The Benefits of Coconut and Its Many Forms
Besides being a healthy fat that’s rich in vitamins and minerals, there are a wealth of health and wellness benefits that come from incorporating various forms of coconut into your lifestyle. You can do a lot more than just eat it, by the way. These are some of my favorite forms of coconut.
Coconut flour
Coconut flour is rich in fiber and great for healthier baking because it’s naturally sweet, but it will take a lot of trial and error if you want to just use it instead of wheat flour. Coconut flour is dense and soaks up a lot of moisture when it bakes, which is why it’s not easily interchangeable. I suggest starting with recipes written for this type of flour; I promise there are many out there. After you get the hang of coconut flour, then try playing around with using it in lieu of the regular kind. And don’t think you’re limited to baking with it either - coconut flour is terrific for thickening soups.
Coconut oil
Try stocking two jars of coconut oil in your house, one for the kitchen and the other for the bathroom (cold-pressed and organic is best.) This way you can take advantage of the health and wellness benefits of ingesting coconut when you cook, and enjoy the beauty benefits by using your stash in the medicine cabinet. For starters, work towards getting whiter teeth without the use of chemicals by giving oil pulling a try. Just take a spoonful of coconut oil and swish it around your teeth each morning like mouthwash, but make sure to keep it up in order to see results. Coconut oil is also a terrific natural moisturizer for your skin and hair.
Coconut water
Coconut water is terrific for hydration, or re-hydration if you’ve just completed a workout. I also like to recommend it to nursing moms because a well-hydrated body can promote better milk production. Coconut water may also be a source of relief if you’re experiencing digestive health symptoms. You can thank its fiber content for that. Because the concentration of it is so high, coconut water can help prevent indigestion and reduce the occurrence of acid reflux. Tip: always reach for unflavored, no sugar-added coconut water.
