5 Nutritional benefits of coconuts

Native to warm climates across the globe, coconuts are packed with tasty nutritional benefits. Used for its meat, water, milk and more, here are five reasons why you should include this fruit on your list of nutritional foods, according to Healthline and WebMD.

Contains powerful antioxidants

Coconut meat contains phenolic compounds which help protect cells from oxidative damage. Main phenolic compounds include gallic acid, caffeic acid, salicylic acid, and p-coumaric acid. This can also assist in the prevention of chronic disease.

Assists with weight loss

Eating coconut meat regularly can potentially help with your weight loss journey. The medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) commonly found in the coconut meat are associated with fat burning.

Gives you better oral health

The MCFAs in the meat also contain antimicrobial properties, preventing infections related to root canals and other teeth issues. Eating coconut meat is not a substitute for proper dental hygiene. However, it can assist in killing unwanted bacteria found in your mouth, and protect your gums and teeth from cavities or infection.

May promote blood sugar control

Because coconuts are low in carbs and high in fibre and fat, they may be good for your blood sugar control. The high fibre in the meat can help to slow digestion and may potentially improve insulin resistance, while also helping to regulate blood sugar levels.

Improves endurance

Once again, we have MCFAs found in the coconut meat to thank for the nutritional benefits. This type of saturated fat is easier for the human body to digest than animal fats. Thus, they have been demonstrated to boost endurance.

 

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Article was originally written and published by Jade Rhode for Bona. 

Feature image: Pexels