Coconut

(Cocos nucifera)

FACTS:
The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera), is a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family). It is the
only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The specific name nucifera is Latin for "nut-bearing".
The coconut tree or coconut palm can be found in rainforests and countries with tropical climate
such as in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. In the United States, coconut tree can be
found in Hawaii, the Southern tip of Florida, and the Virgin Islands. It is the only accepted
species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or
the fruit, which, botanically, is a drupe, not a nut. The spelling cocoanut is an archaic form of the
word. The term is derived from 16th-century Portuguese and Spanish coco, meaning "head" or
"skull", from the three indentations on the coconut shell that resemble facial features.
Found throughout the tropic and subtropics area, the coconut is known for its great versatility as
seen in the many uses of its different parts. Coconuts are part of the daily diets of many people.
Coconuts are different from any other fruits because they contain a large quantity of "water" and
when immature they are known as tender-nuts or jelly-nuts and may be harvested for drinking.
When mature, they still contain some water and can be used as seednuts or processed to give oil
from the kernel, charcoal from the hard shell and coir from the fibrous husk. The endosperm is
initially in its nuclear phase suspended within the coconut water. As development continues,
cellular layers of endosperm deposit along the walls of the coconut, becoming the edible coconut
"flesh". When dried, the coconut flesh is called copra. The oil and milk derived from it are
commonly used in cooking and frying; coconut oil is also widely used in soaps and cosmetics.
The clear liquid coconut water within is potable. The husks and leaves can be used as material to
make a variety of products for furnishing and decorating. It also has cultural and religious
significance in many societies that use it.

The coconut tree variety can be classified by its stature, whether tall or dwarf. The tall variety is
the commonly grown type usually for commercial purposes. The tall variety can grow to as high
as 60 feet with leaves to a length of 15 feet while the dwarf can grow to about 20 feet tall.

Coconut:
Coconut is highly nutritious, rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Coconut offers a lot of health
benefits beside from its nutritional value. Coconut meat, coconut water and the coconut oil are
used as food and in food preparations. The coconut oil is also widely used in traditional medicine
as a cure all medicine.

Coconut oil:
Another byproduct of the coconut is coconut oil. It is commonly used in cooking, especially for
frying. It can be used in liquid form as would other vegetable oils, or in solid form as would
butter or lard.

Coconut Nutritional Value:

Nutritional Value of Coconut Meat per 100 grams.
Calcium - 14 mg
Carbohydrates - 15.23 gm
Dietary Fiber - 9.0
Folate (Vitamin B9) - 26g
Iron - 2.43 mg
Magnesium - 32 mg
Monounsaturated Fat - 1.43
Niacin (Vitamin B3) - 0.54 mg
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) - 0.300 mg
Phosphorus - 113 mg
Polyunsaturated Fat - 0.37 gm
Potassium - 356 mg
Protein - 3.3 gm
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) - 0.02 mg
Saturated Fat - 29.70 gm

Sugars - 6.23 gm
Thiamin (Vitamin B1) - 0.066 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.054 mg
Vitamin C - 3.3 mg
Zinc - 1.1 mg
Energy - 350 kcal (1480 kJ)

Coconut Health Benefits:

Coconut has long been used as traditional medicine for almost any kind of illness. From
abscesses, asthma, hair treatment, baldness, colds, constipation, fever, flu, scabies, sore throats,
toothache, tumors, ulcers and many others. Only recently that laboratory studies and researches
has been made to verify its effectively and science has uphold some its claims as cure for many
health problems.
Coconut Health Benefit 1: Immune System Booster
Coconut oil is good for the immune system. Coconut water is now considered as a potent nutritional
source that can boost energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.

Coconut Health Benefit 2: Aids the Digestive System

Coconut has been found to improve digestion and hasten the absorption of nutrients including vitamins,
minerals, and amino acids
Coconut is also effective in expelling parasites such as tapeworms and lice

Coconut Health Benefit 3: Antibacterial, Antiviral and Antifungal Actions.

The coconut oil contains antimicrobial lipids, capric acid, caprylic acid and lauric acid that are known to
possess antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Coconut helps strengthen the immune system by converting lauric acid into monolaurin which limits the
activities of viruses that cause diseases such as influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, and even
AIDS.
Coconut also fights bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori that are causes of
diseases such as throat infections, gum disease, ulcers, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and
gonorrhea.
Coconut is also used in the treatment of fungi and yeast infections such as ringworm, athlete's foot,
thrush, diaper rash and candidiasis.

Coconut Health Benefit 4: Skin And Hair Care

Coconut oil is widely used to promote healthy growth of hair.

