Did You Know…Consuming Coconut May Aid In Weight Management?
Bring on the Pina Coladas!
Well, not exactly…But…
Adding coconut to your diet is a great strategy to help support long term weight control. Coconut meat is actually loaded with fiber- what does fiber do? Fiber helps you to feel fuller and can help curb cravings. Coconuts are also a super source of MCTs- Medium-Chain Triglycerides. Studies show, MCTs might be helpful in long term weight control. One study even shows that eating between 15-30 grams of MCTs per day could bump the metabolism up by 5%.
In addition to packing a good amount of healthy fatty acids and fiber into each serving, coconut is also in manganese, copper and selenium.
One cup of shredded coconut meat contains the following nutrients (8):
283 calories
Carbohydrates: 12 grams
Protein: 2.7 grams
Fat: 27 grams
Fiber: 7 grams
Manganese: 60% of the DV
Copper: 17% of the DV
Selenium: 12% of the DV
Iron: 11% of the DV
Phosphorus: 9% of the DV
Potassium: 8% of the DV
Zinc: 6% of the DV
Folate: 5% of the DV
Thiamine: 4% of the DV
Vitamin C: 4% of the DV
Coconut is also a good source of vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, calcium, and riboflavin.
Coconut also contains some pretty powerful antimicrobial properties. For instance, lauric acid is a saturated fat that has been known to have strong antimicrobial effects- strong enough to possibly kill off certain strains of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, a nasty pathogen that can cause serious skin infections. Not to mention if you are a female living in this day and age of Pinterest, you’ve certainly heard of all of the benefits to your hair, skin, and nails.
So How Exactly Do You Choose And Store A Coconut?
When shopping for coconuts, you want to choose one that feels rather heavy for its size. Some people feel that shaking and listening for the liquid to slosh around can also be an indicator of a good pick. Prior to cracking open a coconut, it should be stored at room temperature. Once it’s been cracked, be sure to keep it refrigerated to extend the shelf life.
But how exactly do you crack one open? No, you don’t need a machete. While that would be helpful, I’m sure most of you don’t have one just laying around your kitchen. With a young coconut, you want to use a sharp cleaver knife and take 3 big swings at the top where the tip is. From there, slice 3 lines to form a triangle surrounding the top tip.
In mature/ripe coconuts, there are usually three “eyes” at the top. Use this spot to crack the coconut with a hammer. Keep in mind, it is helpful to use the claw of the hammer rather than the mallet.
But what if you don’t want to go to all of that trouble?
Coconut is available in many different forms to purchase and consume.
Coconut meat, coconut water, coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut flour, and shredded coconut flakes are all good examples.
Are you looking for ways to get more super foods into your diet?
Contact me at amber@firstcapitalgym.com
