T

he coconut craze is one of the latest diets to be promoted in the West, with one book claiming the tropical fruit has a '€œsecret ingredient'€ that helps people lose weight while indulging in other foods.

Online retailer Amazon has 16 titles, mainly published in the US, featuring coconut diets to help shed kilos effortlessly.

However, not all health authorities are convinced the big nut is a superfood, the answer to obesity and heart disease.

The Dieticians Association of Australia website claims: '€œfoods rich in saturated fat [such as coconut oil] are linked with a higher risk of heart disease and eating high fat foods, which are therefore higher in energy, makes weight control more difficult'€.

Last year, the New Zealand Heart Foundation issued a '€œposition statement'€ which said: '€˜The wide range of research often quoted to support use of coconut oil is largely based on animal studies.'€

The '€œfacts'€ flung by both sides in the debate include references to trans fats, lauric acid, enzymes and other substances only the scientifically well educated can understand.

Confused? Best seek the advice of a health professional you trust.