Coconut: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

Introduction:

Cocos nucifera is a plant belonging to the family Arecaceae (palm family). It is also known as coconut, coco, coco-da-bahia, or coconut-of-the-beach. The plant is native to Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines) and the islands between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.1 Coconut products, such as oils, fibre, and even charcoal, are widely used in consumer products such as soap, cosmetics, foods, and medications today.2

Coconuts are utilised as a whole or in sections, including mesocarp (middle layer of fruit) fibres, milk, flesh, and husk. Copra (the dried meat of the coconut seed from which oil is derived) is a significant crop in the tropics. Several studies on the health benefits of coconut and coconut oil have revealed that it has substantial effects on various disorders.2

Coconut fruit has three layers, the same as other fruits: exocarp (outer layer), mesocarp (middle layer), and endocarp (inner layer). The exocarp and mesocarp make up the coconut husk. The fruit has one seed, which is partially liquid (coconut milk) and partly solid (flesh). The edible endosperm (tissue inside the seed) of the mature coconut is located on the inner surface of the shell. The coconut includes a clear edible liquid inside the endosperm layer that is sweet and salty.2

Nutritional Value of Coconut:

The nutritional content found in 100 g of coconut fruit is:2

Nutrient	Amount
Energy	1481 kJ (354 kcal)
Carbohydrates	15.23 g
Sugars	6.23 g
Dietary fibres	9 g
Total fat	33.49 g
Saturated fat	29.70 g
Monounsaturated fat	1.43 g
Polyunsaturated fat	0.37 g
Protein	3 g
Thiamine (Vitamin B1)	0.066 mg (5%)
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)	0.02 mg (1%)
Niacin (Vitamin B3)	0.54 mg (4%)
Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5)	0.300 mg (6%)
Vitamin B6	0.054 mg (4%)
Folate (Vitamin B9)	26 µg (7%)
Vitamin C	3.3 mg (6%)
Calcium	14 mg (1%)
Iron	2.43 mg (19%
Magnesium	32 mg (9%)
Phosphorus	113 mg (16%
Potassium	356 mg (8%)
Zinc	1.1 mg (11%)

Table1: Nutrients found in Coconut2

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Uses of Coconut:

Various therapeutic properties of the coconut plant are listed below.1

• Anti-diarrhoeal
• Antipyretic (fever relieving)
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-diuretic (reduced urination)
• Antimicrobial
• Anti-diabetic (lowering blood sugar)
• Anti-asthmatic (relieves asthma symptoms)
• Wound healing
• Contraceptive
• Aphrodisiac (increases sexual desire)
• Anti-malarial
• Anti-helminthic (removes intestinal worms)
• Antineoplastic (anticancer)
• Antioxidant
• Liver protective
• Anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering)1

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Benefits of Coconut:

1. Benefits of coconut for pain and inflammation:

Several studies in animals were performed to determine the analgesic (pain-killing) efficacy of coconut. The extract of coconut relieved the pain by acting on the brain’s pathways.1

An animal study revealed that coconut extracts significantly reduced pain and inflammation. As per another animal study, husk fibre extracts caused a significant reduction in paw swelling.1

2. Benefits of coconut for the heart:

In an animal study, the blood pressure reducing effect of coconut was investigated. Coconut significantly decreased high blood pressure in animals.1

Coconut water protects the heart from myocardial infarction (heart attack) due to its high mineral ion concentration, particularly potassium. Virgin coconut oil was found to lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, low-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein, and enhance high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in studies.3

3. Benefits of coconut for cancer:

The effect of extracts of coconut husk fibre on human leukaemia (white blood cancer) cell lines were examined in a study. The coconut husk fibre extract was toxic for leukaemia cells and lowered the leukaemia cell vitality.1

4. Benefits of coconut for parasitic infections:

The liquid from the coconut husk was evaluated for ovicidal (causing the death of ovum) and larvicidal (killing the larval insect) efficacy against parasitic worms in a study. The extract demonstrated significant larvicidal and ovicidal actions. These findings imply that coconut extracts may be helpful in dealing with gastrointestinal worms.1

5. Benefits of coconut for the brain:

The extract of coconut root significantly increased the sleep duration in rats, indicating a possible depressing effect on the brain. In an animal model, coconut root extract was also found to have anticonvulsant (prevents the fits) properties.1

