Coconut Cake' title='Coconut Cake' />Coconut Cake RecipeWhat are Coconuts Good For Coconuts. Botanical name Cocos nucifera. While the coconut is a mainstay in the diet of nearly one third of the planet, its considered exotic in the Western world. Experts describe the coconut as not just a fruit, but a nut and a seed as well a drupe. It has three layers the outside layer is known as the exocarp, and the fibrous husk or mesocarp is inside of it. The thin, woody layer surrounding the actual coconut meat is the endocarp. Since man inhabited the world, coconut trees were in existence. Coconuts have been used not only to produce fiber, fuel, and even musical instruments, but also as a traditional Asian and Pacific Island folk remedy. For centuries, the coconut has been claimed as a potent cure for nausea, rash, fever, earache, sore throat, bronchitis, kidney stones, ulcers, asthma, syphilis, dropsy, toothache, bruises, and lice. And thats just the short list. While coconut milk is a wonderful base for all kinds of Thai dishes, coconut oil is becoming increasingly used in the U. S. for its nutritional benefits. CoconutOil. com The Internets 1 resource on the health benefits of coconut oil Peerreviewed research on coconut oil, as well as all the latest news. The coconut palm is species of palm tree, Cocos nucifera, that grows to about 30 meters tall and is extensively cultivated in tropical climates. Find coconut recipes, videos, and ideas from Food Network. Learn about coconut in the Kitchen Dictionary Genius Kitchen Talk with your mouth full. EASP02_Toasty-Coconut-Macaroons_s4x3.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1385505592250.jpeg' alt='Coconut Creek Casino' title='Coconut Creek Casino' />Health Benefits of Coconuts. Modern medicine has also found coconuts nutritionally beneficial because Theyre loaded with naturally sterile electrolytes, which feed your p. H and muscle function. They have a high fiber content, which makes you feel full longer and helps regulate elimination. Theyre rich in lauric acid, which converts to monolaurin. Monolaurin is the compound found in breast milk that strengthens a babys immunity, and a great deal of research has been done to establish the ability of lauric acid to enhance immunity. This medium chain fatty acid MCFA actually disrupts the lipid membranes of offending organisms. They offer high levels of manganese, potassium, and phosphorus. Coconut Nutrition Facts Serving Size 3. Calories. 34. 5 Calories from Fat. Total Fat. 33 g. 52Saturated Fat. Trans Fat  Cholesterol. Sodium. 20 mg. 1Total Carbohydrates. Dietary Fiber. 9 g. Sugar. 6 g Protein. Calcium 1Iron. 13Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,0. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Studies Done on Coconuts. The fats and oils in coconuts are, like those derived from other sources, made up of molecules called fatty acids. There are two ways to classify fatty acids one involves saturation, i. The other is based on molecular size or the length of the carbon chain. Each fatty acid consists of long chains of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached short chain fatty acids SCFA, medium chain fatty acids MCFA, and long chain fatty acids LCFA. Coconut oil is composed predominately of medium chain fatty acids MCFA, or medium chain triglycerides MCT. Nearly 9. 8 of the fats and oils in our diets are composed of LCFA. Thats significant, because the physiological effects of MCFA in coconut oil, which contains powerful anti bacterial and anti viral properties, are distinctly different from those of LCFA, which have a negative effect on your cholesterol levels. Its rare, and the reason why coconut oil is so sought after. Its health benefits are as hard to beat as they are to explain In light of this information, one study comparing a medium chained triglyceride MCT based diet with a long chain triglyceride LCT based diet showed significant and positive results for HIV infected patients suffering from chronic diarrhea, difficulty in absorbing nutrients, and subsequent weight loss. Coconut Healthy Recipes Thai Coconut Soup. Ingredients 1 cups water 2 cups coconut water see note below 2 cups young coconut meat 1 cup fresh cherry tomatoes ripe avocado 1 clove garlic 1 clove garlic 2 clove garlic 1 inch fresh ginger 2 tablespoons white miso 1 tablespoon flax seed oil teaspoon sea salt 2 tablespoons nama shoyuor wheat free tamari soy sauce 2 limes 18 teaspoon cayenne 1 stalk lemongrass, cut into 2 inch pieces 1 carrot, sliced very thinly 1 cup cilantro 13 cup shallots chopped. Procedure Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender except for last four. Add the cilantro and blend briefly, so that you can still see small pieces of cilantro. Pour into a bowl and stir in last three ingredients. This recipe makes four servings. Note You can find coconut water and coconut meat by breaking open young green coconuts sold in some conventional grocery stores and Asian markets. If you cannot find young coconuts, you can also use canned or bottled coconut water and canned coconut meat or three cups of canned coconut milk. From Healthy Recipes for Your Nutritional Type by Dr. MercolaCoconut Fun FactsCoco, meaning monkey face, was the name given to this tropical food by Spanish explorers because of the three indentations on the bottom. But these indentations are the key for opening the coconut successfully. Insert a screwdriver into the softest hole to drain the liquid into a bowl, and then use a sturdy knife to circumvent the coconuts seam a few times. Give it a sharp thwack on a hard surface to break it into two pieces. How To Make A Roux on this page. Voil Summary. As old as the dawn of time, man has made use of coconuts hard casing, milk, and oil, which today has known health benefits that scientists are still exploring, such as omega 6 fatty acids, phytosterols, electrolytes, and manganese. One of the coconuts most important aspects is what its medium chain fatty acids mean for the human diet. The good thing is that rather than the high fat food it was once thought to be, coconut is a powerhouse of nutrition and healing.