we can’t get enough of coconut – It looks good, smells good and tastes even better. we went on a mission to find out all about this magical fruit and put together a guide on it’s different forms and benefits.
Coconut meat: For the snack lover
Coconut meat is the heart of the fruit. It’s that white thick texture you get when you open the nut; it’s so versatile that it can be eaten raw, cooked or even as a preserve.
What’s great about the meat is that when you eat it, the triglycerides it contains are transported immediately into fuel. Which means that there is very little triglyceride left to be deposited in the fat tissues in the body. And by that, we mean that it’s a totally healthy food!
Other than raw, you can enjoy this fruit by topping your salads with shredded or grated coconut meat or you can use a blender to make it into smoothies. Our personal favourite is to mix it with bananas and berries. Delicious!
Coconut oil: For the energy
If you’re into healthy food and fitness, then you’ve definitely heard of coconut oil. It is simply the oil that’s been extracted from the coconut meat. Even though it’s called “oil”, it comes in a solid form when it’s at a room temperature. It has a sweet nutty flavor that sticks around even after cooking and we love it for that.
Coconut oil doesn’t contain saturated fats like you would find in cheese or steak. The fatty acids here go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source of energy, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders.
Coconut butter: For the “gourmand” in you
The difference between coconut oil and coconut butter is that the butter is flesh that’s been ground into a spreadable paste, and includes actual pieces of coconut meat in it.
The flavor is pure coconut. It’s intense in a good way and not too sweet. It tastes like the most delicious oh-so-bad-for-you-treat, except it isn’t! It helps you lose weight because it will decrease your appetite while increasing satiety. More importantly, the fat from the butter is not stored; it’s used as energy – Therefore, more workouts!
When it comes to health nourishment, coconut butter is packed with benefits. Unlike the oil, it includes the healthy fats and the fiber too. So you’ve got the best of both worlds! It also boosts immunity and destroys bacteria; it’s full of essential amino acids, calcium and magnesium and is good for keeping the hormones healthy and balanced. Basically, coconut butter is just plain awesome.
One great way of eating coconut butter is to straight from the jar! Yes, it’s that good. You can also use it as a topping for pancakes or waffles or just spread it over toast and add some almond butter for a satisfying snack (because nuts just make everything better). It can also replace regular butter in many recipes. Try melting it and pouring it over a sweet potato. Trust us on this one, it’s delicious.
Coconut milk: For the lactose intolerant
If you’re lactose intolerant, then this one is for you. Coconut milk is made from a brew of coconut meat and water only. It can either be thick or thin, depending on whether it’s used for cooking or as a beverage. The milk also has a lot of health benefits but unlike the oil, milk has only 17% fat.
However, it still contains the same health benefits as the meat: it immediately transforms into fuel.
Coconut flour: For the baking lover
It’s a healthy replacement for other flours if you’re trying to loose weight or just adopting a healthy lifestyle, and a great way to add flavour to your baked goods.
It’s packed with 5 grams of fiber per 2 tablespoons and only 2 grams of saturated fat.
So next time your baking a cake or cookies, choose coconut. It also helps people with diabetes because it lowers the glycemic index (the measurement of the rate that a food increases blood sugar).
Coconut water: For the drinks lover
Coconut water is the clear fluid found in the cavity of a coconut when you crack it open. This water replacement has gotten a lot of buzz lately for its health benefits, and it deserves it!
It helps facilitate digestion (because of its high concentration of fibre), boosts hydration, and is a great sports drink replacement: its ingredients are way more effective at hydrating the human body than those of energy drinks. 1 cup serves up more than 10% of your daily dose of potassium – which you lose through sweat, and has 5mg of natural sugar, unlike sports drinks that only contain half the potassium and five times the amount of processed sugar.
Medically, coconut water is also compatible with human blood. It is isotonic to human plasma and can be used in extreme emergencies to immediately rehydrate the human body. In some third-world countries, it is used to save lives!
To top it all, it has no fat in it. And have we mentioned that it’s the ultimate hangover cure?
What are you waiting for? Grab your Al Rifai coconut water and drink your way to happiness!
