Coconut Milk: Facts, Nutrition and Health Benefits

February 28, 2023 Globalinfo247

Coconut milk is gel-like natural milk gotten from coconut meat, it has a creamy texture coupled with a natural sweetness. Coconut milk is not just sweet-tasting natural milk (so delicious coconut milk) but also may be a good source of nutrients and vitamins needed for the healthy growth of our body. However, coconut has a lot of health benefits for skin, hair, and more.

Coconut milk, also known as “nariyal ka doodh” in Hindi, is oftentimes considered a ‘miracle liquid’ for some reasons, you may want to research more on that.

Coconut milk can protect your body from infections due to the vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants contained in it.

Although coconut milk is not just milk made from coconut flavors, it is a liquid that is naturally found inside matured coconuts, stored within the coconut ‘meat’.

You should know that coconut water and coconut milk are two different things entirely. Coconut water is the liquid that leaks out when you crack open a coconut, while coconut milk is the product of the coconut meat when it is blended and strained, resulting in a more ticker liquid substance.

It is usually advised to use matured coconut for ‘milk’ extraction because more of the water inside a matured coconut is replaced with coconut meat.

Also, younger coconuts are the best producers of coconut water. This milk can work wonders for your skin, hair, and even overall health.

Recent studies at Ganga Ram Hospital have shown that coconut water and milk are both healthy but coconut water is high higher in sugar and certain electrolytes, while coconut milk is higher in healthy saturated fatty acids.

Coconut milk is highly recommended for patients who are lactose intolerant.

Coconut milk is also known for its role in improving optimal blood pressure and also the prevention of cardiac arrhythmia due to its potassium content.

It also contains minerals and vitamins capable of increasing good cholesterol levels and decreasing bad cholesterol levels.

Coconut milk improves blood pressure and helps prevent cardiac arrhythmia due to its potassium content.

Some of the vitamins that coconut milk possess includes; vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5, and B6 as well as other minerals; iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. All of which combined makes coconut milk a very healthy fruit and a good source of nutrients.

Following our research, a reference study by Dr. Rahul Nagar, Max Hospitals says, “Coconut milk contains a good amount of lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid”.

This acid is said to be converted to “Monolaurin” when it gets into our body, it also contains a compound with antiviral and antibacterial properties.

However, you should know that Lauric acid which is found in mother’s milk is known for its role in promoting good and healthy brain development, bone, and immunity.

Health Benefits of Coconut Milk

Coconut Milk: Facts, Nutrition and Health Benefits

Below are some health benefits that coconut milk provides to the skin either fresh or canned coconut milk.

(1) Restores Dry Hair

Fresh homemade coconut milk, when used for massage can have a good nourishing effect on the massaged area. This is particularly beneficial for restoring dry, damaged, and brittle hair, as well as split ends.

(2) Promotes Hair Growth

Coconut milk packed with nutrients and vitamins also contains compounds with excellent moisturizing properties, coconut milk can also be a natural alternative option as “Scalp tonic”, for dry, itchy, and irritated scalp.

Coconut milk contains nutrients that can boost your hair follicles and promote hair growth. Apply coconut milk on your hair and massage for 3 to 5 minutes. Shampoo as usual, after 20 minutes. Coconut milk is most at-times recommended because of its natural freshness and property.

(3) Good for Conditioning Hair

Using coconut in washing your hair with equal amounts of coconut milk and shampoo, adds volume to your hair, makes it less greasy, and promotes longer, thicker hair (with that shine you’ve always wanted). Coconut milk can be a great way to promote hair growth.

(4) Effective Makeup Remover

Using coconut milk in removing your makeup not only cleanses your face but nourishes your skin deeply at the same time as well. You can use it by adding 2 parts of olive oil to 1 part coconut milk on a cotton pad and rubbing gently.

(5) Prevents Acne

The fats in coconut milk do not clog pores, thereby preventing acne. For people with oily and acne-prone skin, coconut milk can be used as a cleanser due to its antibacterial properties.

(6) Can be Used as Facial Scrub

Coconut milk is a very versatile substance as it can also be used as a face scrub for gentle exfoliation. All you need to do is soak oats in coconut milk for 10 minutes.

(7) Prevents Premature Ageing

Coconut milk, due to its high level of Vitamin C, helps in maintaining the flexibility and elasticity of the skin. It is also rich in copper, which prevents age spots and wrinkles.

To use coconut milk in preventing premature aging; Soak 7 almonds overnight and peel their skins off in the morning, grind into a smooth paste and add 5-6 drops of coconut milk. Mix well and apply this paste on your face for 15 minutes, and wash it off with cold water.

(8) Treats Sunburns

Coconut milk possesses anti-inflammatory properties capable of reducing pain, swelling, and redness also it helps by cooling the over sunburnt skin aids in rapid healing.

(9) Moisturizes The Skin

Coconut milk is a great moisturizer due to its soothing properties.

How to Use the Coconut milk recipes

(1) Coconut milk on your skin directly for 20-30 minutes to combat dryness and promote healthy glowing skin.

(2) Add 1 cup of rose petals, ½ cup of rose water, and 1 cup of coconut milk to lukewarm water in a tub.

(3) Soaking in this bath for about 15 minutes will help restore moisture in dry skin.

Also, you can grind 1/2 cup of old-fashioned oatmeal and mix it with 1-2 cups of coconut milk and 1 tablespoon of honey.

(10) Helps in Treating Skin Ailments

Coconut milk contains a natural fatty acid that helps in treating irritated and dry skin also in removing harmful bacteria.

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