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Whilst coconuts are considered an exotic food in the West, they are a mainstay in the diet of nearly one-third of the world and are used extensively in countries such as Malaysia, Polynesia and southern Asia. Not only are coconuts highly nutritious but they also have many other uses, in fact every part of the coconut can be used from the flesh right down to the husks and leaves.  
 
RICH SOURCE OF NUTRIENTS
Coconut flesh contains vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6 and minerals including iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. They are also a rich source of manganese and fibre, so often lacking in the Western diet.  No wonder the tree has the reputation for being one that ‘gives all that is necessary for living'.

Despite the fact that coconuts are not always freely available in the UK, coconut oil is easily obtainable and can be used in cooking.  As with nearly every item of food there are those who will attack it as unhealthy, probably because it is a saturated fat, but if this were true one would expect to see health problems in populations that eat a lot of it and of course, we now know that saturated fats are essential in the diet and coconut oil is no more ‘unhealthy’ than any other saturated fat.  

SUBSTITUTE FOR DAIRY
Coconut milk and cream can be bought in cans which, while not as nutritious as the fresh produce, can still form a valuable addition to the diet.  It has an added advantage in that coconut milk is lactose-free so it can be used as a milk substitute by those with lactose intolerance.  A small amount of coconut milk makes a delicious addition to sauces and stews and as an alternative to dairy cream to have with desserts.


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ABUNDANT CROPS
The Coconut (cocos nucifera) belongs to the palm family.  Palm trees produce coconuts many times a year, and although it takes a year for the coconuts to mature, a fully blossomed tree can produce between 60-180 coconuts in a single harvest.

The term ‘coconut’ can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed or the fruit, which botanically is called a drupe, not a nut. The name is derived from the 16th-century Portuguese and Spanish word coco meaning ‘head’ or ‘skull’, after the three indentations on the base of the coconut shell that resemble facial features.  The coconut has three layers: the outside layer is known as the exocarp, and the fibrous husk or mesocarp is the inside layer. The thin, woody layer surrounding the actual coconut "meat" is the endocarp.

PROTECTION AGAINST DISEASE
Coconuts contain lauric acid which is a medium chain saturated fatty acid that is converted in the body into a highly beneficial compound called monolaurin.  Monolaurin, being antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial, can destroy a wide variety of organisms that cause disease. It is therefore thought that consumption of coconut milk and other coconut-derived foods may help protect the body from infections and viruses.

IDEAL FOR THE SKIN
Coconut oil is also beneficial for the skin.  It has the advantage of being absorbed rapidly into the skin without leaving it greasy and is useful for treating hard skin on the heels and elbows by keeping the skin moisturised.  Coconut oil can reduce inflammation, is an effective treatment for dandruff and helps to heal wounds.  It is also ideal for pregnant women to rub gently on to the abdomen to keep the skin soft and help prevent stretch marks.