Coconut is quickly gaining popularity due to its many great health and wellbeing benefits, and for good reason. Beneficial for the gastrointestinal tract, coconut oil has anti-microbial properties helping to fight bacteria and fungi. Read on for 7 health benefits and awesome cooking tips.
Digestion the meat of the coconut is high in fiber, aiding digestion and helping to maintain a healthy gut. Since coconut supplies insoluble fibre, which the body cannot digest, no calories are derived from this fibre and it has a favorable effect in blood sugar. Coconut flour is the best source to ingest coconut fibre.
Heart health coconut provides short and medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) which are essential
to good health. In contrast to the long chain fatty acids (LCFA), which are
found in most saturated fats and have a negative effect on cholesterol levels,
MCFA’s protect against heart disease and lowers the risk of atherosclerosis.
Healthy gut besides being high in fiber, coconut has many additional benefits to aid digestion. Coconut oil has anti-microbial properties, helping to fight bacteria, fungi and parasites. Coconut also aids the absorption of other vitamins and minerals.
Hydration According to a study that was published in 2010, coconut water replaced body fluids as good as sports drinks and better than water. But with lesser calories, higher levels of potassium and no added sugar, coconut water is a way healthier choice than sport drinks
Weight Loss
Good Fat replacing low quality oils for coconut oil adds necessary fats to your diet, increasing energy levels and metabolism. Coconut oil stabilizes blood sugar and helps you avoid cravings.
Beauty
Healthy skin and hair coconut oil is a wonderful product for skin care. An excellent natural moisturizer with antioxidants that keep the skin from aging, coconut oil also has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that help many skin diseases like yeast infections.
Coconut oil has been used in many cultures as a natural hair care option. Using coconut in your hair on a regular basis prevents and repairs damaged hair and its anti-fungal properties make it an excellent dandruff treatment. Apply a small amount coconut oil to the hair after washing, or use coconut oil as a hair mask, letting it soak in overnight.
Cooking
Substituting 10 to 30% of regular flour for coconut flour in baking recipes greatly increases the amount of fibre. Some recipes can be made with 100% coconut flour, like muffins, pancakes and cakes. Coconut flour has a slightly sweet coconuty taste
Coconut oil is a great oil to cook with and can stand high temperatures without burning. Virgin, cold pressed coconut oil is a healthy addition to any diet and can be added to smoothies, cereals, and salad dressings
To cream up curries, sauces and soups, coconut milk is a tasty and healthy alternative to regular cream. Add a can of coconut milk to your pumpkin soup, together with a teaspoon of curry powder for an Indian variation to your traditional pumpkin soup
Shredded coconut does well in breakfasts and desserts. Combining chia seeds, shredded coconuts and almond milk with a natural sweetener makes a tasty and healthy pudding
Coconut water is an excellent hydrator a great base for those summer ices and sorbets to replenish mineral levels. Add some individual coconut water drink offerings in your office for the corporate wellness of you and your staff.
Coconut Kefir is a super healthy gut option and more palatable than milk kefir in my opinion, an excellent base for your morning smoothie. book an info session on how to add fast nutrition to your diet with Cass here.
For more foods with great cooking tips scroll through my blog here.
Take action for your health and wellbeing here.
“I’m like a coconut. I’m tough to crack, but super sweet on the inside.”
How can Casstronomy help you? Feel free to contact me here.
Much love Cass x
