Coconut is a tropical fruit that has so many amazing health benefits. Whenever we go to grocery stores we see a bunch of coconut-based by-products like coconut milk, water and oil. All these three food items can contribute to our health and well-being.

Let’s start off with the coconut water. This is the clear liquid found inside the coconut. Once you open the coconut shell, you can sip this water right away. Coconut water is considered a natural sports drink because it provides an isotonic electrolyte balance. It can replace lost electrolytes like potassium, phosphorous and sodium when we work out and sweat. This makes it also a very good substitute for dextrose. A lot of people also drink this coconut water to dissolve or eliminate urinary stores in renal disorders.

The coconut milk can be produced by adding grated coconut with water and extracting the creamy white liquid from it. This should not be confused from coconut water as the liquid that is expelled contains saturated fat. This fat can help strengthen the immune system. It also serves as great energy source and can even help prevent heart disease. Coconut milk is usually infused in making tropical desserts, curries and cuisines. They can also make for great smoothies.

Last but not the least is coconut oil. This can be extracted from fresh coconut meat. However, it is much easier to process them from dried coconut meat called copra. Coconut oil is often used in making medicines and cosmetics. Adding them into your diet, however, can result to weight gain because of its higher saturated fat content. But, coconut oil has been found to help in healing cuts and scratches. They are also good for the scalp and in hair treatments.