Not only do I love coconuts because it reminds me of Maui, my favorite place in the whole wide world! but the coconut water is so refreshing and the meat is so yummy.
Unfortunately the coconut has had a bad reputation. Many people think it is fatty. On the contrary, the coconut is a super food. It is rich in lauric acid that boost the immune system and has antiviral/antibacterial properties. Fresh coconut water or juice from a young coconut has the highest amount of electrolytes, more than a sports drink, that is very efficient to combat and prevent dehydration.
Coconut milk is usually why the coconut has a fatty reputation. Coconut milk comes from the flesh of a mature coconut whose flesh has been grated and expressed to yield the milk. It does have a high concentration of saturated fat. No one seems to agree as to whether coconut milk is healthy or not. It’s agreed that the saturated fat content from coconut milk is much better than consuming saturated fat from an animal products.
Coconut oil, on the other hand is the healthiest oil you can use for cooking. Not all coconut oil are equal in health. Make sure you use the ones in it’s most natural form (i.e. organic, unheated, unfilterd, virgin). Some benefits of using coconut oil over other oils such as canola or vegetable or even olive oil is it helps increase your good cholesterol, increases your metabolism as it is made up primarily of medium chain fatty acids, supports healthy thyroid function, helps control blood sugar, and amongst other healthy benefits, you can use it on your hair and skin. It’s so versatile!
Here’s a video on how to crack open your very own young coconut:
I’m coconuts for coconuts!!! Drink it up baby!
Enjoying my coconut on a beach in Maui
Oh how I love Maui!! Thank you for these last few posts about the beauty and power I experience every time I am there. Mahalo and Aloha!
i LOVE coconuts & coconut water! when were in the philippines, there was always someone along the road selling them – they were little green ones. my dad was old school about it and used a machete to cut it open – it’s the best way to do it in the province! i love your civilized version
The green is the outside peel. I used to butcher it before I found this ‘civilized’ way to crack it and would hate all the little bits that fall in and not to mention you lose some water too.
yeah – figured that much! hope you’re doing well!
That is so much more civilized way than I did it last weekend, I drained all the milk out through those 3 plugs and then went outside and cracked it with a bit of a bounce on the concrete driveway. But mine wasn’t a young coconut.
Love the flesh of the young coconuts though!
Now that would make a funny YouTube video