Coconut: The good, The bad and The confusion :-

From the last few years, coconut is juggling for the title between "The Good food" and "The bad food". Sometimes it is crowned as a superfood but at others it is the heart clogging devil! People seem to be confused about it and why not, as different researchers have different theories.

I myself come from Kerala in India which is abundant in Coconut trees. The cuisine of the place is highly influenced by the Coconut fruit and it is used in a variety of ways in day to day cooking. In-fact for the people of Kerala, opening and cracking a coconut and scraping its flesh is part of their daily routine. The coconut tree provides so much to a Keralite, people often treat the trees as their own children. Well, I guess I need to talk more about Keralites and Coconuts in another article but here let us talk about the benefits of this fruit.

According to Wikipedia, in Sanskrit coconut palm is called "Kalpa vriksha" that means a tree which provides all the necessities of life, in the Malay language it is "pokok seribu" which means the tree of a thousand uses and in the Philippines, it is called the tree of life.

The Coconut fruit is a rich source of fiber, copper, iron, manganese, calcium, zinc, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, phosphorous, potassium and various other good things. The major issue with coconut is it is very high in saturated fats. Yes, the bad fat. 1 medium coconut contains about 118gm of saturated fats and that is the reason why it is listed under bad food categories by many health experts. But some researchers claim that most of the saturated fats found in coconut are lauric acid, which is considered as healthier saturated fat. According to bbcgoodfood.com, lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid which is quickly consumed by the body rather than being stored as fats. These fatty acids are quickly metabolized into energy in the liver. Lauric acid is converted in the body to an antibacterial and antiviral compound called monolaurin that kills disease causing bacteria, virus or fungi. But they are still a fat which have different effect than other saturated fats.

 Some studies show that fatty acids from coconut oil supply energy to the brain cells of Alzheimer's patients, thus improving brain functions. Some experts claim following things about coconut as stated by bodyandsoul.com :-

•     It is good for heart as it increases good cholesterol and decreases the ratio of bad and good cholesterol.
•     It is good for diabetic patients as it lowers the release of sugar into the blood stream.
•     Good for malnutrition as it is quickly absorbed by the body.
•     It has antimicrobial effects so it is good in treating diseases causing microorganism.
•     Prevent tooth decay.

Coconut is a very versatile food which is used extensively in Asian countries and pacific islands. Almost every part of the coconut tree is useful. Coconut water is gaining popularity as a sports drink. It contains dietary fiber, sugar, antioxidants, protein, vitamins and minerals.

Coconut milk is obtained by squeezing juice from ground coconut meat. When refrigerated, coconut cream gets separated at the top from the milk. It is used in making curries and desserts. It is very popular in the Vegan world, as it is a good alternative to cow's milk. It is high in lauric acid, so it may boost your immune system.

Coconut oil is widely used in southern India for cooking. Coconut oil has a very high smoking point, so it is best for frying. It is good for the skin as it has antibacterial properties. Some experts claim that it prevents wrinkles too. It's also beneficial for preventing hair damage, dandruff and hair loss problems. People all over India use the Coconut oil for everyday hair care and many people also use it as a natural moisturizer for the skin. Some experts also say the Coconut oil helps with weight management.

Coconut meat is a soft white part which is very high in calories, vitamins and minerals. It can be eaten raw or can be used in cooking too. It is often used in southern India and Malvani (a region in the Western coast of India in the state of Maharashtra) regions for curries.

Now bottom line is any food in excess is bad for you. Moderation is the key to a healthy life. Eating coconut based food or milk once or twice in a week in moderate quantity can't do any harm. If you want most of the benefits from the coconut oil, don't go for the refined stuff; choose organic and virgin coconut oil.

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