University Students’ Knowledge and Consumption of Coconut Oil

According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines Americans should aim to reduce saturated fats to less than 10% of total calorie intake per day. Coconut oil has recently been promoted as a healthy oil despite being high in saturated fatty acids (92%). Coconut oil is known to raise serum blood total and low-density lipoprotein levels and can negatively impact cardiovascular health. The Dietary Guidelines recommend replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet to reduce future risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). In that context, a cross-sectional study will be conducted to a sample of CMU student to assess their knowledge about coconut oil and its possible association with CVD risk. Students will fill out a SurveyMonkey questionnaire consisting of questions related to student’s coconut oil consumption and beliefs. Results of this survey will provide a better understanding of how students perceive coconut oil in regards to its health implication and frequency of consumption. Data will assist in developing a nutritional education initiative to reduce consumption of unhealthy fats and clarify myths from facts related to coconut oil. Thus, students can have the power to select healthier food choices and apply food related knowledge into their daily dietary practices.