The Wonders of Coconut?

It's tasty and versatile -- but is coconut the latest health food? We look at the benefits and myths behind this famed fruit.

BY: Elizabeth Rogers of 50Plus

Coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut water, coconut pulp — there’s been a lot of buzz in recent years about the health benefits of coconut. This tasty fruit has been a staple food and natural remedy in various cultures for centuries, but more recently its been making a comeback in North America. Some cooks swear by it, and some companies say their products can treat everything from kidney stones to HIV — and even help you lose weight. But is coconut really the latest superfood? Here’s a look at two of the products getting all the attention.

Coconut oil

Its benefits for skin and hair are widely known and generally not controversial — but eating coconut oil is another story. There is still a lot of debate about the health benefits versus potential harms of this ingredient turned dietary supplement. At first glance, the numbers aren’t promising: one tablespoon of coconut oil has 14 grams of fat and 12 grams of saturated fat (though it doesn’t have any cholesterol). Hydrogenated coconut oil — where hydrogen is added to turn the liquid into a solid form — also contains trans fats. Not surprisingly, coconut oil has gotten a bad reputation thanks to its high saturated fats. In comparison, lard has only 13 grams of fat and about 5 grams of saturated fat per tablespoon. Extra virgin olive oil offers about 14 grams of fat but only 2 grams of saturated fat. When we’re warned to watch our consumption of saturated fat, coconut oil tends to lose out. However, there’s more to healthy eating than numbers. Coconut oil is regaining favour because of the type of saturated fat it contains. Essentially, our bodies use these medium-chain fatty acids — or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) — differently than your usual long-chained saturated fats. Some research suggests these fats are more readily converted to energy rather than stored, and that they can even boost our metabolism. Besides, it has a unique flavour idea for cooking and baking — and it’s commonly used in certain cuisines and vegan fare.

However, the promised benefits don’t end there. Do some checking and you can compile a long list of things coconut oil and coconuts milk or pulp can help with, such as:

- dissolving kidney stones

- stimulating thyroid function (and thereby treating hypothyroidism)

- fighting tooth decay and gum disease

- relieving the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn’s disease and stomach ulcers

- improving cholesterol levels

- improving digestion and bowel function, and helping the body better absorb key nutrients

- protecting against heart disease, osteoporosis and liver disease

- boosting the immune system

- killing fungi, parasites, bacteria and viruses

- including the viruses behind pneumonia and HIV

Coconut water

Is this beverage really “Nature’s Gatorade”? With temperatures setting new highs recently, you may have heard that coconut water — the liquid inside young coconuts — is an all-natural way to stay hydrated. As the name suggests, it’s 94 per cent water — but it also contains potassium and other minerals like sodium which can help replenish depleted electrolytes. It’s also a source of B vitamins, amino acids, enzymes and plant hormones. An eight ounce serving has about 45-50 calories, but doesn’t have the added sugars, colours or flavours that put people off sports drinks. Coconut water even offers some dietary fibre — about 2.5-3 grams per serving — to balance the natural sugars. Unlike coconut milk — which is made from the pulp — coconut water doesn’t have any fat. Besides, many people enjoy the taste of coconut water as a beverage or in cooking in place of water.

But is it a good way to hydrate? Both nutritionists and natural food proponents say it’s one way to combat dehydration whether its due to heat or a bout of diarrhoea. One expert at the Mayo Clinic even recommends keeping some in your pantry. However, other experts warn that you’ll need to consume a lot of it to cure serious dehydration — especially if you’re exercising for long periods of time in the heat. However, staying hydrated is another story. As with fruit juices and sports drinks, the calories can still pile up and experts recommend drinking plain water most of the time. You don’t need to down glass after glass of coconut water on a hot day — plain water will do. Still, coconut water can be part of a healthy diet in moderation. Coconut water does offer some nutrients, but they tend to be ones most people normally get in their diets. What about other potential health benefits like lowering blood pressure, taming menopause symptoms or controlling diabetes?

As with coconut oil, there is very little research to suggest drinking coconut water is beneficial. Same goes for coconut pulp and coconut flour — although there’s less hype about these products, the same rules apply. Overall, there’s still a lot of about coconut that experts don’t know, and research is still ongoing. If you don’t like the taste of coconut, chances are you aren’t missing miracle health benefits by leaving it on the store shelf.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Healthy-Living/The-Wonders-of-Coconut.aspx?p=3#ixzz1f63X25PE

Seven Benefits of Coconut Water

I would like to thanks to the author of this article to share it with us. Honestly I don't know the author however again thanks but the photos of the coconut and coconut tree are mine.

Coconut water is the purest liquid second only to water itself. It has many health benefits and uses that you probably did not know about.

Many persons have gone to the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, Florida, Hawaii, South America or Southern Asia and have tasted some very refreshing coconut water. The palm trees you have become accustomed to while on vacation are very potent sources of coconut water that has many health benefits and uses that you probably did not know about.

Coconut water is the purest liquid second only to water itself. It is chock full of electrolytes, calcium, potassium, magnesium; everything that is good for you. Coconut water is the liquid that is taken from unripe coconuts. If coconuts get ripe the liquid that is inside will harden and become a part of the white flesh of the coconut, which is used to make coconut milk. So, picking the coconut while it is unripe will ensure that the body gets all the benefits of coconut water.

Coconut Water Hydrates the Body
Coconut water is an isotonic solution which replaces the fluids and minerals that the body loses during physical activities. For this reason, many athletes and persons who work out regularly are encouraged to drink coconut water to replace all the minerals and fluid that they lose while working out. Even the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) attest to the benefits of drinking coconut water when it fought for a patent in 2000 to market coconut water as the next big sports drinks.

Coconut Water Relieves Urinary Problems
If you consume coconut water on a regular basis it can reduce urinary problems. People who suffer from strangury, polyutra and other urinary ailments drink coconut water to relieve their symptoms .

Coconut Water Kills Intestinal Worms
Drinking coconut water .

Drinking coconut water regularly helps to break up kidney stones making them easier to push out.

Coconut Water is Used in Blood Transfusion
Coconut water is almost identical to blood plasma and this makes it easy to use for blood transfusion. In cases of emergency coconut water has been used as an intravenous hydration fluid instead of the standard IV fluid. During World War II many wounded soldiers were saved in the Pacific because of emergency transfusion using coconut water as plasma.

Coconut Water is an Antibacterial
Coconut water contains monolaurin, an antiviral, antibacterial and antiprozoal monoglyceride that is used to kill lipid-coated viruses such as HIV, Herpes, cytomegalovirus, flu and various pathogenic bacteria.

Coconut Water Controls Vomiting
Coconut water is great at reducing vomiting. People who have typhoid, malaria, fevers or other ailments that are known to induce vomiting drink coconut water to settle the stomach. As such, coconut water is also a good thing to drink during a hangover..

Green or unripe coconuts can be found in Asian and West Indian markets. All coconuts that they sell are closed up to keep coconut water from losing its nutrients. So, if you plan on buying a coconut, you can ask someone to chop the coconut open or you can open it yourself at home and drink it.