13 Health Benefits of Coconut Milk

Its smell reminds us of exotic beaches. It tastes great, and adds a delicious creamy touch to many dishes. It is buttery, yummy, fluffy and savory. It is coconut milk! But apart from being extremely appetizing and inviting, there are also numerous health benefits of coconut milk that are absolutely worth mentioning. Let’s take a look at some of them.

1. Helps Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

coconut and coconut milk with palm branch

Manganese deficiency can contribute to glucose intolerance. Coconut milk can be helpful in this case, because it is a good source of manganese.

2. Helps Maintain Skin and Blood Vessels Flexible and Elastic

Coconut milk contains copper and vitamin C, which are essential to the strength, flexibility and elasticity of the skin and blood vessels.

3. Contributes to Strong, Healthy Bones

It is rich in phosphorus, which works together with calcium to build strong bones. In fact, it supplies our body with phosphates, necessary for proper bone density, and for the prevention of osteoporosis.

4. Reduces the Risk of Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. One cup of coconut milk provides nearly a quarter of the recommended daily iron intake.

5. Helps Relax Muscles and Nerves

Coconut milk and coconut

Coconut milk is a good source of magnesium, which is essential for alleviating muscle pain and soreness, as well as for reducing the central nervous system excitability.

When a magnesium deficiency is present, calcium may excessively activate the nerves. In other words, calcium excites and tenses muscles and nerves, while magnesium calms them down. Proper levels of calcium and magnesium are necessary to help our body function properly, and keep our nervous system healthy.

6. Helps Maintain Weight Loss

Coconut milk is rich in dietary fibers and it makes you feel full sooner, which is very useful for people who are trying to lose, or maintain weight.

The saturated fat contained in coconut milk is made of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids. These fats are quickly metabolized and immediately transformed into energy, instead of being stored as body fat.

7. Helps Reduce Joint Inflammation

Coconut milk contains selenium, which is a good antioxidant that controls levels of free radicals in the body, and thereby helps relieve symptoms of arthritis.

8. Contributes to Lower Blood Pressure

Its high level of potassium has a beneficial effect on high blood pressure.

9. Reinforces the Immune System

Smiling Woman and Coconut Milk Glass

Coconut milk is rich in vitamin C and it, therefore, helps us to fight off colds and flues. It also contains lauric acid, which has great antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, useful in warding off a range of infections and other diseases.

10. Aids Digestion

Coconut milk contains substances that help us to digest food properly. It also has efficient antibacterial properties, useful in destroying harmful bacteria in the stomach.

11. Promotes Prostate Gland Health

Coconut milk is also rich in zinc, which slows down and helps to prevent the growth of several cancer cells.

The male prostate gland contains, and uses, more zinc than any other organ in the body, and this mineral is therefore essential for its proper functioning.

12. Dairy-free

coconut juice

It is also soy-free, gluten-free and nut-free. Coconut milk is therefore an excellent food for people who suffer dairy allergies, or are lactose intolerant.

13. Promotes Healthy Skin and Hair

Coconut milk contains vitamin E, and it is an important, and a highly nutritive, ingredient in many skin and hair products.

  • It moisturizes and restores healthy skin, and helps to reduce wrinkles.
  • It has antibacterial and antifungal properties that are very useful in treating different skin disorders, infections and wounds.
  • It moisturizes and nourishes dry hair and scalp, and promotes healthy hair growth.

Well, isn’t coconut milk just amazing? Hopefully this article has helped you to understand better all of the numerous beneficial effects that it has on your body, skin and hair. Let us know in the comments below!

If you are a coconut lover, read also Benefits of Drinking Coconut Water Everyday.

About the author

Jessica

Jessica is a translator who has lived for many years in Asia and South America. She now lives and works in Europe, while preparing her new journeys. She enjoys traveling, meeting new people, exploring different cultures and foods, and being in love.

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