Coconut Nutrition facts

Coconut is a mature fruit of the Cocos nucifera palm. It is one of the very versatile and indispensable food items for millions of inhabitants of South and Southeast Asia and Pacific islands. It is one of the most sought-after ingredients in the kitchen and is employed in almost every recipe prepared in these parts of the world.

Cocos nucifera belongs to the large Palmaceae family of palm trees. Coco palm thrives well in tropical climates. It requires moist, sandy, well-drained soil to flourish, and grows well all along the saline-rich coastlines.

Sweet, crunchy coconut meat.

The palm coconut is an unbranched, erect, tall-growing tree that can reach more than 100 feet in height and has a lifetime of about 75 to 100 years. Once planted, it may take about 4-5 years to begin their first produce, and oftentimes, in some cultivated varieties, the first yield may take several years.

Hundreds of cultivars of the coconut palms are grown all over the tropics and hence, their water and kernel flavor as well as texture varies according to the saline content of the soil, distance from the seashore, the amount of rainfall, etc.

Coconuts in a Cocus nucifera palm.

In a year, a coconut palm may yield 20-150 mature nuts. It is almost spherical to oval in shape and measures between 5-10 inches in width. Its rough outer husk is light green, which turns gray as the nut matures. The husk (exocarp) is about 1-2 inches in thickness and is made up of tough fibers. Underneath this exocarp (husk), there lies a woody shell, enclosing edible coconut meat (kernel or endosperm).

Just harvested mature nuts contain some amount of sweet water in their hollow space surrounded by white meat (endosperm). The fruit with its shell, together with the kernel (meat), and water constitute a commercial "coconut" in the markets.

Health benefits of Coconut

Coconut is a very versatile and indispensable food item for most people under the tropical belt. It is a complete food rich in calories, vitamins, and minerals. A medium-sized nut carrying 400 g of edible meat and some 30-150 ml of water may provide almost all the daily-required essential minerals, vitamins, and energy of an average-sized individual.
100 g kernel holds 354 calories. Much of this comes from fats and protein. Although its meat is disproportionately high in saturated fats in comparison to other common edible nuts, coconut has many health-promoting bioactive compounds.
The important saturated fatty acid in the coconut is lauric acid (1:12 carbon fatty acid). Lauric acid increases good HDL cholesterol levels in the blood. HDL is a high-density lipoprotein, which has beneficial effects on the coronary arteries by preventing vessel blockage (atherosclerosis). Physicians recommend high HDL to total cholesterol levels in the blood for the same reason.
Coconut water is a very refreshing drink to beat tropical summer thirst. The juice is packed with simple sugar, electrolytes, minerals, bioactive compounds such as cytokinin, and enzymes such as acid phosphatase, catalase, dehydrogenase, peroxidase, polymerases, etc. Altogether, these enzymes aid in digestion and metabolism.
Coconut oil extracted from the dry kernel (copra) is an excellent emollient agent. It is used in cooking, applied over the scalp as hair nourishment, and employed in pharmacy and medicines.
Research studies suggest that cytokinins (e.g., kinetin and trans-zeatin) in coconut water showed significant anti-aging, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-thrombotic effects.
The kernel is an excellent source of minerals such as copper, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, and zinc.
It is also a very good source of B-complex vitamins such as folates, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, and pyridoxine. These vitamins are essential in the sense that the body requires them from external sources to replenish.
Coconut meat and water contain a good amount of potassium. 100 g of fresh meat contains 356 mg or 7.5% of the daily required levels of potassium.

