Make Your Food Work For You! COCONUT!



Coconut water, oil, and unsweetened coconut flakes..

Philippians 4:19  "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

So, I bet you are wondering what that verse has to do with a coconut, huh? Chad and I just got back from Jamaica for our 15 year anniversary on Saturday night.  We loved every minute.  We loved the people, the fresh foods, the coconut water and coconut foods.  They cut coconuts off the tree on the resort everyday.  The people where very laid back.  They didn't rush, they didn't worry, they didn't have much, they didn't care that they didn't have much; they were giving of their time, giving of their things, and giving of their kindness.  Their religion is predominately Christian.  They live out their belief that God will provide their needs.  Every day I went to the little hut with coconuts that were cut off the resort trees.  Everyday they had a different amount and everyday they were ready at a different time. They just worked at their own pace and provided the amount that God had given them as "ready" coconuts for that day.  At first, they frustrated me and I thought "How can you be out, can't you go pick one more?" I thought they moved too slow and they didn't worry about anything at all, and I mean anything.   But, after a few days I realized they have a different way of thinking and it's a beautiful way of thinking. Things still got done on time and no one rushed around.  God didn't provide enough coconuts one day and I missed out on the water, but that's OK, because tomorrow there would be more and God would take care of it.  Guess what, they saved us two the next day.  I learned a lot from them. 
Now...on to the topic of Coconut Benefits!!

The Coconut:

The Coconut is a large nut from the coconut palm. Of course, I love it, it's tropical and the tree it comes from is just the perfect picture of vacation! There are three parts to the coconut, the hard outer layer, the inside white coconut meat, and coconut water.
Coconut Meat:
Unlike other saturated fats, which are long chain fatty acids, most of the fat in coconut is a medium chain fatty acid. Medium chain fatty acids are broken down much faster than long chain fatty acids, so they do not contribute to high cholesterol, as long chain fatty acids do. In fact, the fat in coconut may possibly help to lower bad cholesterol levels and increase good cholesterol levels. Coconut meat is high in fiber, manganese, copper, and potassium. These nutrients help to aid in digestion, stabilize blood sugar, increase your metabolism, and aid in heart and muscular functions. I like to sprinkle some on sweet potatoes, in yogurt, or ice cream, in smoothies..the possibilities are endless. Make sure that you buy it unsweetened. You can also buy a coconut and scrape out the meat. Find one that is young and still a little green on the outside.

Coconut Water:

Coconut water is the clear fluid inside a young coconut. The water is sterile. It has the same concentration of electrolytes as our body's plasma..it's like God's Gatorade, so to speak. It is low in carbs and sugar and high in potassium and chloride. It has antiviral and antifungal properties and helps fight diseases. I like to drink pure coconut water after working out. It gives me lots of energy. Make sure you don't get ones with added sugars. Look on the ingredient label..coconut water should be the only thing. There are some that have other added fruit pulp like pineapple and mango, just make sure that sugar is not on the ingredients list. Coconut has natural sugar, but none should be added to it.

Here I am with my coconut water.  See, if you don't get one until the next day, the sweet lady saves you one the size of your head and calls you princess as she gives it to you :D

Coconut oil
Coconut oil, also know as coconut butter is not to be confused with palm oil, which is bad. It is also not the same thing as cocoa butter..which comes from the cocoa plant. Coconut oil comes from removing the meat from a ripe coconut, it is shredded and cold pressed and filtered and out comes coconut oil. Be sure to look for cold pressed on the label to insure it is not a processed oil. Coconut oil helps decrease sugar cravings, increases the metabolism, decreases cholesterol levels, and helps aid in digestion and weight loss. WOW! That is why I add it to my cooking arsenal! I use it in baked goods, on our steaks, greasing a pan, in dressings and more. There are lots of recipe websites out there for using it just make sure the ingredients are all clean and the sugar is low and the right kind!!

BONUS USES!! Dry hair? Use it for a condition treatment..love it...Dry skin..all over body moisturizer,...face mask, lip balm, cuts and scrapes, eczema, and more...