Crazy as a coconut

I am going to share a few basic facts about coconuts and why they are so amazing. In this blog, I will talk about the various coconuts products - and how they can be useful from cooking to camping.

Before I begin, please be mindful that if you are new to coconut products, do not start 'over' consuming coconut oil in your diet. Coconut oil is not digested in the same way as other fats. It does not need bile to digest, as it is directly absorbed. If you are not used to coconut oil, this direct absorption may cause a tummy ache or two if you are all of a sudden filling your digestive system with the stuff for the first time. I suggest that you start off with only a couple of tablespoons of coconut each day and see how your go. Slowly increase this over time.

Me up a coconut tree

Here are basic coconut products and common uses are written in blue:

• Coconut Oil: White when solid, creamy coloured when liquid. It melts between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius. It can be a great temperature gauge!  Coconut oil can be found in most supermarkets and speciality stores. Look for virgin coconut oil, which means that the extraction of oil did not involve high heat or harmful chemicals. Aim to pay less than 2c/ml of virgin coconut cold pressed oil made from the flesh and not copra. Copra oil will be described as 'refined' or 'just plain'. Avoid this oil. Coconut oil made from copra usually involves the use of harsh chemicals to bleach and clean the oil. At the moment, I purchase 5L of virgin coconut oil for $62 - this is on the Sunshine Coast. USES: Unlike olive oil, coconut oil can withstand higher heats so it is great to cook with. Common everyday uses for coconut oil include, add to baked goods, stir frys, stews, desserts, add to your tea and coffee and drinks such as smoothies and juices. Mary Enig (author of Eat Fat Lose Fat) recommends making an oil blend by heating 1 cup of coconut oil with 1 cup of sesame oil and 1 cup of olive oil. This will give you a great oil to use in everyday cooking without an overwhelming coconut flavour. You can even use this for salads.

• Coconut Milk: When coconut flesh is pulverised in water and squeezed, a rich creamy liquid drips out of the meat - this is coconut milk. Slightly sweeter and creamier than cows milk it is best to use whole coconut milk and not 'lite' versions. USES: Can be used to make smoothies (combine with full cream milk if the flavour is too overpowering), very common in curries and stews, can be frozen with fruit to make ice cream, use in your coffee or pancakes, use when making oats etc. Simply use coconut milk instead of 'cows' milk in any recipe or dish.

• Coconut Cream: Coconut milk, when left standing will separate into coconut cream (top) and a watery liquid (on the bottom). For this reason, coconut cream contains less water and is a thicker creamier liquid. USES: Whip chilled coconut cream to ice cakes, have on pancakes or with fresh fruit. For a thicker creamier taste - add to curries and stews etc.

• Coconut Water: Coconut water is the clear sweet liquid inside young coconuts, usually around 7 months old. USES: great beverage to add to smoothies or juices or just on ice with fresh lime, lemon or orange. A great hydrating drink to use after exercising. Freeze into ice cubes to add to any drink this summer!

• Desiccated Coconut: Desiccated Coconut is the coconut meat shredded or flaked very coarsely and then dried to remove as much moisture as possible. Dessicated coconut can be very fine or coarse depending on the process used. Be careful as some dessicated coconut can be 'sweetened' - so read all packaging carefully before buying so that you get the product that you're after.
• Shredded Coconut: A thicker version of dessicated coconut - shredded coconut is long thin shreds and flaked coconut is wider and thicker again. USES (shredded and dessicated): add to muesli, sprinkle on fruit, add to smoothies for texture, sprinkle on cakes and baked goods, dress savoury foods too!

• Coconut Butter: This is made from whole coconut flesh with all the fats and solids included. The oil and flesh meld together to made a creamy texture that spreads well. USES: spread on toast, pancakes, waffles etc, mix with peanut butter or honey to create your own 'spread', spread on a cob of corn and add to muesli bars etc

• Coconut Flour: Put simply, this is dried, ground up coconut meat. The difference between this and dessicated coconut is that the fat has been removed from coconut flour as part of processing. USES: Coconut flour DOES NOT perform the same as grain based flours.It absorbs moisture quickly and is NOT equivalent to grain based flours so do not simply 'substitute it'. My suggestion is to follow a recipe that is designed with coconut flour to begin with.

• Creamed Coconut: This is pure coconut flesh pulverised and moulded into blocks and is hard unlike coconut cream which comes in a can as a liquid. You can use creamed coconut in very much the same way you use coconut cream - just melt it down first.

Using Coconuts outside the kitchen

When you use coconut oil on your skin for the first time, you may notice a small outbreak of small pimples, but this is actually a cleansing effect, and it soon clears up. For skin care, be sure to use virgin coconut oil as it has not been treated with harsh chemicals (Eat Fat Lose Fat, Dr Mary Enig & Sally Fallon, 2006., p.283)

Keep a separate container or bottle of coconut oil that you plan to use for 'beauty' reasons so that your fingers are not dipping in and out of the jar and then being used for cooking.

Bath Oil: Simply add to your bath with a few drops of essential oil - melt some coconut oil, add essential oils and put into a jar to have in your bathroom. You could add some fresh lavender for some texture and it looks pretty. This makes a great homemade gift.

After bath moisturiser: After a bath, rub some coconut oil into your skin - it'll feel so soft!

Make Up Remover: Coconut Oil is also great for removing make up!

Body Scrub: Mix coconut oil with brown sugar for a sweet body scrub.

Lip Balm: Keeping some in a small container for lip balm will keep your lips hydrated. Just be mindful that heat will liquify this lip balm so be careful when you open up your jar that it hasn't melted.

Facial Moisturiser: Simply use a small amount and massage into your face - be mindful of doing this and staying out of the sun!

Foot Treatment: Mix some coconut oil with some peppermint oil and rub all over your feet including dry spots. Put on a pair of socks and keep on overnight. Add salt to make it a foot scrub and moisturizer before you shower.

Hair Treatment: Rub coconut oil into your hair, leave on for 15+ minutes and rinse. You can also mix it with your own shampoo or conditioner

Fungal Infections: Mix 1 cup of coconut oil with 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil - great for fungal infections and rashes

Warts: Warts will often disappear after applying coconut oil to them several times a day.

Insect Repellent: If you'd like to stay away from insecticides such as DEET (commonly found in insect repellents) make your own. Simply mix 1 cup of coconut oil with 1 teaspoon of catnip oil and 1 teaspoon of other oil such as citronella, lemongrass, peppermint or tans. (Dr Mary Enig & Sally Fuller)

Deodorant: Simply use under the arm for a natural deodorant that won't stain your clothes!

If you would like to read about the medicinal (both traditional and modern) benefits of coconuts visit the Coconut Research Center website.

At my one of my favourite places... Chili Beach, Cape York
Coconut heaven!