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Coconut milk is similar to the conventional dairy beverage in terms of its creamy consistency. It is famous in countries with lush coconut tree farms like the Caribbean, the Philippines, and other Asian countries.

The milk is slightly sweet in flavor, which makes it a remarkable cow’s milk substitute in preparing smoothies and other desserts. Nowadays, coconut milk gains a lot of attention with the popularity of Vegan diet, which keeps people from taking in conventional dairy products. This article will discuss the benefits as well as the side effects of drinking coconut milk to answer the question “Is coconut milk good for you?”.

Is Coconut Milk Good for You?

Note that the key in getting the health benefits of coconut milk lies in moderation. Avoid drinking too much. Limit your daily intake within 2 cups. Also opt for freshly made coconut milk. Drink less from a can because processed foods can bring potential danger.

Health Benefits

1. Vitamins and Minerals

Common vitamins found in coconut milk are vitamin C, E and several B vitamins. Each vitamin is crucial for your health due to their contributions. Vitamin C and E improves your immune system. On the other hand, cellular energy increases with the presence of B vitamins taken in with the milk.

Aside from these vitamins, incorporating coconut milk on your diet also supplies other essential nutrients like iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Iron is integral in producing erythrocytes or red blood cell, which carry oxygen for distribution. Magnesium is linked with several biochemical processes like nerve cell functions and heart rhythm regulation. Bones and teeth receive benefits from good amounts of phosphorus. Lastly, potassium is a vital nutrient for sustaining tissues found on major organs in the body like brain, kidney and heart.

2. Antioxidant

Several medical journals, including the Ceylon Medical Journal, cited and emphasized the high amounts of antioxidants in coconut milk. Antioxidants are vital in the body in preventing potential toxin-induced health issues. Numerous studies present linkage between free radicals and major diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart problems, and cancer. Dementia caused by aging also benefits from coconut milk’s ability in slowing down the aging process.

3. Lauric Acid

Lauric acid is often found in breast milk, but studies show the presence of this fatty acid in coconut. The National Center for Biotechnology Information claims lauric acid’s ability to counteract germs and viruses. Destroying these harmful foreign microorganisms ensure protection from different diseases.

In addition to its anti-bacterial properties, lauric acid also contributes in lowering the risk of heart diseases by reducing and stabilizing triglycerides and cholesterol levels.

4. Promote Cardiovascular Health

The Ceylon Medical Journal claims that while coconut milk has healthy fats, which are not the type that blocks arteries, which also implies protection from risk of heart problems. Monoglycerides, a type of lipid, found in coconut meat are immediately absorbed and converted to energy after consumption. Utilizing monoglycerides as energy means it will not be stored and clog the blood vessel.

5. Relieve Arthritis Symptoms

Joint inflammation is also linked with free radicals. Coconut milk contains selenium, a component that works as antioxidant that cleanses the body from free radicals and relieves joint inflammation.

6. Calm Nerve Cells

Nerve cells can be excessively stimulated among hypertensive individuals. Magnesium and calcium contents in this milk stabilize blood pressure and calm the nerves.

7. Regulate Blood Sugar

Magnesium also aids in stabilizing glucose level by breaking it down and promote better metabolic rate in the body.

 

Beauty Benefits

1. Moisturizing Skin

Coconut milk’s fat retains moisture in your skin, giving it a softer and smoother texture. You can experience its moisturizing properties by drinking or applying it directly on your skin. Let the milk stay on your skin for approximately 15 minutes after application then rinse.

2. Makeup Removal

Mixing coconut oil with olive oil creates an organic makeup remover. Applying the mixture on your skin makes removing cosmetic products easier.

3. Wrinkle Prevention

As mentioned earlier, coconut milk contains antioxidants that control aging. In addition, it is also rich in copper and vitamin C that enhance skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

4. Sunburn Treatment

Sunburned skin can also be relieved by applying coconut milk. It moisturizes the affected area and relieves sunburn-induced pain.

