A nutrient-dense source of fat, it seems like coconut milk makes everything better! With its creamy texture and naturally occurring sweetness, coconut milk really adds something to the dish. Coconut milk comes from the white flesh that is found in mature coconuts and is commonly used in Thai and other Southeast Asian cuisines. While coconut milk does not occur naturally in liquid form, the flesh of the coconut is mixed with water, making coconut milk about 50% water. Nonetheless, the result is intensely creamy thanks to the natural fat content and insanely delicious.
If you are looking for a way to step away from dairy, coconut milk is a tasty alternative that can provide a variety of health benefits. If you are interested in adding this delicious milk alternative to your daily diet, check out some of the health benefits of coconut milk.
• The flesh of a coconut is highly nutritious as it’s rich in vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, C, and E. Loaded with fiber, coconut is also chock full of minerals such as phosphorous, iron, sodium, magnesium, copper, zinc, potassium, selenium, manganese, and calcium.
• A study was done by the School of Dietetics, and Human Nutrition at McGill University found that eating a diet rich in MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides) can help with weight loss. It was discovered that eating a diet rich in MCTs resulted in a more significant loss of fat compared with a diet rich in long-chain fatty acids. Also, because coconuts are high in healthy fats, it helps fill you up and can help prevent overeating.
• Due to the MCT and nutrient content, coconut milk can help increase energy expenditure and enhance physical performance. In order for your muscles to repair broken down tissue and grow back stronger, they need plenty of nutrients. Luckily, coconut milk contains potassium and magnesium which can help build muscle.
• If you are looking to improve your cholesterol levels and heart health, coconuts are rich in lauric acid, a type of fatty acid that can help with your cholesterol and improve the health of your heart. In fact, 50% of the fat found in coconuts is lauric acid, which can help decrease LDL cholesterol, increase good HDL cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and helps keep blood vessels free from plaque buildup.
• Coconut milk is excellent for sweetened recipes, such as desserts, as the MCTs are better for the body than sugar. Coconut milk MCTs is the bodies preferred source of energy, and since the fat content can help slow the rate that sugar is released into the bloodstream, coconut milk is better at controlling insulin levels. By preventing a sugar high from occurring, coconut milk could help prevent conditions such as diabetes.
