10 Reasons to Start Drinking Coconut Milk

If you haven’t tried coconut milk, you’re in for a treat. Not only does it have the delicious, mildly-sweet flavor of the coconuts from which it is derived, it is also packed with nutrition and offers a host of health benefits. Here are some of the best reasons to start drinking coconut milk, which should not be confused with the cans of coconut milk, which are technically coconut cream, or the coconut water, which is a clear beverage.

1. PLANT-BASED PROTEIN BOOST

Just one cup of coconut milk contains 5 grams of protein, which is needed by the body to build muscle, regulate blood sugar levels and heal tissue.

2. HELP BOOST WEIGHT LOSS EFFORTS

Coconut is rich in healthy fats known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) which have been found to help boost metabolism and may help restore healthy thyroid functioning. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that is involved with metabolism. 

3. HELPS ALLEVIATE ANEMIA

Because one cup of coconut milk contains about 22 percent of the recommended daily intake of iron, it is helpful to alleviate or prevent iron-deficiency anemia, which tends to cause fatigue and muscle weakness.

4. HELPS WITH RELAXATION

Because coconut milk contains 22 percent of the recommended daily intake of magnesium, which is known as nature’s relaxant, drinking coconut milk can help ensure you’re more relaxed and that your muscles are better able to relax.

5. SHOWS PROMISE IN THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER’S

While the research is in its infancy, the natural oils (MCTs) found in coconut milk may be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

6. MAY BE BENEFICIAL FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the use of coconut for those who are at risk of cardiovascular disease; however, a study published in the medical journal Postgraduate Medicine found that coconut may be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Of course, if you have heart disease and have any hesitation you should check with your nutritionally-minded physician (most medical doctors do not have any training in nutrition and probably won’t be able to advise in this regard).

7. MAY HELP TREAT CANCER

Research in the medical journal Cell Death Discovery found that lauric acid found in coconuts and coconut milk caused cancer cells to commit suicide, suggesting coconut milk and other coconut products may have a place in the treatment of cancer. The results are early and will require additional research but it can’t hurt to start enjoying coconut milk while you await further study results.

8. STOMACH ULCER TREATMENT

Coconut milk may offer similar benefits to anti-ulcer drugs when it comes to the treatment of stomach ulcers. According to a study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, drinking coconut milk reduced stomach ulcer size in animals by a whopping 54 percent, which is comparable to the drug treatment for the condition.

9. ANTIBACTERIAL ACTION

Coconut milk contains a potent antibacterial agent called lauric acid. In a study published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, researchers found that lauric acid demonstrated antibacterial activity against a variety of bacteria.

10. ANTIVIRAL PROPERTIES

Coconut milk contains a natural compound known as lauric acid which has been shown in a study published in the Journal of General Virology to have antiviral properties.