5. Hair Conditioner

Various shampoo and conditioner brands blend coconut milk and oil that moisturize the hair while maintaining its natural shine. Get the same benefit the natural way by massaging coconut oil on your hair from root to tip. Apply coconut milk and wrap your hair with a towel for several hours to experience its hair moisturizing properties.

2. You can massage coconut oil into your skin to maintain its suppleness, but you should also take a tablespoon each day in its uncooked, raw form. It helps to cleanse and balance your healthy gut flora, which is thought to minimise the outbreaks of skin rashes,  and irritations. When taken internally coconut oil literally beautifies your skin from the inside out.

3. Used as a skin moisturiser,  coconut oil nourishes and hydrates your skin by replenishing your natural skin oils. It contains Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA’s), which are also found in your natural skin oils. These MCFA’S are naturally anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti fungal.

4. A common cause for skin problems and dehydration is a build up of toxins, fungi and bad bacteria. Coconut oil helps to cleanse and neutralise these toxins,  fungi and bacteria on the outer layers of your skin, which not only detoxifies but also helps to build your skins natural immune system and protection.

5. Some forms of eczema and psoriasis are actually skin infections caused by a fungus. Using coconut oil topically can help these.

6.  It can also be used in your hair as a deep conditioning treatment. Coconut oil will make your hair shine and glow by bringing out your natural vibrancy and beauty.

7.  They say that drinking coconut water makes your skin look younger and more vibrant, as it aids in cleansing toxins naturally and erases any harmful toxic build up. The result? Clearer, healthier looking skin.

8.  You can also use coconut water as a facemask - thoroughly soak cotton pads in the coconut water and apply them to your face. Leave them on for up to 30 minutes for radiant, hydrated and moisture-filled skin.  

9.  To make coconut scrub to hydrate your skin, mix 1tbsp of coconut water and lentils into a paste. Rub it gently on the skin for two minutes then rinse it away. 

10. Coconut water can also be an effective clarifying moisturiser. Simply mix a few drops of coconut water with a few drops of lemon and then apply it to your skin. The coconut water hydrates and the lemon helps brighten and clear the skin.

Passion fruit nutrition has health benefits to kill cancer cells, its also efficacious as a pain reliever, anti-seizure, colitis, sedative, and anti-inflammatory. Disorders such as constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, menstrual disorders, cough, hoarseness, sore throat can also be driven with this fruit. Passion fruit pulp is used to relax the nerves as headaches, relieve diarrhea, and neurastenia (chronic fatigue, weakness, no appetite, can not concentrate, and insomnia).

 

Passion fruit is a good source of nutrition

Passion fruit rich in antioxidant

Passion fruit is rich in fiber

Passion fruit is very good for a diet program

Coconut water is actually the juice present inside the interior cavity or endosperm of young, tender coconut. Its water is one of the nature’s most refreshing drinks, consumed worldwide for its nutritious and health benefiting properties.

The water is actually obtained by opening a tender, green, healthy, and undamaged coconut. Inside, it's clear liquid is sweet, and sterile and composed of unique chemicals such as sugars, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, enzymes, amino acids, cytokine, and phyto-hormones. In general, young and slightly immature coconuts gathered from the coconut tree after they reach about 5-7 months of age for the purpose of reaping its drink.

Botanically, coconut plant belongs to the Arecaceae family of palm trees, and has the scientific name: Cocos nucifera.

Each coconut may contain about 200 to 1000 ml of water depending upon cultivar type and size. Any nuts younger than five months of age tend to be bitter in taste and devoid of nutrients. In contrast, mature coconuts contain less water, and their endosperm thickens quickly into white edible meat (kernel). Coconut milk obtained from the meat, therefore, should not be confused with coconut water.

Coconut palm flourishes well under the costal tropical environments. A coconut tree may yield several hundreds of tender nuts each season. Different species of coconut palms are grown all over the tropics. Naturally, their taste and flavor of water show variations according to saline content in the soil, distance from seashore, climate, etc.

