Health benefits of coconuts

The Tree of Life for a Healthier, Longer Life
    
    Do you know why the coconut tree is called the “tree of life”?

    Cocos nucifera is the scientific name of the common coconut. This tall palm tree is always an inviting symbol of the tropics. But its function doesn't stop there because coconut is one of the most valuable plants known to man. It is a primary source of food, drink, and shelter. In Sanskrit, it is called "kalpa vriksha", which is defined as "the tree which provides all the necessities of life or the tree of life" which  includes the nutritional benefits of the coconut products.  It is indeed called the tree of life because there are plenty of good things that can be derived from the coconut and now,  Science tells us that there are great health benefits too!

    For thousands of years coconut has possessed healing properties extensively used in traditional medicine among people from many diverse cultures, languages, religions, and races that recognized the coconut as a valuable source of both food and medicine. People of tropical countries rely on natural medicinal plants to cure illnesses.Water from a young coconut is a refreshing drink in the tropics, this young coconut juice is used in  folk healing for a number of ailments such as: relieving fevers, headaches, stomach upsets, diarrhea, and dysentery.  
    Most, if not all of us, are familiar with the “Virgin Coconut Oil”. Surprisingly, VCO rapidly gains popularity in the market in just a short span of time. But actually, there is more to the healing power of coconut than just the oil. In this article, you will also learn about the amazing health benefits of coconut meat, milk, and water. You will discover why coconut water is used as an IV solution and how coconut meat can protect you from colon cancer, regulate blood sugar, and expel intestinal parasites.

    Coconut Water: Research shows that coconut water contains a full range of B vitamins with the exception of vitamin B6 and B12. There are 6.00 mcg of folic acid and 5.8 mg of vitamin C. On the average 1 cup contains about 46 calories and 2 grams of protein. Rating the minerals that 1 cup contains 57.6 mg of calcium, 0.7 mg. of iron, 60 mg of magnesium, 600 mg of potassium, and 0.2 mg of zinc. The sodium content is surprisingly high with 252 mg. and so is the fiber at 3 grams. Young coconut juice is literally a well-supplied medicine chest that comes in its own container and in times of medical emergency it was used as a substitute for glucose in the past. During World War II young coconut water became the emergency room glucose supply when there was no other sterile glucose available. Within a clean self-contained vessel, the coconut water is free of impurities and contains about two tablespoons of sugar.

    Young coconuts are prized for their sweet, revitalizing juice. The meat of the young coconut, which is very thin, soft, and delicately sweet, is gaining interest among innovative raw “foodists” who turn it into imitation noodles and other delicacies. Young coconuts are considered highly nutritious. One whole coconut has only 140 calories and provides 17% of the RDA for calcium. The total fat content is 3 grams, all saturated. With a zero content of cholesterol, the young coconut has 50 mg sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrate, 2 grams of fiber,15 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

    Mature Coconut: The mature coconut is valued for its thick, firm meat used world wide in shredded or grated form. Coconut in its mature stage has a rich, nutty flavor and chewy texture with higher oil content than young coconut. The grated meat of a  raw mature coconut has 283 calories and 2.7 grams of protein for 1 cup. Coconut is a high fiber food that delivers 7.2 grams for 1 cup of freshly grated meat. For the carb counters, that 1 cup contains 12.2 grams of carbohydrates. The sodium content is low at 16 mg. 1 cup of grated fresh coconut contains a good range of B vitamins except B12, with 21.1 mcg of folic acid and 2.6 mg of vitamin C. Coconut is a good source of minerals with 11.2 mg of calcium, 1.9 mg. of iron, 15.6 mg of magnesium, 285 mg. of potassium, and 0.9 mg. of zinc.

    Coconut Milk: For the same measure, canned coconut milk contains 445 calories, 5 grams protein, and 6 grams of carbohydrate. Total fat is 48.2 grams, with 42.7 grams saturated.
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    *In traditional medicine around the world coconut is used to treat a wide variety of health problems including: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, periodontal disease, tooth decay, bone decay, urinary tract infections, dandruff, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots, degenerative disease, premature aging, epileptic seizures, candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, fungi, yeast, giardia, typhoid, thyroid dysfunction, ulcers, liver disease, kidney disease, bladder infections, kidney stones, tapeworm, upset stomach, hemorrhoids, weakness, and wounds. It is used as an antibacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant, antifungal, anticancer, expellant, stimulant, digestion aid, antimicrobial, and antiseptic and the list go on...

    At present, coconut products are widely used to prevent and treat dozens of common health problems and listed here are the following benefits: prevent heart disease and stroke, dissolve kidney stones, balance blood sugar and control diabetes, enhance the immune system, protect against cancer, boost your energy and increase your metabolism, lose excess body fat, kill disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and relieve symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease. Well, there's no reason why we wouldn't consume any of the coconut products available to us. That is if we really want to live a healthier, longer life. Who doesn't anyway?