Is Coconut Milk Good for You?

By processing coconut in a certain way, you can obtain a white, creamy and rich substance called coconut milk. This is a sweet beverage that you can drink directly or use during the preparation of several meals. 

Is Coconut Milk Good for You?

The answer is yes. Coconut milk does not contain lactose, so it is a great option for lactose intolerant people. It has more nutrients and is healthier than cow’s milk. Also, coconut milk is very versatile; you can cook with it, substitute regular milk with it when making coffee or a fruit juice, or just drink it plain. Here are some more specific benefits.

1. Weight Loss

Coconut milk is filled with good fats and fiber. This helps you lose weight by accelerating your metabolism and making you feel satisfied. Medical studies have shown that completely cutting good fats from your diet could have counterproductive results in weight loss. However, coconut milk contains more calories than cow’s milk, so you need to take precaution and not consume more than the recommended quantity per day.

2. Immune System Health

Is coconut milk good for your immune system? Coconut milk contains certain vitamins, minerals and acids that can help prevent numerous diseases, including fungal, bacterial and viral infections. Coconut milk also has anticarcinogenic property and inhibits cancer cell growth in animals.

3. Heart Disease Prevention

The good fats that are found in coconut milk can improve your heart condition by increasing good-cholesterol levels and reducing the plaque formation in the arteries, thus decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke.

4. Healthy Skin and Hair

The minerals, fatty acids and vitamins contained in coconut oil can help moisturize your hair and skin when used externally while leaving a light sweet coconut scent. It has been proved that coconut oil also has antiseptic property, thus helping fight several skin diseases and conditions in a natural and chemical-free way.

5. Fatigue Relief

Sometimes fatigue is related to dehydration or vitamin, mineral or electrolyte deficiency. As coconut milk is full of electrolytes, it can be used to deal with fatigue caused by electrolyte loss.

6. Digestion

The healthy fatty acids and fiber in coconut milk can help improve the digestion process and prevent constipation by maintaining a healthy intestine movement and providing adequate water content for the digestive system.

7. Diabetes Control

Is coconut milk good for your diabetes control? Natural coconut milk does not have added sugars and its sweet flavor comes from a natural substance called fructose, so it helps maintain constant blood sugar levels which are very important in diabetes control.

8. Arthritis and Joint Inflammation Prevention

Coconut milk has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, thus reducing the chance of getting certain diseases such as arthritis and helping reduce inflammation. The fatty acids and minerals can also help maintain good joint, bone and muscular health.

9. Stronger Bones

Although coconut milk is not a good source of calcium compared to cow’s milk, it is a very good source of phosphorus. Calcium and phosphor are in close relation with each other and are necessary to assure a good bone formation and maintenance. So coconut milk is a good choice for strong and healthy bones.

Note: Coconut milk has fructose and certain types of carbohydrates that can cause intestinal discomfort and even diarrhea. If you cannot properly digest fructose or suffer from digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, then you should probably avoid ingesting this type of beverage.

How to Choose Coconut Milk

Is coconut milk good for you? Yes, it can provide you with loads of benefits. However, you should know how to choose good coconut milk to maximum the results.

  • Make sure that you buy organic coconut milk that has not been pasteurized, as the pasteurizing process can destroy many important and beneficial elements in the milk, such as vitamins and minerals.
  • Since the coconut milk is naturally sweet, then choosing one that has no added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
  • You also need to avoid any coconut milk that has added pigments or food coloring, and juices or other ingredients to change its flavor. Some coconut milk will have coconut water and natural guar gum added to improve texture and consistency, and this will not interfere with the health benefits that coconut milk provides. 
  • Try not to buy canned coconut milk; some aluminum cans have a chemical called BPA that can leak into the food, causing potential health issues. 

How to Make Coconut Milk at Home

If you have the time and resources, making your own coconut milk is way cheaper and easier than you think.

What Do You Need?

  • Organic, non-sweetened coconut chips
  • Water
  • A blender
  • A piece of clean thin cloth
  • A bowl

Instructions

  • First, heat the water without letting it boil, and then add it to the blender with the coconut chips. Blend for about five minutes, or until you see a rich creamy texture.
  • Then, get the piece of cloth and carefully pour the mixture in it, gently squeezing the cloth borders in order to make the coconut milk come out into the bowl without any unwanted piece of coconut meat.
  • Finally, transfer the coconut milk from the bowl to a glass recipient. This coconut milk can be used right away or it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.
 
 
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