Health benefits of coconut water

• Coconut water is a very refreshing drink to beat tropical summer thirst. Its liquid is packed with simple sugars, electrolytes, and minerals to replenish dehydration conditions inside the human body.

• Research studies suggest that cytokinins (e.g., kinetin and trans-zeatin) in coconut water found to have significant anti-ageing, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-thrombotic (anti-clot formation) effects.

• Coconut water has been generally offered to patients with diarrhea in many tropic regions to replace the fluid loss from the gastrointestinal tract and to reduce the need for hospitalisation. The osmolarity of tender coconut water is slightly greater than that of WHO recommended ORS (Oral Rehydration Therapy) solution. Presence of other biological constituents like amino acids, enzymes, minerals, and fatty acids may account for this higher osmolarity. Nonetheless, unlike WHO-ORS, its water is very low in sodium and chlorides, but rich in sugars and amino acids. This well-balanced fluid composition, along with much-needed calories, would be an ideal drink instead of any other kind of soft drink beverages available in the markets to correct dehydration conditions.

• Coconut water is composed of many naturally occurring bioactive enzymes such as acid phosphatase, catalase, dehydrogenase, diastase, peroxidase, RNA-polymerases etc. In effect, these enzymes help in the digestion and metabolism.

• Despite being very light in consistency, its water proportionately has better composition of minerals like calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, and zinc than some of the fruit juices like oranges. (Compare the mineral composition of oranges).

• Its liquid is also a very good source of B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pyridoxine, and folates. These vitamins are essential in the sense that the human body requires them from external sources to replenish.

• Coconut water carries a very good amount of electrolyte potassium. 100 ml of water has 250 mg of potassium and 105 mg of sodium. Together, these electrolytes help replenish electrolyte deficiency in the body due to diarrhea (loose stools).

• Further, fresh coconut water has a small amount of vitamin-C (Ascorbic acid); It provides about 2.4 mg or 4% of RDA. Vitamin C is a water-soluble ant-oxidant.

Almonds are one of the most nutritious nuts you can eat with many benefits for your health, particularly your skin and heart. They fill you up, provide vitamins and minerals for energy and eating almonds can even help with weight loss.

Here are 5 valuable health benefits of almonds for better skin, more energy, losing weight, protecting your heart and better nutrition for a healthier life.

1. Almond Skin Benefits

Good skin comes, not from expensive cosmetics, but from proper nutrition on the inside. A handful of almonds is a particularly high food source of natural vitamin E, monounsaturated fatty acids, biotin and copper, all very important for healthy skin. Here’s why.

Vitamin E in Almonds

Vitamin E assists in protecting the connective elastin and collagen fibers within your skin cells that maintain its youthful firmness. The more collagen and elastin break down in your skin, the more at risk you are of developing fine lines and wrinkles on your face.

Vitamin E is also an excellent skin antioxidant, protecting your skin cells from free radical damage that leads to wrinkled and sagging skin and other signs of aging.

Biotin Skin Benefits

The B vitamin biotin is needed to maintain healthy fatty acids in the skin that keep it soft and supple. Without enough biotin in your diet from foods like almonds, your skin can become dry, flaky and easily irritated.

Getting more biotin with almonds can also improve your hair and nail health. Brittle nails and hair, split ends and hair loss are more signs of biotin deficiency.

Almonds for Copper

Copper is a vital co-factor in one of your body’s most important antioxidants called superoxide dismutase. Without enough dietary copper, skin health can suffer from free radical damage and premature aging.

Copper is involved in elastin production, part of the springy connective tissue that keeps your skin young and wrinkle free. The mineral is also needed for natural skin and hair pigmentation, so almonds are good for people with uneven skin tone and those looking to minimize gray hairs.

Monounsaturated Fats

Almonds are a healthy source of beneficial monounsaturated fats to maintain moisture balance and moderate sebum production in your skin.

