The Coconut Magic

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Coconut is one plant food that makes magic happen. Sometimes I imagine how just one nut could do incredible things.
I have always been a food person naturally and I have always preferred natural cure to illnesses and diseases than the use of drugs. Maybe that is why I tell my friends more often that in a short time, most drugs will be in extinction... may be my fantasy anyways.

Now when it comes to coconut as a whole, there had been this attention lately and it's quite amazing. It's very surprising to see that every part of coconut is so important and useful. ranging from the milk, oil, and water. I remember this hilarious statement by our Nigerian parents that if a child drinks coconut oil, it makes the brain dull...hmm! Well right now I feel bad for those children who didn't insist; as for me I took it by force, yes I did although not that I knew the value but because I wanted to stubbornly know if truly my brain would be dull and unfortunately it wasn't. Coconut is delicious when eaten wholly, the oil can also be used in cooking, drinking the water is not bad idea as it taste nice and the milk is awesome.

Lets burst some brains

Coconut oil

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Research now have it that coconut contains some healthy fats called medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). These unique fats include:

• Caprylic acid
• Lauric acid
• Capric
  Now this MCFAs are kinds of healthy fatty acids that provide a perfect source of energy that are readily available to be digested and converted to energy easily and faster by the body . Unlike other fats that we consume which are difficult for the body to process thereby turning it into harmful fats that can cause heart problems, obesity and diabetes on the long run. It means that when you cook, use more of coconut oil.
  
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Health care

Medical research has also enlightened us in the use of coconut oil to care for the teeth, the MCFAs which are antibacterial in nature, helps the teeth to get rid of the accumulated bacterial which degenerates the teeth. So by pouring a cap full into the mouth to cleanthe teeth denatures the bacterial which gums to the oil that is poured out. Frequently doing this helps the teeth gain strength and also prevent other dental problems. Other health problems that coconut oil combats are osteoporosis, type II diabetes, weight loss, heart problems, Alzheimer's disease and so many others.

Skin and hair care

This is my favorite part because I know this is where it will interest us the more. Coconut oil serves as face cleanser, moisturizer, makeup remover and sun screen, If you are the kind of person that have dry skin issue, trust me when I tell you that coconut oil is the thing you have been looking for. It prevents dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays the appearance of wrinkles and sagging of skin, which normally accompany aging. It's antioxidant properties also helps in treating various skin problems, including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections.

These days the best way to make your hair shiny and healthy look is the magic coconut oil, using as a hair mask is epic and helps prevent dandruff . The trick is when washing the hair, apply the oil on it after you must have washed off the shampoo, then allow to sit for about five minutes, wash off and waalaah! you have a healthy shiny looking hair.

Coconut milk and water.

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Well in contrary to what some Nigerian parents thought about coconut water, as a matter of fact coconut water has been found to contain nutrients like vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium and many others that helps in child development and growth both physically and psychologically.

Coconut milk is different from coconut water and has received a great deal of attention for its perceived health benefits, and is an important treatment for acute diarrhea. Unlike cow's milk, coconut milk is lactose free; so therefore can be used as a milk substitute by those with lactose intolerance. It is better and healthier to get your coconut milk done by yourself than relying on the canned ones, homemade is said to contain three times as much vitamin C as canned coconut milk and is richer in thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, folate and panthothenic acid.

...DIY Coconut milk

• Get a fresh and matured coconut.
• Remove the back, wash thoroughly and grate into tiny pieces.
• Heat a small quantity of water depending on the size and amount of coconut you have and do not allow the water to boil.
• Pour the grated coconut into the water and blend.
• pour the mixture into a colander to filter out the pulp, then squeeze through a cheese cloth to get rid of the tiny particle of coconut pulp.
• refrigerate to store.
  You can enjoy your chilled coconut milk alone or by combining it with snacks. Kids will thank you so much if you add it to their diets or by using it as one of your smoothie ingredient. Natural sweeteners can be used if you still need to add more taste to your coconut milk. You can also add to your coffee and tea as well.
  
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With this little, I hope we all now know what coconut can do to ones life. I would also like you all to drop your little contributions at the comments and tell us how you have used your coconut and what magic it has done so far.