Coconut: benefits and harms to the human body

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Many exotic fruits have already lost their uniqueness, because today you can buy them in almost any store around the world. The same popularity makes many inhabitants of the planet think about the effect of unusual products on the body. Today we will talk about coconut, the he alth benefits and harms of this fruit.

What is coconut

Many are accustomed to call the fruits of the coconut palm nuts, but in fact it is not. Interestingly, this plant is the only one belonging to the genus of coconuts, and the fruit itself is called a drupe. Its dimensions can be 15-30 cm in length, and its weight ranges from 1.5-2.5 kg. Of course, fruits of much smaller weight are exported, so it is almost impossible to meet such a large fruit in the northern states.

The drupe has several layers: the outer one is the fibers, and the inner one is directly the pulp that is eaten. There is always liquid inside the fruit, only in a green coconut it is coconut water, and in a mature one it is coconut milk. Each drupe necessarily has 3 recesses at one end. From one pore located closest to the center of the coconut, the pulp is formed in the processripening.

Where it grows

All the benefits and harms of coconut have long been studied by residents of the states where this fruit grows. In which region the palm appeared for the first time is unknown, but scientists consider Malaysia to be the birthplace of the plant. Due to its property to maintain the potential for germination for a long time and at the same time not to sink in water, coconut quickly spread along the shores of almost all the tropics. This plant is found both in the wild and in cultivated form, as its fruits are sold all over the world. The largest importers are: Indonesia, India, Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Composition and calorie content of fruits

The main benefit of coconut for the human body is its saturation with vitamins and high nutritional value. Moreover, each drupe contains a large amount of vegetable fats, fatty acids, monosaccharides and dietary fiber. Calorie content of 100 g of pulp is 354 kcal.

Speaking of the benefits of coconut pulp, it should be noted that in its mature state it contains a high concentration of folic acid, B vitamins, choline, as well as vitamins PP, C, K and E. In addition, it contains:

• iron (2.5 mg);
• copper (435 mcg);
• potassium (356mcg);
• phosphorus (113 mg);
• selenium (10 mcg).

Calcium, magnesium, sodium, manganese and zinc are also present in lower concentrations in fruits.

In addition, the fruit is rich in fatty acids, which allow coconut oil to be extracted from its pulp.

The benefits of coconut in folkmedicine

Inhabitants of countries where this fruit has been growing for a very long time often use drupes to get rid of many ailments. It was observed that the population of places where coconut is a staple food was less likely to be affected by serious infectious and parasitic diseases, including cholera.

Thus, the pulp of the fruit was used to treat diarrhea and poisoning, a decoction was prepared from it to treat ear pain. It is known that regular consumption of this product helps to improve metabolism, increase efficiency, increase concentration and attention. Coconut is also an excellent preventive measure for atherosclerosis, cleanses and normalizes the functioning of the entire digestive system.

The benefits of coconut for the body lies in the separate use of its components. So, its shell can be used as activated charcoal, and if it is burned, the resulting ash does an excellent job with skin inflammations and ulcers.

Coconut water has an antipyretic effect and is equated with glucose, which is why it is often used by doctors for injections. The fluid of the fetus perfectly normalizes the water balance of the body, promotes the removal of kidney stones and prevents the formation of new ones. Coconut milk is often used to treat sexually transmitted diseases and colds.

Coconut oil, the benefits and harms of which are also discussed in the article, can normalize the endocrine system and is considered a prophylactic against osteoporosis due to the fact that it helps the bodybetter absorption of calcium. This results in stronger bones, teeth, nails and hair. For skin and hair care, oil is often added to creams, masks, shampoos and other cosmetics.

In general, coconut is considered an excellent tool for the prevention of cancer, bladder and kidney diseases. It normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system, improves blood circulation and is recommended for diabetics and workers in heavy physical or mental activities.

Negative effect on the body

When you decide to try this exotic product for the first time, you should remember that it is strictly forbidden to give it to children under 1 year old. A fragile digestive system can cause irreparable harm. The benefits of coconut for the body and at an older age may be in question if a person is allergic to the fetus. Of course, such a phenomenon is very rare, but it does happen.

Otherwise, the fruit can only be negatively affected if it is chosen incorrectly, for example, if it was damaged during transportation and began to deteriorate or was grown with pesticides.

