I’ve always been a fan of coconut. I remember how the coconut flakes in my mom’s custardy, buttery “Impossible Pie” would float right to the top. I haven’t had it in years, but I can almost taste it as we speak. Of course, when I was younger and growing up in a small Midwestern town, the only way to get my coconut fix was with the good ol’ flake variety. Nowadays, you can’t turn around in your local market without bumping into coconut in one form or another.
No matter what you’re looking for, coconut has you covered. Avoiding dairy? Open a can of full-fat, organic coconut milk. Looking for a healthy fat? Reach for cold-pressed, organic extra virgin coconut oil. Don’t like mainstream sports drinks? Drink coconut water instead. Want a good replacement for nut butter? Try some coconut butter (even though coconut isn’t really a nut, despite its name). Seeking a great addition to a homemade granola recipe? Can’t do better than unsweetened coconut flakes. You get the idea.
Why are so many people going cuckoo for coconut? Sure, it’s got a tropically delicious flavor, but that’s not the only perk coconut has to offer. Other benefits include:
- Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). This type of fatty acid is processed much more efficiently than the long-chain versions. It goes directly to the liver as a quick energy source rather than stored as fat in the body. In return, MCTs can give your metabolism a boost and help your body burn more fat throughout the day.
- Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The lauric acid in products like coconut oil help fight off all sorts of infections.
- Its ability to promote weight loss. It’s no secret that obesity is a major health concern these days. Using coconut products on a daily basis has been shown to reduce feelings of hunger. Hopefully, you won’t eat if you aren’t hungry. And with the increased energy, you’re likely to be more physically active.
Whether you’re new to the coconut bandwagon or you’ve been tooting the horn for years, there are lots of reasons to start using it regularly—in whatever form you like most.
If you’re interested in learning more about coconut and how it can move you in the direction of great health, check out the following books from SRP.
- Eat Fat, Lose Fat: The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon: Based on two decades of scientific research, Eat Fat, Lose Fat bucks the conventional low-fat and vegetarian “wisdom” that has caused America’s great obesity epidemic and lights an honest-to-goodness path back to wellness.
- Know Your Fats: The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils, and Cholesterol by Mary Enig, PhD: If you think fat is “bad” or causes weight gain, read this book. You’ll come away from it knowing more about this misunderstood subject than most health “experts” out there today.
Photo Credit: FreeImages.com/t j
Paula Widish, author of Trophia: Simple Steps to Everyday Self-Health, is a freelance writer and self-healther. She loves nothing more than sharing tidbits of information she discovers with others. (Actually, she loves her family more than that—and probably bacon too.) Paula has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Public Relations and is a Certified Professional Life Coach through International Coach Academy.
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