6. Benefits of coconut for microbial infections:

One of the experiments looked into the antimicrobial effects of coconut husk extracts against common oral pathogens. Significant antimicrobial activity was shown for all examined organisms.1

7. Benefits of coconut for bacterial infections:

Coconut endocarp extracts were tested for antibacterial activity againstseveral bacterial species in a study.1

8. Benefits of coconut for fungal infections

According to studies, coconut shows antifungal activities due to its various components.1

9. Benefits of coconut for viral infections:

Coconut oil is highly efficient against various viruses such as visna virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, influenza virus, leukaemia virus, pneumonia virus, and hepatitis C virus. The fatty acids in coconut oil mostly kill these organisms by damaging their membranes and interfering with virus formation and maturation.3

10. Benefits of coconut for diabetes:

Coconut was tested for anti-diabetic efficacy in an animal study. It reduced the increased glucose levels in the animal model.1

11. Benefits of coconut for bone:

Virgin coconut oil’s activity on the bone structure was studied in an animal study. In animals with ovaries removed, virgin coconut oil administration significantly enhanced bone volume and prevented a decrease in bone tissue, indicating its bone protective effect.1

12. Benefits of coconut for the skin:

Coconut oil has bacteria-killing action and is an effective and safe skin moisturiser. The by-products of virgin coconut oil are effective against bacteria isolated from superficial skin lesions. Because of its antibacterial effect, virgin coconut oil has been suggested for the management of skin inflammation.3

13. Benefits of coconut for immunity:

Scientists discovered an increase in red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, lymphocytes (immunity cells), and haemoglobin levels after feeding coconut to immunocompromised (low immunity power) animals, indicating that coconut protein has strong immunity-enhancing activity.3

14. Other benefits of coconut:

Young coconut juice is thought to include sex hormone-like compounds that are employed in hormone replacement treatment, according to research conducted on animals.3

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How to Use Coconut?

Coconut can be used as:

• Coconut milk
• Coconut husk fibre
• Coconut bark tea1
• Coconut water
• Coconuts fruits2
• Coconut oil2

Precautions to Take With Coconut:

Drinking coconut water is safe in pregnancy.4 The research on the safe use of coconut in children has not been documented. Hence, it must only be taken under the supervision of a doctor.

Interactions With Other Drugs:

There is not much information available on how coconut interacts with other medications. Hence, patients should consult a doctor before taking coconut if they take any other drug or supplement.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Is coconut water safe in pregnancy?

Yes, coconut water drinking is safe in pregnancy. Consumption of coconut water by pregnant women helps to clean the baby’s skin.4

What is a coconut?

Coconut is a fruit that can be utilised as a whole or in sections, including mesocarp (middle layer of fruit) fibres, milk, flesh, and husk.2

Is coconut good for health?

Yes, coconut is good for health. It has several properties like wound healing, contraceptive, aphrodisiac (Increases sexual desire), anti-viral, anti-malarial, anti-helminthic (removes intestinal worms), antifungal, antineoplastic (anticancer), anti-osteoporotic (bone protective activity), antioxidant, kidney protective, heart-protective, liver protective and anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering).1

Is coconut good for the liver?

Tender coconut water decreased blood enzyme levels, liver cell death, and fatty liver in animals, but the effects are not reported in human beings.1

Is coconut good for diabetes?

Coconut reduces glucose and insulin levels in diabetic rats, but this effect is not reported in human beings.1

Is coconut good for managing cholesterol?

Virgin coconut oil obtained from coconut was found to lower total cholesterol levels in an animal experiment.3

Which part of the coconut is edible?

The endosperm (tissue inside the seed) of the mature coconut is located on the inner surface of the shell. The clear liquid inside the endosperm layer and the seed is the edible part of the coconut.2

Is coconut good for high blood pressure?

Coconut significantly decreased elevated blood pressure, according to an animal study. However, this effect is not reported in human beings.1

What are the uses of coconut?

Coconut products, such as oils, fibre, and even charcoal, are widely used in consumer products such as soaps, cosmetics, foods, and medications.2

What is coconut husk?

The exocarp (outer layer) and mesocarp (middle layer) of coconut fruit make up the coconut husk.2