Drupe Choice

To fully experience the benefits of coconut, you need to choose it very carefully before buying. First of all, the fetus should be examined for external damage. If they are not, then the next step is to check the fluid inside. To do this, you just need to shake the fruit near the ear, and if the coconut is fresh, then the milk inside will splash. In a good drupe, the shell should separate freely from the pulp, and if this isdifficult, the fruit was plucked while still green, which means that it was not fully saturated with all the useful substances.

For many, peeling a coconut is a real challenge, but knowing a few tricks makes it very easy. First of all, you need to pierce it to drain the liquid. The hole must be made in the recess closest to the top of the fruit. After draining the milk, divide the fruit into three parts and split it with a hammer along the line between the third with recesses and the other two. This is a natural fracture site, so the fruit will split easily.

For men

For the stronger sex, the main benefit of the fetus is the ability to heal the genitourinary system and enhance reproductive function. Such benefits of coconut for men have been known for a long time, so many preparations for the treatment of potency use extracts from this plant in their compositions. Regular consumption of food prevents the development of diseases of the genitourinary system in the future and can even resist the appearance of prostatitis.

The high content of protein in coconut pulp also contributes to the rapid set of muscle mass, which is important for athletes. In addition, the fruit increases endurance and provides energy for training.

Benefits for women

The main advantage of the fruit for the fairer sex is its positive effect on the appearance of the skin and hair. Almost all parts are used in cosmetology as components of anti-aging masks, moisturizers and other cosmetics. The benefits of coconut for women are simply invaluable, because it is able to tone the skin and smooth out wrinkles, strengthen and restore damaged hair, make them strong and he althy.

In addition, eating drupes for older women helps to delay menopause and improve the he alth of the genitourinary system.

Benefits for children

The benefits of coconut for babies appear only after they reach the age of one. Already able to digest the product, the gastrointestinal tract will be able to provide the entire body with vitamins and minerals coming from coconut. The pulp is often used to treat diarrhea in babies, and external use can protect delicate skin from sunburn.

Uncommon products

In addition to the pulp itself, its liquid or chips, other products such as coconut sugar or coconut flour can be found on the market.

Sugar comes from the flowers of the plant, not the fruit itself. To do this, the inflorescence is slightly cut and nectar is lowered from it, which is similar to the technology for collecting birch sap. The collected thick and sweet syrup is dried in the sun until the moisture is completely evaporated. Then they freeze. This sequence of actions allows you to get large crystals of caramel color, reminiscent of our usual sugar. Their aroma practically does not resemble coconut, and the calorie content is 382 Kcal. At the same time, coconut sugar contains slightly less carbohydrates than white sugar, but it is not inferior to it in terms of sweetness. Suchindicators allow you to get a lot of energy from the product, but not gain excess weight.

Coconut sugar improves brain activity and the nervous system, often used in cooking.

Dried, defatted and crushed coconut meat is called coconut flour. This product is outwardly similar to wheat flour familiar to us, but it costs an order of magnitude more expensive due to its nutritional properties and low prevalence. The benefits of coconut are similar to its flour, as all the nutrients from it are retained. Flour contains a large amount of proteins, vitamins and dietary fiber, and its calorie content is 466 Kcal. Products from this product improve digestion due to their rough structure, strengthen blood vessels and skin he alth.

Benefits in cosmetology

The huge concentration of fatty acids and vitamins allows you to use drupes to rejuvenate the whole body. Coconut oil is very useful for the face, which allows you to smooth out wrinkles, restore freshness and restore skin cells. Coconut milk helps to get rid of irritation and acne. Both of these components are often found in the composition of various cosmetic products for facial skin care.

This fruit will also help restore beauty and body. Its moisturizing properties will restore elasticity, relieve flaking, flabbiness and roughness of the entire skin. To do this, just add a little coconut oil to the water while taking a bath. Directly rubbing the oil into the skin will avoid sunburn and make the tan even andbeautiful.

Drupe oil is also used in hair care. It is considered a very effective remedy for repairing damaged hair, for moisturizing dry and adding shine to dull hairstyles. Based on this component, a large number of shampoos, balms and masks are made. It is recommended to apply oil directly to the hair when they are still dry, carefully distributing the substance along the entire length. It must be washed off very carefully, since the product remaining on the skin can clog the sebaceous glands.

Speaking about the benefits of coconut, one cannot fail to mention its ability to reduce weight. Despite the calorie content, its main secret is the ability to break down fats already in the body and get rid of toxins and toxins. Fatty acids at the same time help to speed up metabolism and remove excess fluid, which is also important when losing weight.