Coconut is traditionally used to treat baldness, dandruff and head lice,
Coconut oil is used as hair conditioner to nourish damaged hair.
Coconut oil is also used as topical applicant for wounds and burns to lubricate skin and to protect from
infections.
Reduces symptoms associated to psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis. It also helps to soften the skin and
relieve dryness and flaking.
Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
Coconut is also used as a protection against the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Coconut Health Benefit 5: Prevents Heart Disease

There is a misconception about coconut oil that has been propagated long since being high in saturated
fats that can cause heart diseases. In the contrary, recent researches have shown that the saturated fats
found in coconut oil is a type of unique fat molecule known as medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) that
actually prevents heart diseases. The medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil increases the HDL
level (good cholesterol) while lowering the LDL (bad cholesterol) in the blood thus improving the ratio of
HDL to LDL which is the basis for heart disease risks. The p-Coumaric acid in coconut oil prevents the
formation of arterial plaque by preventing the stickiness of the blood platelet, lowering the blood pressure
and reducing the risk of damaging the arteries and preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

Coconut Health Benefit 6: Aids Weight Loss

The medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil are readily burned into energy preventing the
formation of fats. This process also relieves the pancreases of stress, making it more efficient, increasing
the body metabolism, thereby burning more energy that results to weight reduction. This likewise reduces
the symptoms of pancreatitis. Furthermore, coconut oil is easy to digest helping the thyroid and the
enzyme system to function properly as well. In a study done on women who were given coconut oil
supplementation for 12 weeks as compared to those given with soybean oil have indicated that women
who took 30 milliliters of coconut oil daily have lower body mass index and reduced waist line.

Coconut Health Benefit 7: Antioxidant And Anti-Cancer

Coconut oil extracted by cold press process or commonly called virgin coconut oil naturally contains
Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ferulic and p-Coumaric acids that are known as potent antioxidants.
The antioxidants in coconut helps protect the body from free radicals that are the primary cause of
premature aging, degenerative disease and even cancer.
Coconut oil is traditionally used to protect the body against colon, breast and other cancers.
The antioxidative property of coconut oil also protects other essential fatty acids in the body from
oxidation.

Other Health Benefits:

Coconut oil helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes by improving insulin
secretion and utilization of blood glucose
Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
Reduces epileptic seizures.
Coconut water is good for urinary, kidney and bladder problems.
Helps prevent liver disease.
Coconut improves the absorption of calcium and magnesium that supports bone development that is
beneficial for osteoporosis prevention.
Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.

Other uses:
Making a rug from coconut fiber
The leftover fiber from coconut oil and coconut milk production, coconut meal, is used as livestock feed.
The dried calyx is used as fuel in wood-fired stoves. Coconut water is traditionally used as a growth
supplement in plant tissue culture/micropropagation. The smell of coconuts comes from the 6-pentyloxan2-one molecule, known as delta-decalactone in the food and fragrance industries.

Tool and shelter for animals

Researchers from the Melbourne Museum in Australia observed the octopus species Amphioctopus
marginatus use of tools, specifically coconut shells, for defense and shelter. The discovery of this
behavior was observed in Bali and North Sulawesi in Indonesia between 1998 and 2008. Amphioctopus
marginatus is the first invertebrate known to be able to use tools.
A coconut can be hollowed out and used as a home for a rodent or small bird. Halved, drained coconuts
can also be hung up as bird feeders, and after the flesh has gone, can be filled with fat in winter to attract
tits.

Allergies
Food allergies
Coconut can be a food allergen although its prevalence varies from country to country. While coconut is
one of the top-five food allergies in India where it is a common food source, such allergies to coconut are
considered rare in Australia, the UK, and the United States. As a result, commercial extracts of coconut
are not currently available for skin prick testing in Australia or New Zealand.

Despite a low prevalence of allergies to coconut in the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) began identifying coconuts in October 2006. Based on FDA guidance and federal
U.S. law, coconut must be disclosed as an ingredient.

Topical allergies
Coconut-derived products can cause contact dermatitis. They can be present in cosmetics, including some
shampoos, moisturizers, soaps, cleansers and hand washing liquids. Those known to cause contact
dermatitis include: coconut diethanolamide, cocamide sulphate, cocamide DEA, CDEA, sodium laureth
sulfate, sodium lauroyl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauroyl
sarcosinate, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, potassium coco hydrolysed collagen, triethanolamine laureth
sulfate, caprylic/capric triglycerides, triethanolamine lauryl or cocoyl sarcosime, disodium oleamide
sulfocuccinate, laureth sulfasuccinate, and disodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate.

Coconut Side Effects and Warning:

Fresh Coconut Water is one of the best natural drinks there is.
There is no known or reported side effect from its use and consumption.
Coconut water is safe even for children and pregnant women.
Moderate use of virgin coconut oil or coconut oil extracted by cold press has no known side
effects.

Myths and legends:

Some South Asian, Southeast Asian and Pacific Ocean cultures have origin myths in which the
coconut plays the main role. In the Hainuwele myth from Maluku, a girl emerges from the
blossom of a coconut tree. In Maldivian folklore one of the main myths of origin reflects the
dependence of the Maldivians on the coconut tree.
According to an urban legend, there are more deaths caused by falling coconuts than by sharks
annually.