People often use dried coconut to add flavor to their sweet and savory dishes because it is easier to use and more readily available than fresh coconut. Coconut is a good source of fiber and certain minerals, but is also high in saturated fat. The type of saturated fat it contains, however, may be healthier than other types of saturated fat.
Calories and Macronutrient Content
A 2-inch by 2 1/2-inch piece of fresh, raw coconut has 159 calories, 1.5 grams of protein, 6.9 grams of carbohydrates and 15.1 grams of fat, including 13.4 grams of saturated fat, or 67 percent of the daily value. An ounce of unsweetened dried coconut has 185 calories, 1.9 grams of protein, 6.6 grams of carbohydrate and 18.1 grams of fat, including 16 grams of saturated fat. Sweetened, dried coconut provides 128 calories, 0.9 gram of protein, 14.5 grams of carbohydrates and 7.8 grams of fat, including 7.4 grams of saturated fat per ounce. Unsweetened dried coconut contains less water than sweetened, which is why it has more calories per ounce.
Micronutrient and Fiber Content
Coconut provides significant amounts of fiber, manganese and copper. Fiber helps lower your cholesterol and heart disease risk; manganese helps heal wounds and form strong bones; and copper helps form red blood cells and keep your immune system healthy. Raw coconut has 16 percent of the DV for fiber, 34 percent of the DV for manganese and 10 percent of the DV for copper per serving. A serving of unsweetened dried coconut provides 18 percent of the DV for fiber, 38 percent of the DV for manganese and 11 percent of the DV for copper; and a serving of sweetened dried coconut contains 11 percent of the DV for fiber, 13 percent of the DV for manganese and 4 percent of the DV for copper.
Coconut and Cholesterol
Consuming high amounts of saturated fat can increase your low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol, and your heart disease risk. The saturated fat in animal products consists mainly of long-chain triglycerides, but the saturated fat in coconut oil consists mostly of medium chain triglycerides, which may provide health benefits. In a study published in the "Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2011, people who consumed more coconut oil had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol, compared to those who didn't use as much coconut oil. Only virgin coconut oil has this effect because refined coconut oil contains trans fat, which increases your LDL cholesterol while decreasing your HDL cholesterol.
The Sugar Issue
Raw coconut and unsweetened dried coconut contain only 2 grams to 3 grams of sugar per serving. Sweetened dried coconut, however, has 10.3 grams per serving. Consuming too much added sugar may increase your risk for obesity and heart disease, according to the American Heart Association, which recommends women limit added sugars to 25 grams per day and men, 37.5 grams.