I remember the first time I tasted a fresh coconut. Year: 2003. Location: La Ceiba, Honduras. It was large, green and heavy. The Garifuna vender wasted no time opening the fruit. One swipe with a medium-sized machete and the top was cleanly cut off, exposing my favorite part — the water. As it was over 110 degrees out that day, the coconut water was just the refresher i needed to finish my trek back to the hostel I was staying at.

Cool and satisfying, coconut water is the perfect replenisher on a hot summer day or after a hard workout. It’s literally the liquid from the heavens. In fact Hawaiians call coconut water noelani (no-way lah-nee), which means “dew from the heavens.”

Coconut water has been proven to contain a perfect balance of various important enzymes and electrolytes, including sodium and potassium. This is directly linked to the fact that coconut trees grow near the sea, and their roots have access to mineral-rich sea water, which then is distilled through the trees’ root system and present in the coconut water. If you’re feeling sluggish and dehydrated, have a glass of fresh coconut water and experience divine equilibrium and harmony within your system.

Coconut water has also been proven to fight various cancers because it contains cytokinins, which help regulate cell growth.

Coconut is the fruit that keeps giving. After you’re done with the water, go for the meat or jelly. If you’re not able to find fresh, young, green coconuts, substitute with green Thai coconuts. Usually, the jelly is firmer. Coconut meat is abundant in healthy saturated fat, which helps optimum brain function, and medium-chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid. Marvelously, the only other abundant source of lauric acid is found in human breast milk.

So, if you didn’t know, now you do. Coconut is a superior food and natures work at her best. So, don’t be afraid to experiment. I guarantee if you go koo-koo for coconuts, you’ll never regret it.

Check out the three quick and easy coconut recipes below.

DID YOU KNOW

  • It takes about six months to germinate a coconut tree.
  • Coconut trees do not begin to bear fruit until they are 6-10 years old.
  • Coconut water is almost chemically identical to blood plasma and was used in WWII for blood transfusions.

COOLING CARROT COCONUT SMOOTHIE

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups Fresh Carrot Juice
  • 3-4 Dates or 2-3 TBS Agave
  • 1 Cup Coconut Meat or Jelly
  • 1/2 tsp Fresh Ginger
  • 2 TBS Raw Almond Butter
  • (If using coconut water, use less dates or agave.)
  • Optional: 1 tsp Cinnamon, 1/8 tsp Nutmeg.
  • 2 Cups Frozen Cut Bananas

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in the blender.
  2. Blend on high until smooth and incorporated.

VELVET FIG COCONUT PUDDING

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups Fresh Coconut Meat or Jelly
  • 2 Cups Fresh Black Figs
  • 3-4 TBS Agave or 3 Medjool Dates
  • 1/3 Cup H2O
  • 1 tsp Mango Powder
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp sea salt
  • 1 TBS Raw Almond Butter

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in blender and mix until fully incorporated and smooth.
  2. Add fresh strawberries, banana and sprouted sunflower seeds for an extra crunch.
  3. NOTE: If you replace the regular water with coconut water, you will need to use less dates or agave. ALSO: If you choose to use dates instead of agave, you may need to use 1/2 Cup liquid instead of 1/3 Cup.

SOURSOP COCONUT CUSTARD DELIGHT

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups Fresh Coconut Meat or Jelly
  • 1.5 Cups Frozen Soursop Pulp (Guanabana)
  • 3 TBS Agave or 2-3 Dates
  • 1/2 tsp Mango Powder (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp Fresh Vanilla Bean

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender.
  2. Blend on high until all ingredients are incorporated.
  3. Top with your favorite fruit.
  4. Nectarines are yummy in this recipe.
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2 Comments

  1. What an interesting article! I know a lot of people love coconut water and I sort of grouped this into the new trend category. I had no idea that it was used as a substitution for blood plasma in World War II. Fascinating! Thanks for sharing!

  2. You are most welcome Tamara. Also, coconut meat, as gross as it may sound, is pre-digested protein. Raw coconut meat or what we like to call jelly in Belize and the Caribbean is high in amino acids and the body doesn’t have to process and work to break it down either. It’s the BEST. : ) BUT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. TRY THE RECIPES. : )

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