Did you know that coconut can be considered a superfood? This is because it is one of the most nutritious foods available to man in nature. Consumed in its most diverse forms and compositions, coconut is a source of essential substances for the proper functioning of our body and cannot be left out of your diet.
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Like avocados and oilseeds , many people are afraid to incorporate coconut into the daily diet because of the large amount of fat that this fruit contains. If you are one of them, then you can relax and consume coconut at will, as the fatty acids present in this fruit go directly to the liver and are quickly transformed into energy.
Benefits of consuming coconut :
1. Helps you lose weight
Coconut can help those who want to lose weight in a healthy way, as its consumption in natura or in the form of oil stimulates the metabolism and decreases measures quickly. Research using people with the same eating and exercise patterns found that those who consumed coconut oil in place of soy oil had greater weight loss.
2. Facilitates digestion
The coconut has a high fiber content which facilitates digestion and keeps the intestine in motion giving energy to those who consume it.
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To give you an idea, coconut meat has more fiber than wheat bran and other types of grains.
– Two tablespoons of coconut butter contains about 5 grams of fiber, half a cup of coconut flour contains 7 grams of fiber and the same portion of coconut pulp has about 10 grams of fiber. Only coconut oil has no fiber in its composition.
3. Helps in the beauty of skin and hair
Coconut oil has an antimicrobial effect, which helps in the recovery of dry and damaged hair and helps in the treatment of acne. Consumed in the form of oil or fresh, coconut reduces the number of bacteria in the body due to the high content of lauric acid it contains.
The lauric acid is absorbed into the bloodstream and later on to the sebaceous glands, controlling the oiliness of the skin and making it more beautiful and less prone to acne and skin infections. Frizzy and dry hair if treated with coconut oil is smooth and shiny quickly.
4. Prevents heart disease
Coconut is rich in fat, but it is a fat considered good for the body, as they are less susceptible to cause clogging of the arteries.
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In addition, coconut meat is rich in substances known as monoglycerides that transform fat into energy and not stored fat tissue that benefits the health of arteries and the heart.
5. Rich in vitamins and minerals
It is no wonder that coconut is considered a superfood. Coconut milk has a lot of vitamin B, vitamin C and vitamin E, making it an extremely healthy food. Vitamin E and vitamin C are beneficial for the immune system and the B vitamins are good for keeping your immune system strong.
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Coconut water, in turn, is rich in magnesium, responsible for a large number of important functions, such as heart rate regulation; potassium, important in the regulation of the kidneys, brain, heart and muscles; phosphorus, important for maintaining healthy bones and teeth; iron, useful for the maintenance of red blood cells.
The ways of consuming coconut in our daily lives:
- Coconut milk:
Coconut milk is obtained from the flesh of the fruit. In Brazil, coconut milk is used mainly to make sweets or in typical dishes in the north and northeast of the country. It is easily found in supermarkets, but if you want to consume a healthier product without preservatives it is very easy to do at home. Just soak the meat of the fruit, beat in a food processor and strain with a thin cloth. The bagasse can be used in several recipes.
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If consumed in place of cow’s milk, the benefits are countless. In addition to the fact that it does not contain lactose, coconut milk is rich in fats that increase satiety and metabolism, helping with weight loss.
- Coconut water:
Coconut water has many nutrients that help the body to function more efficiently and can be consumed without restrictions.
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It facilitates the kidney’s filtering functions, also helps with digestion, helps in controlling blood glucose levels, controls blood pressure, is great for the maintenance of the immune system, has antioxidants that prevent premature aging and helps in the preservation of good bacteria from the intestinal flora. Is it or is it not a superfood?
- Coconut oil:
Coconut oil is very suitable for reducing abdominal fat, as it helps to burn fat and reduce hunger. And this is incredibly good, as this type of fat is the most dangerous of all and is associated with a number of diseases linked to poor diet and physical inactivity. Coconut oil can be consumed in the form of capsules that must be ingested before meals or when preparing food replacing soy oil.
- Fresh coconut:
The most common form of consumption of coconut is fresh, that is, eating pieces of its meat or grated in the recipes of your choice.
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Also try coconut flakes with yogurt or toast along with granola and fruit.
- Coconut flour:
Another product that is on the list of those who want to lose weight is coconut flour. Coconut flour is produced from the pulp of the fruit, but a part of the coconut fat is removed before the product is finished, which makes it lighter. This flour helps to improve the intestinal flora, fights diabetes and increases satiety.
