COCONUT
Coconut palms have been called the Tree of Life because of the many products that can be made from them. According to biologists, coconut is classified as a fruit. However, given its nutritional make-up dietitians consider it a fat. In recent years, coconut has been promoted to burn fat, fight off infections, improve cholesterol and much more. So is coconut really good for you?
Coconut is mostly made up of saturated fat. The type of saturated fat found in coconut is called lauric acid and it has been shown to raise your good “HDL” cholesterol. However, it raises your bad “LDL” cholesterol even more. For a person eating around 2,000 calories/day without any cholesterol problems, it is recommended to limit saturated fat intake to 16 grams/day. Here is how much saturated fat is in various coconut products:
12 grams–1 Tbsp of coconut oil
11 grams—1/4 cup of coconut milk (canned)
10 grams–1 Mounds bar
8 grams—1/4 cup shredded coconut
0.4 grams–8 oz coconut water
Coconut water has become very popular recently as a natural hydrator. It is a good source of potassium; however, bananas and potatoes are also good sources of potassium and good sources of fiber too. Also, coconut water usually has added sugar which helps with hydration, but for the amount of exercise the average person does, water hydrates just fine.
As with any food, it is OK to eat coconut and its many products in moderation, but the evidence doesn’t support eating coconut products in large quantities. Just 1 tsp of coconut oil has 45 calories, so you may want to consume it sparingly.