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Coconut - Cocos Nucifera

The coconut - a great gift of nature

Coconut is really a great gift of nature not only to mankind but also to all beings.

Coconut is hard & tough outwardly but very soft & nurturing inwardly and symbolizes a true concept of ideal personality.

Beyond the religious barrier coconut is considered as divine fruit & enjoys special status in social ceremonies.

Coconut has become a part of South Asian and Indian culture and is grown all over the world, in coastal regions and places near the sea. It needs hot climate & damp soil with salt in it.

There are many mythological stories around the origin of coconut. The presentation of coconut at auspicious occasions & religious & social functions, indicate advent of an eventful of happiness and prosperity.

Coconut fruit, though a bit heavy has a cooling effect on the body. It is diuretic, and gives instant vigour and vitality. Its raw fruit has creamy delicious soft pulp and is carminative (relieves flatulence), digestive, blood purifier & a tonic. It has been found excellent for the immune system.

Water of raw coconut is cooling, quenches thirst, is easily digested is anti bilious, anti phlegmatic tonic for the heart and is recommended even for infants.

Ripe coconut gives energy, removes ailments due to wind, bile and is a blood purifier.

The pulp of coconut is immune to any infection and is very safe to consume. Coconut oil is not only extensively used for black, soft and lustrous hair but also as a cooking medium. Various tasty food -stuffs, sweat meats, etc are prepared with coconut. Besides the coconut fruit, its bark, shell, leaves, stem all have different other uses.

The outer covering of coconut is used in making many decorative materials. Hard bristles on the shell are used for making brooms, brushes, door mats, ropes, and cushions for sofas, chairs & mattresses. The dye is also made from the bristles and the shells by burning them.

Its leaves are used for thatching the roofs. It is considered that by burning the roots, the atmosphere gets purified.

COCONUT OIL

Coconut oil's saturated fat is of the medium-chain fatty acid variety. These medium chain fatty acids are digested more easily and utilized differently by the body than other fats.

In short, whereas other fats are stored in the body's cells, the medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are sent directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into energy. So when you eat coconut oil, the body uses it immediately to make energy rather than store it as body fat.

Because this quick and easy absorption puts less strain on the pancreas, liver and digestive system, coconut oil "heats up" the metabolic system and is outstanding for those with thyroid problems.

Coconut oil will actually speed up metabolism, your body will burn more calories in a day which will contribute to weight loss, and you'll have more energy. Studies have shown the opposite for unsaturated fats which can cause hypothyroidism and lower your metabolic rate.

Coconut Oil - universally beneficial

Perhaps even more important, virgin coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, a proven antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal agent that is very beneficial in attacking viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, and that builds the body's immune system.

The lauric acid in coconut oil is used by the body to make the same disease-fighting fatty acid derivative monolaurin that babies make from the lauric acid they get from their mothers milk.

Finally, coconut oil contains no dangerous trans-fats, which are found in vegetable oils (including olive oil), margarine, shortening and other oils. Trans-fats can raise LDLs or "bad" cholesterol levels and lead to clogged arteries, heart disease, type-II diabetes and other ailments, and should be avoided.

Researchers stated that there was no evidence in Islanders who constantly used coconut oil to cook with of heart disease, diabetes, cancer or any of the common degenerative diseases known in Western cultures.

So, even large quantities or large consumption of coconut oil did not cause or contribute to heart disease.

THE BENEFITS OF USING COCONUT OIL ARE:

No cholesterol
Helps control diabetes
Helps prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal infections
Supports healthy metabolic function
Reduces risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease
Reduces risk of cancer and other degenerative conditions
Supports immune system function
Provides an immediate source of energy
Improves digestion and nutrient absorption
Supplies important nutrients necessary for good health
Supplies fewer calories than other fats
Promotes weight loss
Helps prevent osteoporosis
Has a mild delicate flavour
Is highly resistant to spoilage (long shelf life)
Is heat resistant (the healthiest oil for cooking)
Helps keep skin soft and smooth
Helps prevent premature aging and wrinkling of the skin
Helps protect against skin cancer and other blemishes
Functions as a protective antioxidant
Is currently used for Aids and Cancer patients with much success

MAKING COCONUT OIL

The fresh coconut flesh is shredded, and then pressed to make coconut milk. The milk is then fermented for 24-36 hours, and the oil is then separated and filtered from the curds.

