Coconut milk is not the liquid that is drained from a coconut when you cut it open like many people assume. In order to make coconut milk you will take the coconut and process the flesh, steeping it in hot water and squeezing the milk out through a cheesecloth. As this liquid sits, the cream will rise to the top, which can be used for creamy applications like curries. Fresh coconut with thick, creamy flesh will create a higher quality milk than older coconuts that have dry flesh. Compared to cow’s milk, coconut milk is simple to make, easy to digest and contains an abundance of nutrients.

Coconut Milk Benefits

1. Medical Benefits

• Calm Nerve Cells. Coconut milk is high in magnesium that helps to keep your blood pressure at a normal level. The combination of calcium and magnesium in coconut milk also keeps muscle and nerves from becoming overstimulated.
• Strengthen Bones. Coconut milk does not contain as much calcium as dairy milk but it does contain high amounts of phosphorus that can help to strengthen bones.
• Fight Virus and Infection. The lauric acid in coconut milk will be converted to monolauin in your body. This compound contains antiviral and antibacterial properties.
• Regulate Blood Sugar. The manganese in coconut milk helps you metabolize glucose in the body to help the metabolism working at the optimum level. Manganese can also help to prevent osteoporosis, PMS, inflammation and vitamin absorption.
• Lower Cholesterol. Even though coconut milk is high in saturated fat, but this type of fat raises the HDL or good cholesterol while dairy based products raise the LDL or bad cholesterol. The fat in coconut milk is easy for your body to metabolize which will lower your cholesterol levels overall.
• Relieves Arthritis. The selenium in coconut milk acts as an antioxidant that will help to reduce free radicals that can cause joint inflammation.

2. Beauty Benefits

• Moisturize Skin. You can consume coconut milk or apply it directly to the skin to create a smoother texture because the fat in this product will help your skin lock in moisture. After cleansing your skin, place a layer of coconut milk on your skin for 15 minutes then rinse it away for best results.
• Remove Makeup. Combine two parts olive oil with one part coconut oil and apply to the skin to gently remove makeup while moisturizing the skin. This is a much healthier alternative to most commercial makeup removers that are alcohol-based.
• Prevent Wrinkles. Consuming coconut milk gives you high doses of vitamin C and copper that will help to improve the elasticity of your skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
• Cure Sunburns. Placing a layer of coconut milk on sunburned skin will help to moisturize this area and soothe the pain.
• Condition Hair. Massage coconut oil into the scalp and gently down the hair strands then wrap your hair in a towel and leave the milk in place for a couple hours. This will allow the coconut milk to deeply penetrate your hair and moisturize it to give your hair a deep conditioning treatment.

3. Other Benefits

• Substitute for Coffee Cream. Coconut milk contains high electrolytes, sodium, potassium and chloride that will help keep you hydrated. This is much healthier than consuming high amounts of dairy products each day.
• Braise Meat. Combine a half cup of coconut milk into your braising liquid to make your sauce creamier and more flavorful. The milk will absorb the other flavors in the dish to create a full-bodied dish.
• Get Baking. Those that are lactose intolerant or practice a vegan diet often use coconut milk in place of dairy products in baked goods. Coconut milk is thicker than many other milk substitutes to help maintain the desired consistency of your dessert so vegan desserts do not lack the bulk that the original recipe would have.

Coconut Milk Nutrition

The nutritional information outlined in the table below is based on one cup of coconut milk or 240g.

Coconut Milk Side Effects

• BPA. The bisphenol-A is produced in the production of plastic and metal products that has been linked to infertility, premature puberty and breast cancer. Consuming high amounts of coconut milk that is stored in metal or plastic containers can expose you to high amounts of this chemical. If you plan on drinking coconut milk frequently, seek out brands that are certified BPA-free.
• Guar Gum. Canned coconut milk may also contain guar gum, a polysaccharide from the mannose backbone from the galactose side group. This can cause digestive discomfort in some who consume these products.
• Fructose Malabsorption. This disorder impairs your body’s ability to transport fructose through the small intestine, which can create excessive growth of bacteria in this area and reduces the small intestine’s ability to absorb water. Those that have irritable bowel disorders should not consume Fermentable Oligo-, Di- and Monosaccharides and polyols like coconut milk as this can increase your risk of developing this condition.