Coconut
The coconut tree, scientifically known as Cox mucifera, is the most productive plant on the ground. It belongs to the family of palm trees known scientifically as Arecaseae. Although the original habitat of this tree is different, it is believed to belong to the Pacific, Its origin is believed to be from Southeast Asia, which includes Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as the islands between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
It is believed that this plant was brought to India and East Africa, then to West Africa, and from there to the American continent, and then spread to all the tropics of the world. Coconut tree grows up to 30 meters and 35 meters in height, and is characterized by production of up to 70 ripe fruit a year. Coconut is made up of the outer fibrous crust, the white fat-containing part of which coconut oil is extracted, and the transparent liquid, which is less liquid when the fruit is more mature.
Coconut is used in many industrial purposes, as well as in domestic cooking. It is also used for therapeutic purposes in folk medicine in many countries. Coconut contains many of the health benefits that will be presented in this article.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is characterized by its high content of short-chain fatty acids and a low proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. The health benefits of coconut oil include the following:
- Stimulates immunity as found in studies of experimental animals.
- Resists viruses.
- Virgin virgin coconut oil contains a high amount of antioxidants.
- Studies have found a role for coconut oil in the prevention of osteoporosis caused by estrogen deficiency, and this effect needs further scientific research.
- In-vitro studies found the ability of coconut oil to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells.
- Some preliminary studies suggest that taking 10 milligrams of coconut oil three times a day reduces the measurement of waist circumference after a week to 6 weeks of use, but this requires further research.
- Some studies suggest that taking coconut oil raises the level of good cholesterol (HDL) while it does not affect the level of bad cholesterol (LDL), but in comparison found a study comparing high-content content with coconut oil or safflower oil or safflower oil or fat Bovine coconut oil raises the level of both good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.
- A study found that coconut oil reduces the duration of diarrhea in children, while another study found that it was not effective in cases of diarrhea, so this effect is not clear and needs further scientific research.
- Some studies have found a role for coconut oil in more cases, which include Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, chronic fatigue, nervous colon and some thyroid cases, but scientific evidence of these roles is inadequate.
- Some studies have found a role for the external use of coconut oil in cases of head lice, psoriasis, dry skin and increased weight of infants, but these roles require further scientific research.
Health Benefits of Coconut Water
Coconut water is fat-free and cholesterol-free. It is low in calories, contains a higher amount of potassium than those found in four grains of bananas, and is low in sodium, giving the body the water it needs.
Many use coconut water as an alternative to sports drinks. Compared to sports drinks, it contains less sugar, calories, sodium and higher potassium. It is an excellent substitute drink for sports drinks, especially if added to sodium, which is better than water In the re-moisturizing body that loses fluids and salts during sport, and is a good alternative to drinks that contain higher amounts of sugar and calories, such as soft drinks and fruit juices, but also should not increase in drinking; For many calories in total, and contributes to increasing the amount of sugar intake and in weight gain.
Coconut water contains many vitamins and minerals that promote antioxidant resistance in the body, and studies have found that they contain many antioxidants, as well as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and arginine (L-arginine), which has antioxidant properties, which reduces the production Free radicals. Experimental studies have found that coconut water reduces fat oxidation and reacts oxidative enzymes in rats exposed to oxidizing toxins.
Coconut water had protective effects for kidneys in studies of rats exposed to ethylene glycol, which causes nephrolithiasis; it was found to significantly reduce calcium oxalate salts in urine and reduce serum creatinine and urea In the blood it is fat oxidation.
In addition, a study of experimental animals found that drinking coconut water protects against myocardial infarction and reduces the oxidation of lipids associated with it. It also found that it reduces the levels of total cholesterol and very low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglyceride (HDL) cholesterol, which have been stimulated in the experimental animals by feeding cholesterol in the diet.
A study of the ability of coconut water to protect liver cells from damage induced in experimental animals using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was found to reduce the levels of liver enzymes that increase in cases of liver cells being damaged.
A study found that drinking coconut water lowers the level of high blood glucose and the level of insulin in the blood and glycogen in the liver and the cumulative blood sugar in the rats of diabetes experiments, and was found to reduce the levels of high liver enzymes, in addition to urea, creatinine and albumin in the blood In these rats. All previous roles need further scientific research to prove them.
Health Benefits of Coconut Meat
Studies in experimental animals have found the ability of white coconut extract to be resistant to malaria, but not to the same extent as its medicines, which justify its use in Malaysian folk medicine to treat the disease.
A study found that the extract of coconut protein reduces the high glucose level in the diabetic rats and found that it returns the level of glycogen in the liver to the normal level, and also found that it reduces the damage of pancreatic cells associated with diabetes, as it restores beta cells in the pancreas By its high content of amino acid arginine. A study of the role of extracts of the internal cortex surrounding coconut meat was found to reduce blood pressure in cases of high in experimental animals.
After all the benefits mentioned for coconut you must want to make a dish of coconut, here is this recipe delicious and fast.