Coconut is often seen as an ingredient of the Oriental food system. You may like the strong coconut flavor in Indian and Thai curries, but the same isn't applicable to the standard Italian pasta-sauce fare. However, due to its health benefits, experimentation on typical European and American dishes by adding coconut is not frowned upon anymore. Hence, the use of coconut derivatives such as coconut-oil in desserts, soups and baked products has seen a steep rise in recent times.
Largely grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas, coconut is gaining popularity due its versatile nature. Coconut enthusiasts all over keep emphasizing its many good qualities. Coconut flour, coconut milk, coconut oil etcetera not only add that extra punching flavor to your dish, but also aid in controlling blood pressure and relieving stress.
The food we normally eat is not fiber-rich. Hence, most Americans fail to meet their daily fiber requirements, leading to many biological ailments. A coconut-rich diet may change all of that. Coconuts are high in "good" calories which energize your body. Thus, if you are following a strict diet regime, coconuts can provide energy without adding any bad fat.
So, how do you add coconut to your daily diet? Instead of modifying your eating habits completely, substitute your diet ingredients by coconut-derived products.
Coconut-oil is a worthy alternative to your usual olive oil. It is cheaper and healthier, but you have to start with small doses unless you want your digestive system to go berserk! Once your system gets attuned to this new addition in your diet, you will surely see the difference. Also, heating it to high temperatures doesn't cause the oil to break down into unhealthy trans-fat acids, which is an added advantage.
In addition, coconut intake can maintain your cholesterol level and strengthen bones. Though they are being seen as useful in weight reduction, the structure of fatty acids in coconut may lead to fat build up in the liver. So, using coconut solely for the purpose of weight reduction is not advisable. Use it judiciously and you will never turn back, as many people have already vouched.
