The Glory of Coconut Milk

Recently we've been using coconut milk a lot in our house. It's got the dairy texture but with a tasty, mildly tropical coconut flavor... not so different from suntan lotion - only more delicious. Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, Coconut Meat, so many products from one little coconut! What do they all mean?! Plus some great recipes (scroll to bottom for those)

Coconut milk is a sweet, milky white cooking base derived from the meat of a mature coconut. The color and rich taste of the milk can be attributed to the high oil content and sugars

Coconut milk is prepared by directly squeezing grated coconut meat through cheesecloth.

Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts (fruits of the coconut palm). As the fruit matures, the coconut water gradually is replaced by the coconut meat and air. A very young coconut has very little meat, and the meat is very tender, almost a gel.

According to Organic Facts.net:

Heart Diseases: There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.

Weight Loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.

Pancreatitis: Coconut oil is also believed to be useful in treating pancreatitis.

Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Immunity: Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.

Healing: When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.

Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.

Liver: The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.

Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.

Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.

Bones: As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for development of bones. Thus coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.

Dental Care: Calcium is an important element present in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.

HIV and Cancer: It is believed that coconut oil plays an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer patients.
Finally, coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.

This article is written by Kiran Patil

A company called Barleans sells some good coconut oil! I love their stuff!

Martha Stewart came up with this recipe:

Beef and Coconut Soup with Crispy Shallots

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 4 shallots (5 to 6 ounces total), peeled, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced crosswise (about 1 cup)
• 5 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps thinly sliced
• 4 carrots, sliced into ribbons with a vegetable peeler (about 2 cups)
• 1 piece fresh ginger (3 inches long), peeled and finely minced
• 1 medium jalapeno pepper (ribs and seeds removed for less heat, if desired), finely minced
• coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk
• 1 sirloin steak (12 ounces), thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest and cup juice (from about 2 limes)
• cilantro leaves (optional)

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add 3/4 cup shallots; cook, stirring frequently and being careful not to burn, until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shallots to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the pan oil.
2. In same pan over medium heat, add mushrooms, carrots, ginger, jalapeno, and remaining cup shallots; season with salt and pepper. Cook until carrots have softened and mushrooms have begun to release their liquid, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Add coconut milk, beef, and 3 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in lime zest and juice; remove from heat.
4. Ladle soup into serving bowls; garnish with shallots and, if desired, cilantro leaves. 

PRINT RECIPE:

The next recipe should be made on an occasional basis only as they can definitely spike your insulin levels with its natural sugars. BUT it is an excellent thing to have on hand during hot weather!

Paleo Banana Ice Cream

Ingredients:

4-6 fresh or ripe bananas (the riper the sweeter and in my opinon - better!)

Coconut Milk (optional - just add enough to get the desired texture)

Toppings:

fresh berries

toasted coconut

honey

chopped nuts, etc.

Directions:

Peel the bananas. Cut into pieces that will fit into your food processor or blender.

Freeze the pieces for at least one hour. Place the frozen banana in yo9ur food processor and

pulse until ground up. Scrape down the sides. Keep processing until it becomes smooth and creamy. Here is where you can add the coconut milk to get a smoother texture, and to help speed up the process. YUM!

 

**LOOK FOR MORE COCONUT MILK RECIPES IN THE FUTURE! AS WE USE IT MORE AND MORE WE'RE BOUND TO MAKE SOME GREAT RECIPES!**