The coconut palm is a plant that couldn't be more versatile. From the trunk to the leaves and fruit, humans can use almost everything. Especially in recent years, the coconut has increasingly become a food focus in the Western world.
The coconut palm
The coconut palm grows up to 20 meters tall and bears fruit year-round. Each palm tree produces up to 150 coconuts per year (depending on the location of the palm tree). The palm needs warmth, light, and plenty of moisture, which is why it is more commonly found in warm climates. It is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia and spread naturally and by humans across the rest of the planet.
The first harvest can be expected from the 7th year onwards, and the palm tree can bear fruit for between 15 and 60 years.
The coconut is not a nut per se but a stone fruit, like a cherry or plum.
Almost everything from the palm tree itself can be used:
- Coconut meat (copra) - used raw or dried and used in countless savory and sweet dishes.
- Coconut fat and coconut oil - extracted from copra and long used in the food and cosmetics industries.
- Coconut water - a clear liquid found in young coconuts. Older coconuts contain little to no coconut water.
- Coconut milk - produced by blending the flesh with water and then pressing the mixture. The pomace is often used in animal feed.
- The shells can be made into charcoal and activated carbon.
- Coconut fibers are used for ropes, carpets, and floor mats, as well as for wall insulation, mattress filling, and vehicle construction. In this country, coconut fibers are used as potting soil for plants or as bedding in terrariums.
- Palm fronds - used locally for roofing, weaving baskets, and house walls.
- Wood - used in the growing areas to build houses.
- Palm sugar - extracted from the nectar of the flowers. This nectar is dried into sugar or processed into wine and vinegar.
Coconut and Health
The coconut contains valuable nutrients such as fiber, vitamins (especially B vitamins), and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and iron. Particularly noteworthy is the high content of medium-chain fatty acids (MCTs), which the body can convert into energy particularly efficiently.
Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is converted into monolaurin in the body. This substance has antimicrobial properties and can help fight viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Lauric acid is also the component that is said to protect humans and animals against tick and flea bites..
Thanks to MCTs, coconut oil is metabolized particularly quickly, resulting in a rapid energy boost. Studies show that MCTs boost metabolism and can therefore also support weight loss.
Although coconut oil contains saturated fat, research shows that the MCTs it contains can help raise HDL ("good") cholesterol levels and support the cardiovascular system.
The fiber and healthy fats in coconuts can improve digestion and keep the gut healthy.
Did you know
A coconut weighs between 1 and 2 kilograms. It is widely believed that around 150 people die each year from falling coconuts. However, there are no official statistics on this.
During World War II and in emergency situations, coconut water was actually used intravenously as a substitute for saline solution due to its sterile properties and high electrolyte content.