Hey I am a big-time foodie.
My quest for flavourful and authentic food once took me to Thailand.
The soups, curries, broths, and puddings were out of this world. And believe me,
there was this one ingredient that made all these dishes shine. It was coconut milk! It added so
much creaminess and fragrance to the cooking. In reality, it can do so much more for your body.
In today's video, let's discuss some amazing benefits of coconut milk.
Can it reduce weight? Is it heart-healthy? We’re discussing all that and more...
But first, what exactly is coconut milk? How different is it from coconut water?
Coconut milk is a household staple in many south-east Asian countries like the Philippines,
Indonesia, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Singapore. It is often confused with coconut
water. Actually, coconuts are not a nut. Scientists have classified them as drupe
or stone fruits, botanically. But because of their hard shells, they are still called nuts.
When you cut open a coconut it's filled with water. Whereas coconut milk is made by a different
process. The flesh of mature brown coconuts is grated and soaked in hot water for some time.
Later the mixture is sieved through a cheesecloth or a nut milk bag and the
creamy liquid is separated from coconut shavings.
You can adjust the thickness according to your liking by adding water.
Coconut milk is now ready to be used in your sauces, desserts, teas, or on its own. But
don't worry if you find this procedure tedious. Your supermarket will have packaged coconut milk.
Coconut powder that can be mixed with water to make coconut milk is also commercially available.
Did you know 68% of the world's population is lactose intolerant?
Lactose intolerance is much more common than you think. Milk is a staple in our regular diet.
Although some choose to stay away from dairy due to allergies,
lactose intolerance, or because they have turned vegan.
The milk aisle of your grocery store will be flooded with dairy-free milk options. You'll see
soy, almond, oat, rice, cashew, macadamia, hemp, and quinoa milk on the shelves. But one non-dairy
milk that steals the show is coconut milk. It's a blessing for lactose-intolerant folks.
It has little to no carbs and fewer calories compared to cow's milk.
Most of the calories come from saturated fats also known as medium-chain triglycerides.
That's why it's an excellent option for all keto dieters.
Needless to say, coconut milk can help you with weight loss.
I mean it wouldn't magically slim you down overnight. But it may have some positive
effects on your weight. Cold-pressed coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides or
MCTs. There is a ton of research supporting the role of MCTs in appetite reduction,
boosting calorie expenditure, fat burning, and ultimately weight loss.
A small percentage of this beneficial compound may seep into coconut milk during its production.
And that way coconut milk can also play a significant role in your body’s metabolism.
It's not just Pina Coladas that use coconut milk. It blends seamlessly with seafood gravies.
You can add a splash of coconut milk to make frothy lattes,
and scrumptious cereal bowls or you can simply dunk coconut yogurt in your smoothies.
But coconut milk might not be your forte if you are intolerant to FODMAPs.
These are a group of fermentable carbs that may cause stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating,
and digestive issues if you have a sensitive gut. In that case, don't go over half a cup
or 120 ml per day. Also if you are allergic to coconut try some other milk substitute.
What do you usually do to stay energetic? Get a good sleep of 8 hours? Exercise?
You might as well add coconut milk to that list. 1 cup of coconut milk completes 22% of the
recommended daily intake of iron. Iron helps in the transport of oxygen to muscles and the brain.
It also regulates cell development. This
is a much-desired key nutrient by your body to keep iron deficiency anemia away.
With enough iron in your system, you will be able to concentrate better and reduce irritability.
If you're into athletic workouts it will definitely help to improve stamina.
Pregnancy increases your requirement for nutrients. 1 cup of coconut milk can be the
best way to ensure that your baby is getting all the needed iron for its growth and development.
Did you pour yourself enough coconut milk today? If not this should help.
Coconut milk is rich in electrolytes like potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. Your body's
requirement for electrolytes is tiny but not negligible. It's the electrolytes that supervise
the movement of nutrients and waste in and out of the cells, maintain their cell wall integrity,
and aid in muscle function. Your body may go into an electrolyte imbalance with any of
these vital electrolytes going haywire. Coconut milk can provide you with enough electrolytes.
It also contains a myriad of other nutrients like manganese,
copper, selenium, folate, zinc, Vitamin C, fiber, carbs, and fats.
