There has lengthy been debate over which fat are good for well being — significantly with regards to generally used substances in Indian kitchens like ghee, coconut oil, and butter. These conventional fat have loyal supporters, particularly amongst influencers and nutritionists, who tout their purity and supposed well being advantages.
Nonetheless, hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, identified on social media as TheLiverDoc, gives a really completely different perspective on liver well being. He wrote on X, “Swap from saturated fat like coconut oil, clarified butter (ghee), lard and butter to sophisticated (for cooking), unrefined and chilly pressed (for direct use) seed oils wealthy in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated to expertise improved liver exams and scale back liver fats.”
His steerage additionally contradicts the rising notion that conventional = more healthy. His message reframes the dialogue: custom doesn’t at all times equal optimum, particularly when seen by the lens of scientific liver well being.
However, is there proof displaying that saturated fat like ghee and coconut oil worsen liver operate or contribute to liver fats accumulation?
Dr Manoj Gupta, head, Liver Transplant and Surgical Gastroenterology at PSRI Hospital, tells indianexpress.com, “Sure, rising scientific analysis helps this declare. Saturated fat, together with these present in ghee, butter, coconut oil, and lard, are identified to contribute to liver fats buildup, particularly in folks susceptible to or already identified with non-alcoholic fatty liver illness (NAFLD). Research printed in journals like Hepatology and The Journal of Medical Endocrinology & Metabolism have discovered that top consumption of saturated fat can improve hepatic triglyceride ranges, worsen insulin resistance, and set off inflammatory pathways within the liver.”
Swap from saturated fat like coconut oil, clarified butter (ghee), lard and butter to sophisticated (for cooking), unrefined and chilly pressed (for direct use) seed oils wealthy in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated to expertise improved liver exams and scale back liver fats.
— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) May 13, 2025
Dr Jagadish Hiremath, public well being mental, provides, “Whereas conventional fat like ghee and coconut oil are culturally important and consumed sparsely in lots of Indian households, extreme and common consumption, particularly within the context of a sedentary way of life and calorie-dense weight loss plan, can worsen metabolic well being, together with liver operate.”
Nonetheless, he states, particular person responses can range, and the general dietary sample, way of life, and present metabolic danger components play a extra important function than any single meals merchandise.
How do completely different processing strategies influence the healthfulness of seed oils?
In accordance with Dr Gupta, how oils are processed considerably impacts their nutrient profile and habits when heated. “Refined seed oils like sunflower, rice bran, or canola oil are handled to take away impurities and stand up to excessive cooking temperatures with out breaking down. This makes them safer for deep frying and sautéing as a result of they’re extra heat-stable and fewer more likely to kind dangerous compounds like trans fat or free radicals.”
Chilly-pressed or unrefined oils, alternatively, are extracted utilizing mechanical stress with out warmth or chemical substances. Dr Gupta says, “They keep antioxidants, phytosterols, and vitamin E, that are helpful for coronary heart and liver well being — however they’re heat-sensitive and finest consumed uncooked, in salad dressings or drizzles. Dr Philips’ advice to match oil kind with use — refined for cooking and cold-pressed for uncooked consumption — is aligned with international dietary tips.”
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Can changing saturated fat with seed oils excessive in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat considerably enhance liver take a look at outcomes?
Dr Hiremath notes, “Sure, changing saturated fat with seed oils wealthy in unsaturated fat, similar to sunflower, safflower, canola, or flaxseed oil, has proven promising ends in bettering lipid profiles and decreasing liver fats in people with fatty liver illness.”
In sufferers with fatty liver illness, Dr Gupta explains, this dietary shift has led to measurable enhancements in liver enzyme ranges (ALT, AST), decreased hepatic fats on imaging, and higher insulin sensitivity. When mixed with common train and decreased sugar consumption, the advantages are much more pronounced — making this one of the crucial accessible, low-cost interventions for bettering liver well being.
DISCLAIMER: This text relies on info from the general public area and/or the specialists we spoke to. At all times seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.