COCONUT :
- The coconut provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk, and oil that has fed and nourished populations around the world for generations. On many islands coconut is a staple in the diet and provides the majority of the food eaten. Nearly one third of the world's population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy. Among these cultures the coconut has a long and respected history.
- Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a "functional food" because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut oil is of special interest because it possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations. Pacific Islanders consider coconut oil to be the cure for all illness. The coconut palm is so highly valued by them as both a source of food and medicine that it is called "The Tree of Life." Only recently has modern medical science unlocked the secrets to coconut's amazing healing powers.
Coconut In Traditional Medicine
- People from many diverse cultures, languages, religions, and races scattered around the globe have revered the coconut as a valuable source of both food and medicine. Wherever the coconut palm grows the people have learned of its importance as a effective medicine. For thousands of years coconut products have held a respected and valuable place in local folk medicine.
- In traditional medicine around the world coconut is used to treat a wide variety of health problems including the following: 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, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds.
Coconut In Modern Medicine
- Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:
- Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
- Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
- Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidacies, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.
- Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.
- Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.
- Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.
- Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
- Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
- Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.
- Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.
- Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
- Reduces problems associated with mal absorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
- Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.
- Helps protect against osteoporosis.
- Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
- Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.
- Improves digestion and bowel function.
- Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
- Reduces inflammation.
- Supports tissue healing and repair.
- Supports and aids immune system function.
- Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
- Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.
- Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.
- Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.
- Functions as a protective antioxidant.
- Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.
- Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do.
- Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
- Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
- Reduces epileptic seizures.
- Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.
- Dissolves kidney stones.
- Helps prevent liver disease.
- Is lower in calories than all other fats.
- Supports thyroid function.
- Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
- Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.
- Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.
- Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
- Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
- Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
- Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
- Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
- Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
- Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun.
- Helps control dandruff.
- Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.
- Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.
- Is completely non-toxic to humans.
Coconut Oil
- While coconut possesses many health benefits due to its fiber and nutritional content, it's the oil that makes it a truly remarkable food and medicine.
Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is a unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health giving properties. It is now gaining long overdue recognition as a nutritious health food.
Cosmetics and skin treatments
Coconut oil is excellent as a skin moisturizer and softener. A study shows that extra virgin coconut oil is effective and safe when used as a moisturizer, with absence of adverse reactions.[23] Although not suitable for use with condoms, coconut oil may be used as a lubricant for sexual intercourse,[24]though it may cause an allergic reaction in some.
Fractionated coconut oil is also used in the manufacture of essences, massage oils and cosmetics
In India and Sri Lanka, coconut oil is commonly used for styling hair, and cooling or soothing the head. People of Tamil Nadu and other coastal areas such as Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goabathe in warm water after applying coconut oil all over the body and leaving it as is for an hour in the belief it keeps the body, skin, and hair healthy.
I'm not talking about its benefits only . For all its healing miracles, this super food does contain some disadvantages though.
Disadvantage #1 - No Effect on Common Cold
The medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in it can kill many types of viruses, including influenza virus that causes flu. But they're helpless against the virus (rhinovirus) that triggers common cold. In fact, no medications or herbal remedies are capable of fighting rhinovirus, except your body immune system. MCFAs effectively deal with the infection by producing specific antibodies, which disarm the virus-infected cells.
Of course, any infection could leave your immune system vulnerable to invasion by more bacteria, germs and viruses. That's where MCFAs come into play.
MCFAs help you kill those harmful microorganisms and ease the burden off your immune system so that it can focus on fighting the cold virus effectively. So it's still important to eat coconut oil when you're down with common cold.
Disadvantage #2 - Excessive May Harm
Just because I said coconut oil is healthy doesn't mean you start scoffing a ton of it. You could end up running diarrhea-like symptoms if your body is not used to such sudden change.
Go slow with 1 to 2 teaspoons each time and gradually increase to 3 or 4 tablespoons a day.
The traditional Pacific islanders are taking as much as 10 tablespoons of the "liquid crystal" in their daily diet, I don't see why we can't be like them. The key difference is they've long been used to that amount while we're not, so you have to moderately add the dosage to condition your body into adapting to it eventually.
Disadvantage #3 - Flavor Sucks!
Most people love its aromatic flavor. However, like durian, some people may not like it.
So, if the original smell or taste of this liquid crystal just doesn't appeal to you, fret not, you still have 2 options.
1. If you can't eat by the spoonful on its own, mix it into the food or beverage you're having.
2. You can use it in cooking oil. Just replace your usual oil with it and you're absorbing healthful MCFAs without excess fat intake. It's that simple.
Coconut oil possesses many wonderful health benefits which can more than offset the 3 disadvantages listed above but sadly, it has yet to be appreciated by many. Even some doctors, scientists and nutritionists believe it is as bad as animal fat.
That's how it gained the bad impression of this liquid crystal is.
On the contrary, the MCFAs protect and treat your body against a wide range of diseases - heart disease, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, cancers, Crohn's disease, kidney failure etc, just to name a few. They're easy to digest and help you to lose weight too.
Yes, you heard me correctly - it's also able to burn off those stubborn excess body fats that cause your weight gain. All this can be achieved in a natural, healthy way. |
..It is very easy and tastes divine with sweet coconut milk and onion chutney as entremets.This onion chutney tastes good for idli,dosa too..
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