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Crack Open a Coconut - page 2

Reasons You Should Love Tender Coconut

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(c) Joe Desy
1. There are times when your body fills up with heat-induced toxins. This causes the Ph levels in the deeper digestive system to fall, leading to severe hyperacidity. That is when coconut steps in to heal. Because it's anuloman in nature, capable of getting all the toxins downward and helping to purify the digestive system of it tender coconut balances acid levels and cools the system. This makes it superior to other herbs and fruits which can cool down hyperacidic toxins, but do not flush it out of the system.

2. Ayurveda considers coconut a natural stress-buster.

3. Coconut cools a sub-energy called sadhaka pitta, which is associated with emotions.

4. Combined with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, garlic cumin, coriander, and turmeric, coconut is not only delicious and versatile, but also heals the digestive system and promotes better metabolism.

5. The juice of tender coconut has been billed the world's safest natural soft drink, for being a nutritious thirst-quencher.

6. Combined with poppy seeds and ghee, coconut can help you sleep better!

7. Coconut has keshya properties. It improves hair quality. In Southern India, women apply coconut oil to their hair every day, which gives them long, lustrous locks.

8. Coconut is good for curing diarrhea related to aggravation of the blood tissues.

9. Due to its soma-enhancing or nurturing value, coconut heals hot flashes and restores emotional stability in menopausal women.

10. Coconut improves complexion. You can make coconut-based skin packs at home. Vaidya Mishra suggests mixing coconut oil with oatmeal powder and a little bit of lavender flower powder to make a soothing facial pack.

11. A burning sensation in hands and feet is cooled down by drinking coconut water/milk. All you have to do is, make a paste of crushed middle aged coconut and apply it on hands and feet.

12. Coconut is an excellent wound healer, especially effective on scars.

13. Hiccups due to heat imbalance are also eased by coconut water.

14. If you have urine retention from heat, then coconut water helps. Similarly, liver problems, hepatitis or inflammation are also soothed by drinking tender coconut water.

15. There is a word called karshan meaning that which supports the body to stay slim by enhancing fat metabolism. Vaidya Mishra says recent research suggests that coconut is good for burning fat and lowering cholesterol. It is clearly written in Ayurveda that the oil has karshan properties.

16. Coconut helps detoxify.

17. It is delicious!.

Coconut Cooking Basics

In her celebrated book Heaven's Banquet food writer Miriam Hospodar says: You can drink the liquid that comes out of a coconut, but don't use it in cooking. You can find good quality dried, grated coconut and coconut chips in natural food stores. Use the unsweetened type, which is free of chemical ingredients. Store coconut in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month, or in the freezer for up to a year. Use coconut milk the same day. Make it fresh each time. Summertime is ripe for cooking and cooling with coconut.

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