Coconut Love!

Here at Wildfitness we don’t usually like to promote the benefits of just one food. People tend to go all super-food-crazy and start to think that if they don’t have their daily goji berries or wheatgrass they will shrivel in to miserable examples of un-healthiness which is untrue. If you don’t eat goji berries you will survive!

However in the lead up to the next Kenya season there is one fresh, local delight that we just can’t wait to tuck in to – COCONUTS! So we thought we’d just tell you why we think coconuts are so great and hopefully we’ll be sipping madafu with you (Swahili for young coconuts) later this year in Kenya.

The common sense

Science tells us that coconut has a range of health giving qualities. This makes sense because it is natural, tastes good and it’s a common ingredient in countries where people are good examples of health.
Coconut water has been used as an IV drip effectively at times where IV fluid has not been available. It feels like coconuts have a symbiotic relationship with us.
Plus, coconut just smells of summer and sunshine and if we could we’d take a bath in the stuff.

The evolutionary logic

Coconuts probably formed a part of the human diet for millennia and have evolved with us. Any food that occurs naturally and can be hunted or gathered, is going to vibe well with our physiology.

The science

Studies have shown that coconut oil has an overwhelming number of health promoting qualities. It’s been shown to help digestion, reduce inflammation, improve your cholesterol ratio, protect arteries, support thyroid function and promote healthy skin and hair. Coconut relieves symptoms of diabetes, gallbladder disease, Crohn’s disease, stomach ulcers, tooth decay, and chronic fatigue syndrome and helps protect against a whole host of diseases including kidney disease and bladder infections.
Studies have also linked coconut oil intake to weight loss.

Is this relevant to us?

We should remember that the benefits of coconut, or any other food for that matter, will never be more significant than moving, eating and living naturally in general. Disease prevention and getting lean come from lifestyle, of which special healing foods like coconut are just a part and arguably not even a vital part. Eating local, seasonal produce predominantly means you are a functional part of the cycle of life, but when you do have coconut, its good to know that your body is loving it!

What to do

-Coconut water (the liquid in young coconuts) has natural electrolytes which makes it a great post-exercise drink (or post-hangover).
-Coconut milk is delicious in smoothies, soups and Thai curries.
-Coconut oil is a yummy cooking ingredient and tastes mmmmm in salads, stir-fries, yoghurt and raw chocolate goodies to name just a few options.
-Coconut oil can be rubbed into hair and skin to make it luscious, smooth and shiny.
-Think about if your coconut has had to travel all the way round the earth to get to you and respect that…!

Yes we are going coco-nuts (sorry, that was too irresistible). Any other coconut fans out there let us know about your coconut love!