Coconut- popular fruit from the tropics

Many people knew coconuts only from television, because the tropical fruit was available at most in well-stocked specialty stores. Meanwhile, the fruit is also available in many stores, especially in organic markets and drugstores. When you see a coconut, images of palm trees and white beaches immediately come to mind, and enjoying a coconut means escaping this world for a few minutes and going to tropical climes.
Despite its name, the coconut is not actually a nut, but belongs to the drupe family, where the seed is edible. It is related to almonds and pistachios. A special characteristic of the fruit is its enormous versatility, almost all parts of the coconut can be used, even the fibers are used for thermal insulation. But it is above all the nutritious flesh of the fruit that is popularly eaten. It is also offered in dried form and used as a nutritious ingredient in mueslis. Coconut water has few calories and is increasingly becoming a lifestyle drink. The oil is used by chefs as well as for body care. Gourmets especially appreciate the fine taste and those who are concerned with body care should definitely try coconut oil.Not all fat is the same

If you are looking for a suitable food to lose weight with, you will unfortunately not find it in the coconut. After all, fresh coconut flesh has 360 kilocalories per 100 grams, which is not exactly low. The sugar content is low, but the fat content is very high. This makes up about a third of the pulp, and it also contains up to 10 percent fiber. The high nutrient content makes it a staple food in tropical countries.
The coconut oil liquefies at 25 degrees, so it is still solid in the refrigerator, for example. It contains a large number of saturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids have a bad reputation among nutrition-conscious people. So coconut fat is not necessarily suitable to improve a salad. The high melting point alone makes coconut oil less suitable for this purpose. However, coconut fat contains the easily digestible lauric acid as a component.
Used sparingly, coconut oil gives smoothies or various dishes an aromatic flavor. It can be used for skin care and to prevent split ends. By the way: A small amount of coconut oil in the bath water smells very pleasant and there is no need to apply cream afterwards.

A delicious and natural refreshment

The juice of the green coconuts, coconut water, on the other hand, has few calories. A small glass (250 ml) contains just 50 kilocalories, which is roughly equivalent to an apple spritzer. Coconut water can be drunk pure or as a mixed drink with sweetener and lemonade.
As a substitute for cream can be taken coconut milk. This is a mixture of coconut water and pulp. Coconut milk does not contain cholesterol and can be used for vegan diet.

Conclusion

The nutrition-conscious reader should not expect miracles from the coconut. But for those who use this fruit consciously, it is an asset and can significantly improve well-being and health. The good taste is there for good measure.