It has been said that coconuts kill more people each year than those who die by shark attack. This may be true when talking about coconuts falling out of the tree and hitting someone on the head, but it couldn’t be further from the truth if you are talking about eating the coconut. For years, coconuts have gotten a bad wrap because they contain saturated fat.
The saturated fat in coconuts is fat different than the saturated fat you see in processed foods. The fat in the coconuts is made from the fatty acids called medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), while saturated fat from items such as processed foods is likely formed of long-chain triglycerides. Your body handles these triglycerides completely different as MCT’s are easier to metabolize and be used for energy (not stored as fat).
Why So Good?
Throughout the Pacific Islands and Asia, coconuts grow naturally and much of the coconuts get harvested in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Not only do these countries produce many coconuts, but the people who harvest the coconuts have been found to have great heart health. Those small islands where coconut consumption is very high, show that their natives are almost free of heart disease, colon cancer and arteriosclerosis.
The fat in coconuts also contains lauric acid, which in simple terms, kills bugs in your body with antiviral and anti fungal actions.
When it comes down to it, any of the myths that the fats in coconuts are bad for you have been debunked by many leading scientists and doctors.
How To Eat?
Coconuts can be eaten in a whole slew of ways, anywhere from little coconut shred used as a topping on cake, to cultured coconut butter, to kefir. Obviously there is a difference in the type of coconut you eat in order to deliver maximum health benefits. The best way to eat or drink coconut is when the coconut is cultured, meaning it is living and plays host to powerful good bacteria. Health food stores, may have have coconut water kefir which is a cultured liquid that can be drank just like water. The meat of the coconut can be eaten raw, dried or turned into butter and used as a spread. One of the easiest ways to get some great coconut in you would be to buy coconut oils and use it to cook with, in foods or as a spread too.
There are almost endless possibilities when it comes to coconuts. Don’t be timid, pick some up and ask your grocer to crack them open for you before you leave the store with them. Get creative and you can start using coconut almost every day to add a little flavor to anything.