Getting more monounsaturated fatty acids in your diet and less inflammatory processed vegetable oil can help reduce skin problems like acne, blackheads and oily skin.

Eating Almonds for Better Skin

With their high levels of protective vitamin E, biotin, copper and hydrating monounsaturated fats, the skin benefits of almonds are significant. Replace damaging junk food snacks with a handful of organic almonds and eat other skin healthy nuts like walnuts for a few weeks and you’ll see the difference in the mirror.

2. Filling and Nutritious

Just half a dozen almonds makes for a tasty, filling and high nutrition snack. They are full of healthy fats, significant protein, important minerals like magnesium, copper, manganese and phosphorus, and are high in vitamin E and B vitamins.

While a quarter of a cup of almonds does have about 200 calories, they are a particularly high satiety food. This means they fill you up and satisfy your hunger in ways carbohydrate foods from the bakery never will.

Try keeping a bag of almonds in your desk at the office and have a few in the middle of the afternoon instead of going to the corner store for a junk food snack. I think you’ll be surprised just how filling they are and how much better you feel after eating them instead of those high sugar, energy draining snacks.

3. Almonds for Weight Loss

Most people wouldn’t expect that high-fat nuts like almonds would be beneficial for reducing your waistline. However, there are some very good reasons why the almonds are actually good for weight loss.

The monounsaturated fats in nuts like almonds also moderate blood sugar rises after eating. In this way, they also reduce the amount of fat storing insulin being released into your bloodstream.

Additionally, almonds contain high levels of thermogenic protein, including tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin, which tends to relax you and reduce stress-induced eating.

There really are a lot of weight loss benefits in eating more almonds, especially if you regularly replace high carbohydrate snacks with a handful of organic ones.

4. Protect Your Heart

Heart disease continues to be the biggest cause of death in the United Kingdom. This is primarily due to our processed food diet, but the powerful nutritional properties of almonds may help protect your heart from damage.

Once again, the monounsaturated fats in almond are beneficial here. Studies have demonstrated that consuming sources of monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid can reduce blood levels of potentially damaging LDL cholesterol, whilst improving your HDL cholesterol profile.

Almonds are also a great source of antioxidant vitamin E, which specifically protects against free radical oxidation of cholesterol, strongly linked to cardiovascular disease.

This study of the health benefits of nuts like almonds said that frequent consumption was likely to protect against coronary heart disease and recommended eating nuts more than four times a week.

5. Extra Energy with Almonds

Any look at almond benefits must consider how the broad array of minerals and vitamins they contain can affect your energy levels. Many people eating a supermarket food diet are lacking in important vitamins and minerals needed for energy production within the body.

Crunchy almonds contain good levels B vitamins like by biotin, riboflavin and niacin. They are also high in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron and particularly copper.

All of these nutritional elements are needed by the processes within your cells that regulate energy production. The more of them you get, the less chance you’ll have of  vitamin and mineral deficiencies that lead to low energy levels.

One especially good way to enjoy almonds for energy is with this sugar-free chocolate almond milk recipe you can quickly make up at home with a blender.

Eating Almonds for Better Health

There are 5 great reasons to eat more almonds: good skin, a healthier heart, more energy, a slimmer body and to fill you up with the nutrition your body needs to look and feel its best. Surely it’s worth eating almonds more often if you value your health and appearance.

When looking for the best almonds, freshness is particularly important and large online stores with high turnover are usually where you want to look. Especially check the recent reviews to see if it’s a good batch.

In the USA, these Californian almonds are organic and have many positive reviews on their texture and taste.

In the UK, I find these Spanish grown organic almonds are good value and a great size for the office drawer.

Have you tried replacing fattening carbohydrate snacks with healthy nuts like almonds? I’d appreciate hearing what you think of these almond benefits for skin, your heart and general good health, especially if you’ve noticed a positive difference since you started eating almonds yourself.