Coconut oil is pure poison: Harvard professor
In a talk--very interestingly titled, “coconut and other nutritional errors”-- a Harvard professor called coconut oil ‘pure poison’. This lecture about coconut oil-- which has fallen from grace in the recent years-- has gone viral on YouTube, garnering more than a million views.
After being worshipped as the ‘holy grail’ product for skin, hair and even health for years, this oil came under fire after the American Heart Association issued an advisory regarding the same in 2017. The AHA claimed that it can contribute to higher risk of heart diseases as it is full of saturated fat.
Now, Karin Michels, professor of epidemiology at Harvard, claimed in her lecture that coconut oil is not healthy and repeatedly called it “poison”. She also claimed that it is more harmful than lard (pig fat) as it is high in saturated fatty acids which, in turn, may clog arteries.
"I can only warn you urgently about coconut oil," she further added, calling it one of the “worst” foods that one can eat.
Her warnings come as a big shock as coconut oil is repeatedly being advertised as the multi-purpose oil which is the “ultimate” food for health. Surprisingly, there is little to no evidence to back the claim of it being the “superfood” that it has been made out to be since ages.
Professor Michels is not alone in slamming this oil, Dr Frank Sacks, who is a nutrition professor at the Harvard explained further, “Coconut oil is very high in saturated fat that raises your LDL cholesterol, which is a bad cholesterol. It is unhealthy to consume it.”
What should you do?
The bottom line is that while there is limited research about coconut oil's impact on the body--whether good or bad. It is always good to remember that moderation is the key, so if you are going to use coconut oil, use it in moderation. But, if this research scares you, you can always swap it with virgin olive oil.
courtesy : timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship: How to apply, when to apply; details here
Bengaluru: The Azim Premji Foundation has announced the Azim Premji Scholarship for the academic year 2025–26, aimed at supporting up to 2.5 lakh girls across 18 Indian states who are pursuing higher education after completing school. An official release from the foundation also stated that in the coming years the scholarship will be implemented across the country.
When to Apply:
According to a release from the foundation, the application process for the Azim Premji Scholarship 2025–26 will commence in September 2025. “Details of the program and any changes in the program design or coverage will be notified at the start of the application process,” the release added.
Where to Apply:
According to the release, the scholarship this year will be implemented across 18 states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Students residing in these states and enrolled in recognised higher education institutions will be eligible to apply.
How to Apply:
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Girls who have completed their Class 10 and 12 education in government (public) schools and have secured admission in a bona fide higher education institution either a government-run college/university or select private institutions can apply for the scholarship.
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Once the application portal opens in September, students will be required to submit personal details, educational qualifications, proof of admission, and bank account information.
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The scholarship amount ₹30,000 per year will be transferred directly into the students' bank accounts in two instalments each academic year, read the release.