By the way, you don't have to be scared of these fats. They are not
the ones that will give you a heart attack. Surprisingly they will protect you from one.
A study revealed consuming coconut milk in the form of porridge reduces bad cholesterol or
LDL by almost 18% in comparison to soy milk which only reduces bad cholesterol by 3%.
Coconut oil and coconut flakes are also known to reduce formation of
plaque in the blood vessels of the heart and pathological narrowing.
This may give you all the reasons to make the healthy switch. But looking at the research,
it was found that since coconut milk is loaded with saturated fats, overconsumption could lead to
an increase in both the good and bad cholesterol. Just as we know, excess of anything is poison.
Are you having a gnawing pain in your tummy?
Chances are you could have a stomach ulcer. Coconut milk can be very effective in
reducing the symptoms. When the lining of the digestive tract is damaged you
may experience heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion. Doctors call it a peptic ulcer.
The usual causes are prolonged use of painkillers and infection.
In one animal study rats with stomach ulcers were fed coconut milk. The results showed
coconut milk could also achieve up to 54% healing that an antiulcer drug could achieve.
The significant quantity of lauric acid present in coconut milk also offers protection from viruses
and bacteria. Cough, cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other upper respiratory tract diseases that
usually arise due to infection in the mouth don't stand a chance against coconut milk.
Researchers isolated viruses and bacteria in test tubes along with lauric acid.
Disease-causing organisms were rendered powerless by lauric acid. Proponents of traditional
medicine believe coconut milk keeps seasonal infections at bay and boosts overall immunity.
It's a must-have if you have an unhealthy lifestyle.
Eating junk food, sugar-rich beverages, smoking,
and excessive alcohol consumption are some top things that increase free radicals in your body.
When their production increases to a point where they no longer can be neutralized, they start
causing oxidative stress. It shows up in your system in the form of chronic diseases like
cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer's. Your skin will look old and your hair will start graying
prematurely. It even has the potential to mess with your proteins, lipids, and DNA structure.
Coconut milk acts as your body's natural revitalizer. It's loaded with antioxidants
that neutralize the effect of oxidative damage. Vitamin C and E are the actual nutrients that give
coconut milk the status of antioxidant-rich food. A study found that coconut milk displayed higher
antioxidant properties than cow's milk. Try using this milk instead of cow’s milk wherever possible.
Need some ideas? Use coconut milk for making sweets and ice cream.
Are your injuries taking forever to heal?
As we grow old inflammatory responses become more frequent. Coconut milk is loaded
with anti-inflammatories that help to reduce swelling and pain in the joints. If the sporadic
inflammatory responses are neglected, they will turn into chronic inflammation and become the
root cause of numerous diseases. A few injured rats were administered coconut extract which
majorly reduced the swelling and inflammation. It may have a similar effect on humans as well. So,
even if you have a million things on your plate make time for a glass of coconut milk.
Additionally, calcium and vitamin C makes your bones and teeth stronger. You can easily look past
those age-related osteoporotic changes. This one is definitely my favorite bone-strengthening food.
Last but not least it helps magically transform your skin and hair.
Apart from drinking, it can be used externally too.
Are you conscious of your hair and skin during winter?
Dandruff, dryness, and an itchy scalp can attract unwanted attention. Not to mention the irritation
that accompanies it. Fortunately, coconut milk acts as a natural conditioner for your hair.
Since it is saturated with fat it locks in the moisture to keep your scalp soft and supple.
Lauric acid also helps to kill any bacteria or fungi present on your scalp.
Similarly, you could use it on your skin. It will supercharge
your skin cells as the nutrients get delivered directly to the cells.
Coconut milk improves your skin elasticity by giving you an overall radiant appearance. Hello
dewy skin, bye-bye wrinkles. A pro tip here would be to soak cotton balls in coconut milk and use it
as a makeup remover. It not only will help to get rid of the gunk but also keep your skin hydrated.
Want to look 20 while you’re in your forties? Then a strict skincare regimen would help.
Also, you’ll be unable to get away with unhealthy food. It’ll show up on your skin.
Let's keep the conversation going with a couple of more skin-related videos, shall we?
Watch 13 incredible oils to fight wrinkles and give you younger-looking skin
for 12 foods that will make your skin glow.
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet watch both and learn how to make your skin glow.
How often do you have coconut milk? Let us know in the comments below.