’s great that it’s promoting health, but it can definitely be taken to the extreme. Sometimes those clean eating things, such as your raw treats are still quite calorie dense.”

Vanilla Zulu cooking school owner and chef Melanie Townsend says coconut oil does not always work as a substitute and it is all about having a balanced diet.

“I wouldn’t be using coconut oil for absolutely everything in the kitchen,” Ms Townsend says.

But she admits a healthy diet is all about balance.

“I think if you are going to have a balanced diet, then everything in moderation is the best way to go,” she says.