The unbeatable coconut still holds the title, “The Tree of Life”.
What makes coconut so deserving to wear this crown?
Well, the list of health benefits and practical uses you could get from coconut is ENDLESS. From providing food, shelter, oil, medicine, survival, reproductive health needs, beauty products, skin health — the GLORIOUS COCO HAS IT!
Nowadays, coconut becomes even more acclaimed for being a superfood. And if you didn’t know yet how much coconut can do to your midlife health, let me walk you through it! ?
What Makes Coconut an All-Around Superfood?
Let me explain those two words.
One: “Superfood”. For a particular food to be rightfully labeled as “superfood”, it must be abundant in nutrients. And coconut is undoubtedly one of them! It contains loads of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many other nutrients vital for our health. ?
Two: “All-around”. Aside from coconut, try to name any natural food that can be consumed raw — from its juice, water, oil, milk and meat. ?
Can’t think of any? Well, me neither. That’s what makes coconut a unique, versatile superfood!
Want to know more about the nutritional value you can get from coconut? Let’s discuss further! Remember, the nutrients vary depending on what coconut part you are consuming.
Feeling
the midlife shift?
Let’s embrace it together!
Join our Midlife Health Course — a sweet spot for fasting, nutrition, movement and inner peace.
Reclaim your energy and zest for life!
Coconut Water
The water from coconut is one of the purest, most sterile liquids you can ever drink. This is why it can be used for blood transfusions! Coconut water contains the highest concentration of electrolytes than anything else you can find in nature. It is very rich in sodium and potassium. Yup! The same electrolytes found in commercial energy drinks. The difference? 100% natural coconut water does not contain any added sugars as sports and energy drinks do!
Coconut Meat
Just one cup of coconut meat overflows with lots of nutrients! It is an excellent source of fiber, which is essential for healthy metabolism and heart health. Coconut contains minerals too, such as magnesium, selenium, potassium, manganese, copper, iron, calcium, zinc and phosphorus! For its vitamins, coconut meat is rich in choline, folate, vitamin B1, vitamin B3 and vitamin B5.
Coconut Milk
In case you are confused, coconut milk is different from coconut water. The coco milk is extracted when you combine water and shredded coconut meat! For coco milk, the nutrients you can get the most are phosphorus, magnesium, folate and saturated fats from lauric acid. You can also get a fair amount of vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamine, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, choline and calcium!
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains components such as fatty acids and saturated fats. Interestingly, coconut oil contains no cholesterol and only traces of vitamins, minerals and natural antioxidants! It also contains iron, vitamin K and vitamin E!
Want to make your very own coconut oil at home? Learn how and watch this video! ? [How to make Cold Pressed COCONUT OIL – Homemade virgin coconut oil]
Now, it’s time translate all these nutrients into health benefits! ?
7 Health Benefits of Coconut for Menopause
1. Gives Instant Energy
Studies show that the consumption of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which are fats abundant in coconut, can significantly increase your energy! The best thing about these fats is they are converted immediately as energy. That means they don’t sit long in your body — which can cause weight gain!
2. Loaded with Antioxidants
Coconut is found to be rich in polyphenols and phenolic acids, which are great antioxidants! These can effectively fight oxidative stress — the culprit behind many age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, heart failure and certain cancers.
3. Provides Hydration
Whether it’s for your workout or if you’re feeling a little sick, coconut definitely makes a top-notch solution. Serena Poon, a certified nutritionist, said that coconut water is a top choice for rehydration after an intense workout or after a long day out in the sun! If you are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, coconut water can serve you well too!
When you feel dehydrated, drinking water is good, but you may continue to feel dry and thirsty until your electrolytes are fully replenished. With coconut water, you can get the hydration and electrolytes that your body needs!
4. Helps Fight Viruses and Bacteria
Coconuts contain high amounts of lauric acid. This is another form of MCFA that is proven useful in fighting bacteria, viruses and even fungi! Lauric acid can help reduce triglycerides and cholesterol levels. This can decrease the chances of getting a stroke or cardiovascular disease!
5. Eases Digestion
Coconut can prevent indigestion and keep your bowels moving because of its high fiber content! It can also effectively reduce acid reflux. Magnesium in coconut also relaxes your digestive muscles — which brings relief to conditions like constipation!
6. Supports Thyroid Function
There is a growing number of studies that confirm the anti-inflammatory properties of coconut! It is found that coconut has an inhibitory effect on chronic inflammation. Coconut can be a great antidote to support your thyroid function! Why? Because conditions, such as hypothyroidism, are also marked by inflammation.
7. Promotes Weight Loss
A 2018 study supported the claim that coconut can promote weight loss! The MCFA in coconut is found to enhance the burning of fats and even suppress appetite. Many enthusiasts also attest that coconut stimulates metabolism — making weight loss more attainable for you!
