Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hello Terry, “I would like your opinion on something. In your opinion, aside from olive oil (which I use) and flax (I used milled flax seed), what oil carries the highest, broadest range of nutritional value regardless of its efficacy for cooking?” — John M., Dallas, TX

A. Dear John, The oil that I would highly recommend for anyone is coconut oil. It not only is excellent to cook with since it has a very high smoke point (it does not burn easily) but it is not a saturated fat as some people believe. It is primarily made up of medium chain triglycerides (MCT), which are not burned or stored as fat in the body, but go directly to the liver to stimulate energy production. Because of this, coconut oil is a good choice for people trying to lose weight, or maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, coconut oil contains lauric acid, a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent, which enhances the function of the immune system. There are many research studies which demonstrate the excellent properties of coconut oil.

Healthy regards!

Terry . . . Naturally