Coconut Milk: Benefits And Harms For Women, Men And Children

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Coconut milk: how to get the most benefit, not harm

Coconut milk is a pleasant, sweetish white drink. Due to its rich chemical composition and delicate taste, it is widely used in the countries of Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. But before you consume an exotic drink, you should familiarize yourself with its benefits and harms.

Coconut milk: what is it made of

Contrary to expectations, coconut milk is not at all the liquid that is inside the hairy exotic fruit. The cloudy water with a faint coconut scent that splashes inside is coconut water. It belongs to superdrinks, that is, foods with a high nutritional value.

Coconut water is absolutely natural, well absorbed by the body and has a huge arsenal of useful properties

But white, sweet coconut milk is made artificially from the pulp of the fruit, which is crushed, mixed with water, and then filtered. The result is the same coconut milk that is used to make refreshing drinks, alcoholic cocktails and in cooking. Its main production is concentrated in Southeast Asia, where it is found in many local dishes.

At home, coconut milk can be made using a large bowl and strainer.

Chemical composition of coconut milk and its nutritional value

Coconut milk contains:

• vitamins B, C, E, K;
• polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (stearic, palmitic, lauric, etc.);
• vital trace elements (iron, copper, selenium, zinc, manganese);
• fructose;
• amino acids;
• vegetable fiber.

In 100 g of raw coconut milk, pressed from the pulp, 230 kcal. This is a fairly high figure, so those who are watching their weight should limit the use of a sugary drink. The canned food may have fewer calories, as manufacturers often dilute the liquid with plenty of water.

An adult is recommended to drink no more than 100 ml of coconut milk per day, and for children under 12 years of age, the portion should not exceed 70 ml. These restrictions are due to the fact that no matter how useful an exotic drink is, a high content of fatty acids and carbohydrates can disrupt the balance of the diet.

Benefits of coconut milk for adults and children

Due to its complex multicomponent composition, coconut milk:

• improves the digestion process;
• normalizes the functioning and blood supply of the brain;
• removes toxins;
• replenishes vitamin deficiencies and eliminates chronic fatigue syndrome;
• prevents the development of atherosclerosis;
• helps to activate the body's immune and antioxidant defenses.

For pregnant women, in the absence of contraindications, regular consumption of coconut milk will help get rid of swelling and cramps during sleep. Men will appreciate the exotic product for its high protein content, which contributes to muscle building and quick recovery from exercise.

Coconut milk is especially useful for babies. The combination of iron, phosphorus and calcium has a beneficial effect on the development of the skeletal system. However, keep in mind that coconut milk is not recommended for children under the age of four.

For children, cocktails based on coconut milk combined with fruits are very useful

Contraindications for consuming coconut milk

The main and most common contraindications to the inclusion of coconut milk in the diet are allergies and fructose intolerance. An exotic product causes itchy skin, palpitations and indigestion in a small number of people. In this case, you should consult a doctor.

In addition, be sure to consider that coconut milk is high in calories. Its use is not indicated for overweight people.

Reviews

I tried coconut milk in Thailand. There it is cooked at every step, right in front of tourists, scraping the pulp from the chopped fruit and mixing it with water. Then it is squeezed through a small centrifuge and poured into coconut halves. Coconut milk is very different from coconut water, it is rather difficult to confuse these two products. It is thick, aromatic, sweet and very refreshing. Only it contains a lot of calories, so you shouldn't go too heavy.

Exotic milk can be purchased in canned form, or you can prepare it yourself from fresh fruits of the coconut tree. It is able to compensate for the deficiency of vitamins and trace elements in the diet. You can also try cooking dishes with the addition of coconut milk, which will add variety to your homemade meals.