Coconut Promises Remarkable Health Benefits
April 28, 2010 | In: Uncategorized
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Coconut Cream / Milk
Coconut cream adds a savory flavor to curries, desserts and cakes. That’s because it enhances the aroma and taste of the dishes.
You can obtain it easily and cheaply. It bears a thick, paste-like consistency. When diluted, it becomes coconut milk.
However, people avoid coconut cream due to its high fat content, particularly those overweight people who are trying to slim down.
But do you know that it is actually good saturated fat which your body can easily metabolize and convert into energy fast? That means, it won’t transform into bad cholesterol which clogs up your arteries.
Now, I’m not suggesting you to indulge in coconut cream, but rather than avoiding it altogether, it’s alright to consume in moderation. The principle fatty acid in coconut milk is lauric acid, which is the same fat found in abundance in mother’s milk.
After it turns into monolaurin, it strengthens your immune system and protects you against various illnesses like hepatitis C, herpes and even HIV! It also protects your brain and bones. On top of that, it holds important anti-carcinogenic and anti-pathogenic properties which helps to prevent cancer.
Attention! Coconut cream doesn’t cause weight gain as easily as polyunsaturated oil. Surprised that coconut cream has so much goodness, huh?
Canned or packaged coconut cream is available in supermarkets. It must be refrigerated once opened and does not last more than a week. Also, do not freeze coconut milk as this causes it to curdle when you next use it in cooking.
Try different brands of canned coconut milk to find the one to your liking. Good brands which have not been artificially homogenized, will have thick cream floating on top of the can while the milk at the bottom is much more watery.
Virgin Coconut oil
Extracted from fresh coconut milk and meat, virgin coconut oil has such a fragrant and appetizing taste that it is used in whipping up delicious meals.
Just like coconut cream, coconut oil reduces bad cholesterol, unlike polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as canola, sunflower and safflower oils.
Though it contains primarily saturated fat, it’s been found to have relatively lower calorie count comparing to other oils of the same type.
Hey ladies, here’s a great news for you! Guess what – coconut oil actually increases metabolism and facilitates weight loss!
People of traditional cultures, such as the South Pacific Islands and the Philippines where coconut and palm oils are plentiful, suffer lower rates of obesity and health problems.
Look at our society today – we pile high on our plates food equally high in carbohydrates and polyunsaturated oils which increase our risk of heart diseases and diabetes. Yet we complain about our weight and poor health. What a shame!
However, coconut oil is different from other animal-based oils. Studies find that it helps lower blood pressure and regulate thyroid dysfunction.
Unlike refined oils, it does not turn rancid easily and become toxic to our bodies.
If you have damaged hair, try using coconut oil on your hair and scalp. It’s been proven to be a more effective treatment for damaged hair than mineral oil and sunflower oil. That’s because coconut oil is the only oil among the three which effectively reduces protein loss in hair.
Looking for a cheap yet useful facial care product? Virgin coconut oil is your choice. Here are some benefits:
1. It penetrates and moisturizes your skin.
2. It minimizes your skin damage from sun exposure that causes sagging, wrinkling and blemishes.
3. It removes dead skin cells, producing an even texture and glow.
4. It heals damaged or diseased skin.
Sometimes, wonderful home remedies can be within your reach and in abundance, only if you look hard enough.
In this case, it is the Coconut.
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