See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients:

Coconut meat, raw,(Cocus nucifera), Fresh, Nutrition Value per 100 g

(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

Principle	Nutrient Value	Percent of RDA
Energy	354 Kcal	18%
Carbohydrates	15.23 g	12%
Protein	3.3 g	6%
Total Fat	33.49 g	167%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	9 g	24%
Vitamins
Folates	26 µg	6.5%
Niacin	0.540 mg	3%
Pantothenic acid	0.300 mg	6%
Pyridoxine	0.054 mg	4%
Riboflavin	0.020 mg	1.5%
Thiamin	0.066 mg	5.5%
Vitamin C	3.3 mg	5.5%
Vitamin A	0 IU	0%
Vitamin E	0.24 mg	2%
Vitamin K	0.2 µg	<1%
Electrolytes
Sodium	20 mg	1%
Potassium	356 mg	7.5%
Minerals
Calcium	14 mg	1.4%
Copper	0.435 mg	48%
Iron	2.43 mg	30%
Magnesium	32 mg	8%
Manganese	1.500 mg	65%
Phosphorus	113 mg	16%
Selenium	10.1 µg	18%
Zinc	1.10 mg	10%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene, beta	0 µg	--
Phytosterols	47 mg	--

Selection and storage

Mature coconuts can be readily available around the year in Asian stores in the US. You may find husked, processed kernel in air-sealed packs, wholesome totally dried (copra) in vacuum packs, coconut milk, cream, dry-powder (desiccated), etc., in these stores. Fresh tender nuts for a refreshing ready-to-drink, in tins/cans, can also be found here.

Dried coconut meat or copra.

Coconut is a very stable fruit. Dry nuts with husks can be stored for months in cool, dry, and humid-free places. However, once cut open, fresh mature meat may deteriorate rather quickly if kept open for a few hours at room temperature. Its water and meat contain simple sugars which attract attacking fungi as well as bacteria. Cut-opened raw kernel and grated coconut should be placed inside the refrigerator to prevent decaying.

Coconut milk is available in tins/cans or as a milk powder in the markets. If using as powder, reconstitute it with cold water following the steps/instructions explained on the packet.

Preparation and serving tips

Grated coconut meat.

There are several methods in practice to cut open the whole coconut fruit. At home, an able person with enough skills in plying its tough outer husk (exocarp and mesocarp) should only do this task. The nuts are usually husked with the help of large machines in the industries. At the household, it is plied using a sharp sickle bit by bit to expose the inner spherical hard shell (endocarp). In India and other Asian countries, a husked nut is broken by hitting it against a hard surface with force. Its water is either used in the cooking or simply discarded. Finally, the white meat is separated from its attachment to the shell (endocarp) using a sharp spatula or knife. The meat is cut into chunks, slices, or grated using a knife, or grater for use in cooking.

Here are some serving tips:

Its slices or chunks are eaten as a snack. The kernel can be eaten in many ways. In one of the unique recipes to South India where small slices or grated coconut are mixed with jackfruit slices, honey, sugar, and banana and served as a dessert.
Finely grated and dried (desiccated) coconut powder is used in the preparation of a variety of savory dishes in India and other Asian regions. Coconut chutney is a thick paste prepared by grinding together grated coconut, roasted peanuts, green or red chili peppers, mustard seeds, curry leaves, garlic, and salt and used as a dip with rice cake (idli), poori (puffed fried thin bread), etc.
Dried (desiccated) coconut powder is found a special place in mouth-watering sweet dishes like burfi, granola bars, cake, cookies, chocolate, pies, custard (kheer), etc., in almost all parts of South Asia, and East Asian regions.
Fresh tender coconut water can be enjoyed as a special refreshing drink by adding lemon, mint leaves, orange zest, etc.
Coconut milk is added to a variety of food preparations. In many parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, India (Kerala,), Malaysia, and Sri Lanka vegetables, fish, and seafood curries are cooked in this milk. In Indonesia, South India, and Malaysia, rice is steamed in milk with herbs and spices (nasi uduk) and served with chicken or meat curries.

Safety profile

Coconut is a very healthy ingredient that can be used safely as food. There are no reported allergic reactions of any sort notified so far following its consumption. Its sweet delicious kernel is not only cherished in healthy but considered safe and nutritious in pregnancy, infants as well as in sickness conditions. (Medical disclaimer).