I recently accompanied my brother on a business trip to Indonesia, and I was pleased to see so many beautiful things, people, and places there. I visited a small island and a sacred monkey forest. I ate some delicious and some scary foods, and I learned more about their native culture. One thing I didn’t know is that Indonesia produces more coconuts than any other country, and coconuts have so many beneficial traits I had never heard of.
They are also an important part of Indonesia's economy. Not only does Indonesia export raw coconuts, but they also use coconuts to produce a variety of other products such as clothing, animal feed, beauty creams, and strong fibers. Indonesia has the perfect climate for coconut production, and they have been fighting to meet demand ever since the multiple benefits of coconuts have been discovered. Here are a few of the most popular benefits of coconuts that I learned while on one of the tours I attended.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is probably the most well-known use of coconuts. It's very high in healthy saturated fats which are good for burning fat and will provide your body with quick energy. The good HDL cholesterol is linked to a reduction in heart disease. In fact, the medium chain triglycerides have shown an increase of 5% more calories burned from coconut oil. The fatty acids found in coconut oil can actually kill harmful pathogens which can help prevent infections. It's also been proven to reduce your appetite, help with weight loss, and may also aid in the treatment of seizures. Besides using coconut oil in your diet, it is also very beneficial as a skin moisturizer and as protection for your hair against damage.
Coconut Water
The best coconut water is fresh instead of bottled. Drinking fresh coconut water is an excellent way to quench your thirst and rehydrate your body. It can also be used to aid acid reflux, gastroenteritis, and indigestion. Since it's relatively high in vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium, it's found to be very helpful in lowering blood pressure. It's recommended to drink a cup of fresh coconut water twice a day. It's also helpful in reducing heart disease by lowering the bad cholesterol, known as LDL. If you've ever experienced a hangover from too much alcohol, coconut water replenishes your body with hydration that alcohol removes. Coconut water also helps balance the sodium content in your body because of its rich amount of potassium. For those of you who experience headaches, coconut water has been found to supply electrolytes, thus boosting hydration. One known cause to trigger headaches is from dehydration.
Coconut Aminos
One of my favorite discoveries is something I have shared with all of my friends who love cooking and eating healthy foods – coconut aminos. I didn’t even know what they were so I had to ask the tour guides What are coconut aminos? So, instead of assuming you know what I am talking about, I’ll just explain it. It is a sauce used often as a substitute for soy sauce. It is made out of organic coconut tree sap and organic coconut sea salt. For those who are on special diets, it is gluten-free, soy-free, MSG-free, non-GMO, vegan, and kosher. It can help protect your heart with the antioxidants found in coconut products. Research has also shown that by having coconut aminos in your diet, you will reduce your risk of diabetes. By replacing soy products with coconut aminos, you will lower your risk of obesity. Another reason coconut aminos help with weight loss is the protein adiponectin. By adding coconut products to your diet, it increases your adiponectin levels which will help lower your body fat levels. Also adding coconut aminos to your diet will help protect your immune system. The antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress. With coconut aminos being a good source of saturated fats, it has shown to help in the reduction of colon cancer. Coconut tree sap is high in the protein inositol, which has shown to be helpful in battling depression, panic disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
These are the kinds of things that are so cool about traveling across the world. Oftentimes, those who live in Western Culture don’t know about things like sacred monkey forests, or native Indonesian culture, or even simpler things – like the many health benefits of a plant they have seen and used hundreds of times and the impact that plant has on the lives of people in another country.
About The Author
stash member Vincent Stokes
Vincent Stokes is an outdoor enthusiast and an experienced world traveler. He also writes writes for the National Parks and works to promote pride in homegrown travel destinations. (@TravelingGlobal)