Many people believe that oil pulling with coconut oil or other vegetable oils every morning can "draw" toxins out of the body, even curing many chronic diseases. However, experts assert that this is a misconception lacking scientific basis, posing potential health risks if applied incorrectly.

Doctors refute oil-based detoxification mechanism

Doctor Huang Shi-wei, superintendent of Show Chwan Hospital in Central Taiwan, Trung Quoc, emphasizes that the liver and kidneys are the two main organs responsible for metabolizing and eliminating toxins from the entire body. There is no biological mechanism indicating that holding or swishing oil in the mouth can extract toxins from the blood or internal organs.

Current scientific evidence only suggests that oil pulling may have a slight effect on oral bacteria, but its cleansing and antibacterial efficacy is far inferior to specialized mouthwashes.

Notably, the doctor warns that if oil is accidentally inhaled into the respiratory tract during oil pulling, users face a significant risk of aspiration pneumonia, particularly among older adults.

Many people believe that oil pulling with coconut oil or other vegetable oils every morning can "draw" toxins out of the body. Illustration: Havard Health

Misconceptions from the "health-boosting oil" trend

Beyond oil pulling, coconut oil has also been rumored to be a "miracle health elixir" through trends involving direct consumption. Superintendent Huang Shi-wei advises people not to blindly follow these trends and clarifies three other common misconceptions:

Coconut oil is a weight loss miracle, eating a lot won't make you fat: Coconut oil contains over 90% saturated fat, with each tablespoon providing about 120 calories. While it contains medium-chain fatty acids that metabolize relatively quickly, excess energy cannot "disappear on its own." Drinking coconut oil as a supplement can also easily cause diarrhea and digestive disorders.

Pursuing health means completely avoiding fats: Fat is an essential nutrient that helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), forms cell membranes, and synthesizes hormones. Fat itself is not bad; the core issue lies in choosing the wrong type of oil or consuming more than necessary.

A Keto diet combined with large amounts of coconut oil is very good: The Keto diet is typically prescribed in specific medical contexts. Adopting a diet with too much saturated fat for extended periods can lead to dyslipidemia and place an additional burden on the kidneys.

The Taiwan Health Promotion Administration (HPA) also notes that Keto is an extreme method with carbohydrate intake below 10% but fat content up to 70%, which is far from balanced dietary principles. Before adopting it, individuals need a medical professional to assess and closely monitor their physical condition.

Warnings from a nutrition expert

Nutrition expert Kate Patton, in an article on the official Cleveland Clinic website (US), further explains that while the calories and fat in coconut oil are similar to olive oil, the nature of their fats is completely opposite.

Olive oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet), which help lower "bad" LDL cholesterol, reduce inflammatory responses, and protect cardiovascular health. In contrast, coconut oil is primarily saturated fat – a culprit that raises "bad" cholesterol and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease if overused.

Patton recommends prioritizing the replacement of saturated fats with unsaturated fats in daily meals, while also controlling total fat intake, as natural foods already contain fats.

Six groups of people who should absolutely not follow the "health-boosting oil" trend

Given the trend of incorrect coconut oil consumption and use, Doctor Huang Shi-wei specifically advises the following six groups not to arbitrarily follow it to avoid further health complications:

Individuals with high blood lipid levels (hyperlipidemia);

Individuals with a history of cardiovascular diseases;

Individuals currently undergoing lipid-lowering medication treatment;

Individuals with gallbladder-related diseases;

Individuals experiencing fat malabsorption syndrome;

Older adults.

My Y (According to HK01)