Article content
From time to time we go crazy over new and newer foods.
Among those that captivated us last year was coconut milk. What is it, how can we use it, and is it good for our health?
We’ll take a look and assess it.
There is a myth circulating that cow’s milk is fundamentally bad. Almost a demon. That’s why people sometimes blindly seek alternatives they don’t need. But fair enough. We would only point out at the outset that anyone who doesn’t have problems with lactose and with digesting cow’s milk in general doesn’t need to limit themselves. For everyone else, there are plant-based milks.
Coconut, yes!
You don’t often see a whole coconut in Czech homes, but its shredded flesh or, in better cases, flakes are common. And that’s good. It is a source of healthy fats that are needed for the proper functioning of the human body. More and more coconut products are appearing, such as coconut milk, coconut water, or coconut flour. Today we will focus on the milk.
It works wonders in the kitchen
Coconut milk is an absolutely divine ingredient in baked and cooked treats, there’s no doubt about that. You probably haven’t yet tried creamier sauces (for example with curry). But you probably won’t consume it on its own much, nor should you – unlike regular milk it’s quite high in calories.
Benefits of coconut milk? There are many
Coconut milk is quite a nice food. It helps with all these problems:
- anemia: one cup a day provides a quarter of the daily iron your body lacks in anemia
- nervous and muscle tension: if you suffer from muscle pain and often have cramps caused by overactive nerve cells, you can get the needed magnesium from coconut milk
- weight loss: you can enjoy coconut milk even on a diet; although it’s caloric, it contains a lot of fiber and will fill you up well
- high blood pressure: coconut milk lowers high blood pressure because it contains potassium
- blood sugar level: coconut milk also contains manganese, which the body lacks when blood sugar is high
- bones: if you have a problem with loss of bone tissue, coconut milk will help you with its phosphorus content
- blood vessels and skin: the copper contained in coconut milk is important for maintaining the elasticity of blood vessels and skin
In addition to all this, you can regard coconut milk as another source of vitamin C, which you generally need, for example for immunity.
Coconut milk, like other plant-based milks, is great for anyone who has problems with the animal (cow’s) one.
Store-bought or homemade?
If you’re somewhat skeptical of store-bought products, into which all sorts of things can get during production, make homemade coconut milk. It’s simple, doesn’t take much time, and of course it’s cheaper.
You only need fresh or dried coconut grated into flakes or otherwise crushed, and water. Remember that the larger the pieces of dried coconut you buy, the higher the quality and the better the taste will be.
Blend the coconut and water in a smoothie maker or with a hand blender until smooth.
Then carefully strain the mixture through a cheesecloth. The milk can then be drunk immediately, or you can keep it for a few days in the refrigerator in a closed container. Don’t be surprised by the separation of fat from water; it’s normal.
Warning, allergen!
You don’t have experience with plant milks yet? Then be careful when consuming them. They can be strong allergens.
Do you like plant milks, or are you an advocate of cow’s milk? Let us know in the discussion under the article!
