Coconut milk is quite the underrated product. It is known mainly as an element of exotic Thai cuisine and some diets that imply the abandonment of one or another food of animal origin. It’s very cool that nowadays it’s accessible to those who don’t live in the tropics. In this case, coconut milk is an alternative to the usual cow or goat’s milk, cream or sour cream.
However, a delicate creamy drink with a light sweet-ish taste has much more useful properties than just the ability to substitute dairy products. That’s why it’s so popular among vegans.
The milk is not the water that’s inside a whole coconut. This liquid is called coconut water, consists of almost 95% of the actual water and contains virtually no fat or other nutrients. Milk, on the other hand, is a mixture of pulp and water that has been thoroughly processed to a homogeneous mass. It results in a high-calorie product with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and trace elements.
So, after drinking one cup (240 ml), you get:
Calories – 552
Fat – 57g
Proteins – 5g
Daily value of vitamin C – 11%
Daily amount of iron and magnesium 22%
Daily potassium – 18%
Daily value of selenium – 21%
Benefits of coconut milk for weight loss
For most of us, the word “fat” is associated with excess weight, but in this case, fats contribute to weight loss. Sounds
absurd? Then we have some explaining to do.
The creamy mixture contains mostly polyunsaturated fats (including the famous essential omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9), which are very useful for metabolism. But that’s not all. About half of all fatty acids account for lauric acid. This substance belongs to the category of so-called fatty acids, which have one unique feature: from the digestive tract they go straight to the liver, where they are also used to produce energy or ketones (these substances are the primary fuel for the brain).
Therefore, this kind of fat is much less likely to turn into fat reserves – the body consumes it almost instantly. Also, lauric acid has another bonus: it participates in the work of brain receptors that control appetite and helps reduce hunger.
And it doesn’t stop at weight loss. There are numerous benefits for the immune system as well. Lauric acid is also a powerful antimicrobial and antiviral agent that reduces the number of bacteria and viruses in the mouth and body as a whole. There is confirmed evidence that lauric acid is able to withstand such active and dangerous viruses as HIV, measles, and cytomegalovirus.
Coconut milk smoothie recipes
Raspberry Milkshake
An unexpected mix of flavors and textures turns into a delicious milkshake that helps lose weight.
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk
- 1 banana frozen
- 1/3 cup of raspberry
- 1/2 cup of ice
- 1 tsp of honey optional
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Peel the banana and cut it into chunks.
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Place the raspberries into a cup of a food processor and blend until completely smooth.
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Add the banana
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Gradually add the coconut milk and the rest of the ingredients.
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Pulse until fully incorporated. Pour into glasses, garnish with coconut shavings and an extra raspberry on top. Enjoy!
Vanilla Date Night
This frothy cocktail will give you a feeling of fullness in between meals. Is to be consumed in the first half of the day (preferably for lunch).
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk
- 1/2 cup of non-fat yogurt
- 1/2 cup of fresh dates
- 1/2 tsp of Vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup of ice
- 1 tsp of honey optional
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Pit the fresh dates and chop them up into pieces.
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Place all the ingredients into a cup of a blender or a food processor and mix until homogeneous.
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Pour into glasses and enjoy.
Mixed Berry Freezie
This beverage is perfect for the summer! It will save you from the heat and keep your tummy satisfied.
- 1/4 cup of blueberry
- 1/4 cup of wild strawberry
- 1/4 cup of raspberry
- 1/4 cup of blackberry
- 1 cup of coconut milk
- 1/2 cup of ice
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Combine all the berries an freeze them overnight.
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Pour the coconut milk into a cup of a blender and pulse.
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Gradually add the berries. Do not overbeat the cocktail, otherwise, the berries will unmelt quickly and the drink will be warm.
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Put the ice into glasses and pour the mixture over it. Serve while freezing cold.
Strawberry-Kiwi Sunset
A bright explosion of flavor that you will enjoy on a warm day. Packed with antioxidants that will help you lose weight in a jiffy!
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk
- 1 kiwi
- 10 strawberries
- 1/2 lime
- 3 leaves of mint
- 1/3 cup of ice
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Peel the kiwi and cut it up into pieces.
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Squish the juice out of the half of the lime.
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Blend all the ingredients in a blender until the consistency is frothy.
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Pour into glasses an garnish with additional pieces of fruit.
Vanilla-Chocolate Banana Split
This seemingly simple smoothie is anything but boring. The carob is naturally sweet and is better than cocoa powder! A healthy way to substitute a dessert and lose weight at the same time!
- 1 cup of coconut milk
- 1 banana frozen
- 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp of carob
- 4 toasted almonds
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Peel the banana, cut it into chunks and freeze it overnight.
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Pulse the almonds in a food processor until thick paste forms.
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Add the coconut milk gradually.
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Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until you reach a uniform consistency.
Conclusion: not all fats are bad for you
We have already talked about the benefits of this ingredient for weight loss. But consuming this product, you’re doing your body right in some ways (we’ll recap):
- boost the immune system;
- improve the digestive tract;
- treat intestinal diseases, stomach ulcers;
- strengthen teeth and bones;
- stimulate brain activity;
- optimize the work of the central nervous system;
- increase hemoglobin;
- stabilize hormones;
- reduce cholesterol and sugar.
It perfectly quenches thirst, satisfies hunger, so it can be very useful to those who are on a diet. But remember, that however healthy this product may be – consume in moderation. People with allergies should consult their doctor before drinking such smoothies.
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