COSMETIC USES

It is ideal for deep tanning, in fact when I went on holidays with my sisters and niece, my younger sister and I used coconut oil and didn't burn but just went brown and my older sister and niece didn't use anything and got sizzled. Coconut oil is great for a sensuous massage, dry skin, a bath moisturizer, an alluring fragrance, or nourishing the hair to give it a healthy shine and fewer tangles.

South Pacific Island women enjoy its ability to enhance the skin during pregnancy and reduce the number of stretch marks afterwards.

In Indonesia woman have a secret formula that contains coconut oil and ginger amongst other herbs to get their figure back in shape straight after giving birth.

FRAGRANCES

The oil is sometimes soaked with flower petals from the gardenia, frangipani and other scented flowers. It may even be soaked with vanilla.

CURATIVE PROPERTIES OF COCONUT:

AS A GENERAL TONIC:

Consuming coconut water of the raw coconut everyday eliminates fatigue and gives you vigour and strength to your body. Taking dried coconut pieces with milk is a very good aphrodisiac for it helps in regaining lost energy. Eating coconut in raw form also gives vigour and strength.

INSOMNIA:

Taking the water of tender coconut before going to bed Induces sleep.

STOMACH WORMS:

Eating the pulps of tender coconut and drinking the water along with one tsp of olive oil for 3 days destroys & eliminates stomach worms.

STOMACH ACHE:

Stomach ache due to acidity can be helped by taking Green coconut water after food.

LIVER PROBLEMS:

Regular intake of tender coconut water alleviates liver Problems.

URINARY PROBLEMS:

Taking regularly, tender coconut water helps Urinary problems such as strangury, polyuria etc.

ALCOHOL HANGOVER:

Consuming tender coconut water eliminates hangover due to liquor.

ITCHING & ABRASIONS OF SKINS:

Massage with coconut oil mixed with lemon juice eliminates itching. Applying coconut oil with a little camphor also gives quick relief in Itching. Tomato juice mixed with coconut oil relieves itching. Cold water abrasions of the skin can be helped by coconut oil on the face, legs & feet.

STONES:

Drinking tender coconut water regularly helps in breaking gall and kidney stones and pushing them out.

EYE PROBLEMS:

Taking coconut kernel and palm sugar or jaggery daily for a week eliminates common eye problems.

RODENT POISON:

Applying old coconut oil with radish juice on the affected part eliminates poison.

FIRE BURNS:

Rubbing coconut oil with basil juice on the burns gives relief. Burn marks will also disappear by applying coconut oil regularly.

DANDRUFF & HAIR PROBLEMS:

Massaging the scalp regularly with coconut oil mixed with a little camphor removes dandruff. Applying coconut oil on hair helps in checking greying and falling of hair & imparts lustre.

PREGNANCY & POSTNATAL CURE:

Eating coconut kernel with palm sugar during pregnancy helps in child's growth & easy Delivery Taking coconut oil with palm sugar or jaggery after delivery for 2-3 days gives quick relief of pain.

VOMITING:

Taking 2 GMS of burnt ashes of coconut shell bristles with water stops nausea & vomiting. Drinking tender coconut water 3 to 4 times also controls vomiting. During typhoid, malaria and other fevers, taking tender coconut water is beneficial.

A WORD OF CAUTION

Persons suffering from cough and asthma should not take coconut pieces as it may affect the breathing passages. Excessive intake of dried coconut pieces causes constipation & flatulence, EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.

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This document (www.middlepath.com.au/plant/coconut.php) was last updated on Monday June 16th 2008 || email

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