Coconut belongs to the Palm family. Grown in abundance in Malaysia, Polynesia and southern Asia, Spanish explorers named the cocos – meaning ‘grinning face’. Because of the three little eyes on the base which they thought resembled a monkey. The Health Benefits Of Coconut!
The Health Benefits Of Coconut
Classed as a fruit and frequently confused for being a nut, the coconut is actually a one-seeded drupe. In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalpa vriksha. Tree which gives all that is necessary for living’ because nearly all parts can be used, the water, milk, flesh, sugar and oil.
Even the husks and leaves are used as materials in furnishings and decoration. Palm trees produce coconuts up to 13 times a year and although it takes a year for the coconuts to mature, a fully blossomed tree can produce between 60-180 coconuts in a single harvest.
People living in the tropics have beautiful, wrinkle-free skin because coconut oil is not only part of their diet—but also their beauty regimen! Coconut milk is made by mixing shredded, fresh coconut meat with water, then squeezing it through a sieve or cheesecloth.
Populations That Eat a Lot of Coconut Oil Are Healthy
Coconut is an exotic food in the Western world, primarily consumed by health conscious people. However, in some parts of the world, coconut (loaded with coconut oil) is a dietary staple that people have thrived on for many generations.
The best example of such a population is the Tokelauans, which live in the South Pacific. They used to eat over 60% of their calories from coconuts. When studied, they were found to be in excellent health, with very low rates of heart disease. Another example of a population that ate a lot of coconut and remained in excellent health is the Kitavans.
Health Benefits of Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is made from a brew of coconut meat and water. But don’t confuse it with lower-calorie coconut water. Rich and thick and more like cream than milk, coconut milk packs an eye-opening 445 calories and 48 grams of fat (43 grams saturated) per cup.
That’s where “lite” coconut milk comes in: you can substitute “lite” coconut milk for traditional coconut milk to trim roughly two-thirds the fat and calories without sacrificing flavor. As we do in our healthy coconut-milk recipe for Coconut-Milk Chicken Curry.
Coconut milk is made by mixing shredded, fresh coconut meat with water, then squeezing it through a sieve or cheesecloth. The thick, creamy liquid that comes out is coconut milk and can be used for Thai curries and stews.
Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar is derived from the coconut sap, the sweet juice extracted when the budding flower is just about to grow. This process offers a delicious, sweet taste similar to brown sugar with a hint of caramel, with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Coconut sugar is considered a low glycemic food and is diabetic friendly. Use coconut sugar as you would commonly use other sugars and sweeteners.
How to select and store
If you are able to get fresh coconut milk be aware that it goes bad very quickly and should be used the same day as pressing. The canned variety is a useful store cupboard ingredient and can be stored at room temperature for a long time.
Be careful to check the use by dates and look out for damage or dents in the cans. Once opened, transfer the contents to a resealable container and refrigerate. Use within a few days. The high oil content makes coconut quickly turn rancid if not stored under proper conditions.
Coconut Oil Protects and Beautifies Your Skin
People living in the tropics have beautiful, wrinkle-free skin because coconut oil is not only part of their diet—but also their beauty regimen!
Coconut oil is a naturally moisturizing cleanser—and an effective sunscreen, blocking out 20 percent of harmful rays… thanks to the medium-chain fatty acids that protect and heal the skin at the same time.
People living in the tropics have beautiful, wrinkle-free skin because coconut oil is not only part of their diet—but also their beauty regimen! Once opened, transfer the contents to a resealable container and refrigerate.
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