Bet you didn’t know all the ways coconut milk can change your life!
For years we heard that anything made with coconut was bad for you because of all the natural fat that it contains. In recent years, the rest of the world has caught up to what those of us in the Caribbean always knew – anything coconut is all good!
In the islands we enjoy the water of the fresh coconut, and its soft sweet flesh. Then when the coconut is more mature and has dried, the hardened flesh is pulverized and squeezed to produce a naturally sweet, velvety liquid known as coconut milk.
The desiccated flesh is used in baking and dessert making. The milk on the other hand, is used for a wide variety of culinary purposes including cooking, drinking, baking and even for topical applications. Jamaican Rundown, Puerto Rican Tembleque, Barbadian Curried Crab, Haitian Pen Patat, and some of the smoothies at your local health food joint here in the US all incorporate it.
Here are some of the ways that adding coconut milk to your diet can help improve your life.
1. Keeps you younger, longer
Coconut milk is rich in antioxidants, which can slow down the aging process and help to reverse damage done by free radicals. That means it reduces your risk of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s. It’s a veritable fountain of youth.
2. Helps fight off illness
The Lauric acid in coconut milk has antibacterial and antiviral properties that help get rid of infections and illnesses. Lauric acid may also lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, decreasing the risk of coronary disease and stroke.
3. It’s got the good fat
Since the body uses the type of fat in coconut milk for energy, rather than storing it, there is less of a chance it will contribute to blocked blood vessels or arteries than other sources of fat. These unsaturated fats may actually help with weight reduction and boost your immune system. Awesomeness!
4. Sustains fabulous skin and hair
Coconut milk’s unsaturated fats naturally moisturize the skin, making it healthier from the inside while also repairing wrinkles and sagging. It may help to treat dandruff, skin diseases, wounds, dryness and irritation of the skin.
5. Fills your body with Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins C and E and phosphorous which keep your bones healthy, are plentiful in coconut milk, as are B vitamins which vitalize the cells. It is also packed full of magnesium, potassium and iron helping maintain a healthy nervous system, proper brain and kidney function, and supporting the transportation of oxygen through your body.
Bearing in mind that we aren’t doctors, just people who like to research and share helpful information, please consult with your physician before making any dietary changes. That said, we think coconut milk is amazing. Hopefully it’ll add a little sweetness to your life!
Find more health articles at tastetheislandstv.com.
