......."COCONUT".......

      ...C o c o n u t ...
Scientific Name:  Cocos Nucifera 


     Coconut is not a nut but a fruit.  Fresh coconut meat is rich in fat and carbohydrates, and contains moderate amounts of proteins.
      Coconut is used in food products for many purposes.  The most obvious use is for decorating cakes, pies, candies, salads, and deserts.
      *The flavor and aroma of coconut can be compared with that of most fruits-  cherry, pineapple, strawberry, raspberry, orange, peach, apricot, prune, raisins, and some vegetables.  Sweet potatoes, pumpkins and standard flavor such as chocolates and vanilla.
      In the Philippines, the coconut industry is considered a million dollar earner that provides livelihood to one third of the total population.  As food, coconut is noted for its buko.  It is often used for salad, halo halo, sweets and pastries.
      Another popular product from coconut is the buko juice, also known as liquid endosperm.  The juice is promoted as a water therapy to cure renal disorders,  called bukolysis.  It's the process of reducing or dissolving urinary stones of the urinary tract system using buko water from seven to nine month old coconut.
      Out of the bud of the coconut trees inflorescence is a juice called coconut toddy or tuba.  Toddy can be taken as fresh beverage, as an alcoholic drink (once fermented) and it could also be used in making vinegar, coconut sugar and as a source of yeast for making bread.  But one good things about the fresh coco toddy is that it contains inosital, which can be used in treating cancer patients.
      In Davao City, has producing coco sugar and coco honey from coco toddy.  It is a sugar in the form of fructose which is said to be better health-wise than sucrose from sugar cane.  Coconut sugar is derived from processing coconut sap, two gallons of which produced a kilo of the sugar.
      *Coco products have low glycemic index, a measurement of blood sugar, thus good for diabetes and those having prostate problems.  It has also glumatic acid, the same ingredient present in Viagra.
      However, Copra-  the dried coconut meal- is still coconuts main product.  It has high oil content, as much as 64 percent.  Coconut oil, which is the most readily digested among all the fats of general use in the entire world.  Studies have shown that coconut oil retards aging.  It also counter acts heart, colors, pancreatic and liver tumor inducers.
      What is interesting is that coconut oil does not affect cholesterol levels of those who consume it.  The main reason for this that coconut oil comprised primarily of a unique type of fat molecule known as medium chain fatty acid.
      In recent years, the popularity of coconut oil boosted with the introduction of virgin coconut oil.  It's developed the product in the country, is the oil that comes from the milk that is extracted from fresh coconut milk.  Some studies have shown that can prevent sicknesses like skin problems, ulcer, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stoke, immature aging, and degenerative diseases.  Coconut oil is also used as a basic ingredient in some of the cosmetic soap products.  Coconut oil is also used as a basic ingredient to make toothpaste for sensitive teeth.  In addition, coconut oil can also be applied to skin, to treat minor irritations, like insect bites and sunburn.
      *The coconut shells are also used to make the base of musical instrument such as the chinese ban hu and yea-hu.
     The coconut shell can be also be carved out to make fashion accessories like necklaces, bangles, pendants, earrings, etc.  Coconut shells is used to make buttons for their shirts, the fibrous husk of the coconut is used in a surprisingly large number to ways.  Ropes and yarns aquarium filters, car seat covers, flower pots, sound proofing, much for plant growing, heat insulation, brushes, bristles, mattresses, door mats and matting rugs and carpets.....