Other types of fats include poly-unsaturated fats, found in corn, soybean, peanut and other oils, and mono-unsaturated fats, found in olive, canola, safflower, avocado and other oils.

"Scientific studies that lowered intake of saturated fat and replaced it with polyunsaturated vegetable oil reduced cardiovascular disease by approximately 30 percent; similar to cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins", the organization said in a "presidential advisory".

One of today's most popular health foods, coconut oil, sits in the cross-hairs of the American Heart Association.

One reminder that may surprise some people - coconut oil may come from a tree, but it's not a particularly healthful fat. And US heart experts have spoken out to say that coconut oil is as unhealthy as beef dripping.

Coconut oil has never been healthy, but many people are convinced it is, says report author Frank Sacks.

Olive oil and vegetable oil may be better options.

However, other experts believe that saturated fat isn't detrimental to your health. It has everything. "Ah", you might think, "my favourite health product is as bad as butter!".

Coconut oil is also touted as an immune system strengthening agent.

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The AHA also say there's no solid evidence that backs up people's claims that coconut oil has health benefits.

The group's conclusion? The notion that saturated fat leads to heart disease, and that unsaturated fat prevents it, should not be up for debate. The large-scale trials don't detail what kind of saturated fats folks were eating, but I have a hunch that coconut oil wasn't Finnish hospital patients' main source of saturated fat - they were probably eating more meat and butter.

According to the AHA, coconut oil contains 82 percent of saturated fats.

"Saturated fat increases LDL - bad cholesterol - which is a major cause of artery-clogging plaque and cardiovascular disease".

High levels or LDL cholesterol in the blood have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. He says inflammation is the true cause of heart disease, and inflammation is caused by eating too much sugar and other carbohydrates, trans fats and refined Omega-6 fats, not saturated fat.

It's important to remember though that a little bit of fat is definitely good for you, as fatty acids are essential for proper absorption of vitamins.

"The American Heart Association is now coming out very strongly and very clearly with this statement saying that saturated fat increases cardiovascular risk and that you need to look at what you're replacing it with when you take it out of the diet", she said.