You see, coconut definitely has the bragging right to be called a “superfood”, given all these health benefits. Learn the best ways to embrace coconut in your midlife diet!
Healthy Coconut Recipes
Planning to make use of coconut water? Milk? Meat?
Well, coconut has got it all covered! You can surely make a lot of healthy drinks and food recipes out of it. Let’s kick it off!
1. These Keto Coconut Macaroons are light and crispy on the outside while soft and chewy on the inside. ? They contain only 31 calories and 0.6 net carbs per piece! They’re also gluten-free, sugar-free and super yummy! [3-Ingredient Keto Coconut Macaroons (0.6g net carbs!)] [1:31]
2. Aching for an easy and healthy dessert? Let coconut milk do the magic with chia seeds! Yup, that’s just 2 powerful ingredients. This Coconut Chia Seed Pudding is best done ahead, so you can give it some time for chilling! [How To Make: Coconut Chia Seed Pudding] [1:55]
3. Another super easy dessert – FAT BOMBS! These are delicious, healthy treats you can have right after dinner! And who doesn´t love chocolates anyway?! [Amazing Chocolate Keto Fat Bombs] [1:39]
4. If you’re down for a refreshing drink, go ahead and have some fun making this Keto Coconut Smoothie paired with avocado. It’s a terrific way to get ready for the day! [Keto Avocado Coconut Smoothie Recipe] [0:44]
How to Break a Coconut Shell
Well, if you’re planning to get some coconuts soon, I don’t want to leave you wondering how to break it open!
But first, you must know some practical tips on what to look for before buying. Here’s a helpful video from HealthNutNation, explaining the easiest ways to spot a high-quality coconut!
You’ll also learn the differences between young and mature coconuts AND finally, how to break the coco open. ? [Part II: Brown vs. White Coconut- The easiest way to open a mature (brown) coconut] [5:45]
How to Make Your Own Coconut Milk
In the grocery shop, you’re more likely to see coconut milk boxes that are organic. They can also come in cans lined with “BPA-free” labels.
It’s good to have cans or boxes of coconut milk in the cupboard since they are ready to be used anytime. But it’s actually not that hard to make your coconut milk at home!
You now know how to break the coconut shell open from the video above anyway… So, here’s another exciting thing you can try! It’s the best way to ensure that you are getting the coconut’s purest milk, without any unhealthy additives. In this video, you will learn two easy ways to extract coconut milk!
After grating the fresh coconut meat, you can get the milk using a blender or a milker! Any fine mesh bag you got in your kitchen will do. ? [HOW TO MAKE COCONUT MILK ( 2 METHODS )] [2:45]
Tip: Don’t throw away the pulp! You can definitely still make use of them for other healthy coconut recipes.
The Takeaway
Clearly, coconut has numerous benefits that are recognized by many health enthusiasts. You’ll even be overwhelmed to know what’s more to coconuts, aside from being a fantastic superfood! Coconut holds great value among believers of Ayurveda and traditional medicine as well. It is even embraced for women’s reproductive needs, personal care and skin health!
I use coconut in so many ways. It works as a natural skin lotion, adds an extra boost of fat to my morning coffee, helps lubricate during my intimate moments with my hubby and promotes oral hygiene! Even my shampoo and conditioner are organic and coconut-based — helping me keep my hair thick and undamaged!
Apparently, all these reasons leave us no room to doubt why it is called “The Tree of Life”. As a superfood, coconut should be on top of your consideration if you’re looking for a new diet addition! With many proven benefits, coconut is truly a unique, versatile superfood that deserves your attention. ?
You can learn more natural ways in our article about hair loss!
If you are interested in vaginal health and managing sex-related problems, discover the best lubes and moisturizers here!
We would love to hear your thoughts so feel free to add your comments below
Let´s support each other. Use the share buttons in this article, so more women can get help and feel great!
References
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coconut-oil/
https://undergroundhealthreporter.com/coconut-health-benefits/
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coconut-oil/
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/coconut-oil/
https://draxe.com/nutrition/coconut-milk-nutrition/
https://www.emedihealth.com/coconut-water.html
https://www.foodsforbetterhealth.com/coconut-meat-nutrition-facts-and-health-benefits-28475
https://www.newhealthadvisor.org/Benefits-of-Eating-Coconut.html
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8654328/
https://www.thyromate.com/blog/everything-to-know-about-coconut-oil-benefits-for-thyroid-health
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4668398/
Gita is the founder of My Menopause Journey. Since 2014, she has been supporting midlife women by sharing hard-earned learnings from her own experience. To advance her knowledge, Gita puts a lot of her time and effort into understanding the broad spectrum of women’s health. She immerses in extensive research about the physical, mental and emotional aspects of menopause. Gita believes in the life-changing power of healthy, holistic living — this is where she anchors her message to all women. Learn more about her marvelous mission in About us - My Menopause Journey.