Coconut

Coconut

The coconut tree ;(Cocos nucifera), is a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family). The coconut tree is of the genus Cocos. The coconut tree or coconut palm can be found in rainforests and countries with tropical climate such as in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. In the United States, coconut tree can be found in Hawaii, the Southern tip of Florida, and the Virgin Islands.

The coconut tree variety can be classified by its stature, whether tall or dwarf. The tall variety is the commonly grown type usually for commercial purposes. The tall variety can grow to as high as 60 feet with leaves to a length of 15 feet while the dwarf can grow to about 20 feet tall.

Coconut flowers start to bloom when the coconut is about 4 to 6 years of age. The coconut flowers are yellow and are sweet scented. The flowers grow in clusters from a branched stalked with both male and female flowers growing from the same inflorescence.

Coconut is highly nutritious, rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Coconut offers a lot of health benefits beside from its nutritional value. Coconut meat, coconut water and the coconut oil are used as food and in food preparations. The coconut oil is also widely used in traditional medicine as a cure all medicine.

Coconut Nutritional Value

Nutritional Value of Coconut Meat per 100 grrams.

• Calcium - 14 mg
• Carbohydrates - 15.23 gm
• Dietary Fiber - 9.0
• Folate (Vitamin B9) - 26g
• Iron - 2.43 mg
• Magnesium - 32 mg
• Monounsaturated Fat - 1.43
• Niacin (Vitamin B3) - 0.54 mg
• Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) - 0.300 mg
• Phosphorus - 113 mg
• Polyunsaturated Fat - 0.37 gm
• Potassium - 356 mg
• Protein - 3.3 gm
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) - 0.02 mg
• Saturated Fat - 29.70 gm
• Sugars - 6.23 gm
• Thiamin (Vitamin B1) - 0.066 mg
• Vitamin B6 - 0.054 mg
• Vitamin C - 3.3 mg
• Zinc - 1.1 mg
• Energy - 350 kcal (1480 kJ)

 Coconut Health Benefits

Coconut has long been used as traditional medicine for almost any kind of illness. From abscesses, asthma, hair treatment, baldness, colds, constipation, fever, flu, scabies, sore throats, toothache, tumors, ulcers and many others. Only recently that laboratory studies and researches has been made to verify its effectively and science has uphold some its claims as cure for many health problems.

1.  Immune System Booster

•    Coconut oil is good for the immune system.
•    Coconut water is now considered as a potent nutritional source that can boost energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.

2.  Aids The Digestive System

•           Coconut has been found to improve digestion and hasten the absorption of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
• Coconut is also effective in expelling parasites such as tapeworms and lice

3.  Skin And Hair Care

• Coconut oil is widely used to promote healthy growth of hair.
• Coconut is traditionally used to treat baldness, dandruff and head lice,
• Coconut oil is used as hair conditioner to nourish damaged hair.
• Coconut oil is also used as topical applicant for wounds and burns to lubricate skin and to protect from infections.
• Reduces symptoms associated to psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis. It also helps to soften the skin and relieve dryness and flaking.
• Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
• Coconut is also used as a protection against the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

              

4.  Prevents Heart Disease

        There is a misconception about coconut oil that has been propagated long since being high in saturated fats that can cause heart diseases. The medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil increases the HDL level (good cholesterol) while lowering the LDL (bad cholesterol) in the blood thus improving the ratio of HDL to LDL which is the basis for heart disease risks. The p-Coumaric acid in coconut oil prevents the formation of arterial plaque by preventing the stickiness of the blood platelet, lowering the blood pressure and reducing the risk of damaging the arteries and preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

5.  Aids Weight Loss

          The medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil are readily burned into energy preventing the formation of fats. This process also relieves the pancreases of stress, making it more efficient, increasing the body metabolism, thereby burning more energy that results to weight reduction. This likewise reduces the symptoms of pancreatitis. Furthermore, coconut oil is easy to digest helping the thyroid and the enzyme system to function properly as well. In a study done on women who were given coconut oil supplementation for 12 weeks as compared to those given with soybean oil have indicated that women who took 30 milliliters of coconut oil daily have lower body mass index and reduced waist line.

Other Health Benefits

• Coconut oil helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes by improving insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose
• Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
• Reduces epileptic seizures.
• Coconut water is good for urinary, kidney and bladder problems.
• Helps prevent liver disease.
• Coconut improves the absorption of calcium and magnesium that supports bone development that is beneficial for osteoporosis prevention.
• Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.

Coconut in Traditional Medicine

People from many diverse cultures, languages, religions, and races scattered around the globe have revered the coconut as a valuable source of both food and medicine. Wherever the coconut palm grows the people have learned of its importance as a effective medicine. For thousands of years coconut products have held a respected and valuable place in local folk medicine.

In traditional medicine around the world coconut is used to treat a wide variety of health problems including the following: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds.

Coconut in Modern Medicine

Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions.

·    Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.

·    Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities,

·     pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.

·    Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.

·    Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.

·    Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.

·    Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

·    Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.

·    Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.

·    Helps protect against osteoporosis.

·    Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.

·    Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.

·    Reduces inflammation.

·    Supports tissue healing and repair.

·    Supports and aids immune system function.

·    Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.

·    Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do.

·    Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.

·    Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

·    Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).

·    Reduces epileptic seizures.

·    Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.

·    Dissolves kidney stones.

·    Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.

·    Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.

·    Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.

·    Provides protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

·    Helps control dandruff.

Coconut Oil

        While coconut possesses many health benefits due to its fiber and nutritional content, it's the oil that makes it a truly remarkable food and medicine.

         Coconut oil has been described as "the healthiest oil on earth." That's quite a remarkable statement. What makes coconut oil so good? What makes it different from all other oils, especially other saturated fats?

         The difference is in the fat molecule. All fats and oils are composed of molecules called fatty acids. There are two methods of classifying fatty acids. The first you are probably familiar with, is based on saturation. You have saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats. Another system of classification is based on molecular size or length of the carbon chain within each fatty acid. Fatty acids consist of long chains of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached. In this system you have short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). Coconut oil is composed predominately of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCT).

Coconut Availability

Fresh coconut is available in most Asian and Indian grocery stores and markets.

Fresh coconut should be consumed immediately upon opening to benefit from its natural properties. Fresh coconut water can be refrigerated up to 12 hours in a tightly sealed container to maintain its freshness.

Commercially packed coconut water and virgin coconut oil are now available in most grocery stores, health stores and online retailers.

Coconut Side Effects And Warning

• Fresh Coconut Water is one of the best natural drinks there is.
• There is no known or reported side effect fro its use and consumption.
• Coconut water is safe even for children and pregnant women.
• Moderate use of virgin coconut oil or coconut oil extracted by cold press has no known side effects.