u Dr Pritpal Singh, weight management consultant based in Calcutta: ?Coconut oil is good but only if taken in moderation. I wouldn?t recommend more than two teaspoons a day.?

u Dr Bruce Fife, a naturopathic doctor and author of The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil: ?Coconut oil is the healthiest oil on earth.? In his book Dr Fife talks about how the oil, once accused of increasing cholesterol levels, is now actually being used by doctors in the treatment of a variety of disorders. Clinical studies have shown that coconut oil has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, and is now even being used in treating AIDS patients.

u Nina Singh, manager of VLCC slimming centre at Alipore, Calcutta: ?It has good properties but you cannot live on it. One will benefit from the consumption of coconut oil only if it is taken in proportion with other useful fats and oils. If it?s just coconut oil, your body will lose out on the nutrients that only the other oils can provide.?

u Dr Jon J. Kabara, PhD and Professor Emeritus of Michigan State University: ?Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid and it is abundant in coconut oil. Coconut oil is about 50 per cent lauric acid. The only other such source found in nature is in human breast milk.?