I love coconut! I love coconut oil, coconut scented items, coconut meat, fresh coconut water... Everything coconut offers, I love. There are soooo many uses and benefits of coconuts, and I'm here to tell you all about them.
HEALTH BENEFITS:
They're nutritious
Coconuts have a lot of essential vitamins and nutrients in their raw form. One thing that it's high in is potassium. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps nerve function and muscle contractions. It also keeps your heartbeat regular. It also contains a lot of iron, an essential vitamin - something most Americans are deficient in. These are just a couple of the essentials coconuts have.
They're good for heart health/overall health
Coconuts can raise your bloods HDL cholesterol levels. HDL is also known as "good"... "good" cholesterol. Studies found that people who incorporate coconut oil into their diets have an increased HDL level and have also lost weight. Both things are good for your heart and health.
USES:
There are so many forms
You can eat coconut in pretty much any form. You can eat it raw, you can drink the juice straight from it. There's also coconut oil, flakes, you can find it with chocolate, use coconut milk.
Coconut Oil
I love replacing other oils with coconut oil when I'm cooking. It's a lot healthier and it brings a good, almost sweet flavor to food.
Coconut Water
You can find coconut water at any grocery store. You can even find it in gas stations. I love getting a bottle to sip on when I need water but want a little change. It can even help to drink it after exercise to replace your lost electrolytes.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk can be used for so many recipes. It's an essential ingredient in curries which happen to be one of my favorite foods. It contributes to a curry's flavor and creaminess... definitely can't skip out on it.
Traditions
Coconuts are used in traditions in a lot of cultures, especially cultures in the Islands - Islands of Tahiti, Hawaii, and other pacific cultures. People learn how to get coconuts off the trees, they learn how to shuck them, crack them, and get the water, meat, etc. from them. They use a traditional coconut grater to grate the meat, then from there they can squeeze the water out of it.
Coir
Coir is the fibrous coconut husk, and there are lots of ways to use it. It can be used to make mats, ropes, hats, rugs, upholstery, nets, and so much more. It comes in very handy to people who may not have access to a lot of things. They can just make things themselves.
If you've never tried any of these forms of coconut, I urge you to try them! They're so good for you, and they can be used in so many ways. I just love coconut so much.
*Photos are linked to sources*