Tuesday, June 15, 2010

COCONUTS

Cool and Refreshing ----- just what I needed
My desk

my Desk


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Today I was sitting at my computer desk and complaining to myself about how hot it was and that I really needed something cold to drink, I had already drank a Coke Zero earilier and at least two tall glasses of Ice water , but nothing seemed to cool me down or quench that taste I had for something good and cold and refreshing at the same time,When all of a sudden Ciejay walked in and handed me a chilled , young coconut that the neighbor had given her and she had opened up the top and stuck in a straw and said " here honey try this I think you will like ", well I was ready for anthing cold and to my surprise , that was some of the best tasting ,cool juice I have ever tasted and when I had finished she gave me a small spoon and said for me to eat the meat inside , I said "get me the hammer to break the shell open first " Ciejay said "no honey , it's really soft and you can just take it out with the spoon . "I can not begin to tell you how surprise I was at not only how soft the meat was , but there are not good english words to describe how yummy and sweet tasting that meat from the YOUNG COCONUT was , you'll have to try it for yourself. I know some folks will have a hard time finding Young Coconut , but I think if you ask the local produce manager at the market where you shop to order some for you they will. Also you can always find them at a Asian or Mexican food store .
Below is some info I gathered from the web about coconuts and the great health value they can provide for lots of ailments we might have , I know that from now on I'll have a few cold ones in the frig. to grab when I need something cold and refreshing to drink ( I'm not going to give up my Coke Zero ) from time to time . Hope you'll give it a try too , let me know what you think .

Coconuts taste GREAT! Besides the incredibly amazing experience one can have when eating coconuts, there are many other reasons to eat this wonderful delicacy! In fact, the young coconut is one of the most important fruits within the tropics because of its potassium and mineral rich water.
Preferably, the water and meat from young coconuts is used as opposed to the meat of older coconuts which tends to be very hard (as well, older coconuts typically have less water...if any.)
Medicinal Value Besides being highly nutritious, young coconuts have also been exceedingly revered as having medicinal qualities for heart, liver and kidney disorders.
Coconut is a tropical fruit that is rich in protein. The meat of the coconut is very good in destroying intestinal parasites, that we get from eating infected food. Coconut water is good for kidney and urinary bladder problems.
Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm.
Vitamin A :
Vitamin B : Thiamine .10 mg.;
Riboflavin :
Niacin :
Vitamin C : 2 mg.
Calcium : 21 mg.
Iron : 2.0 mg.
Phosphorus : 98 mg.
Fat : 34.7 gm.
Carbohydrates : 14 gm.
Protein : 3.4 gm.
Calories : 359
Other Health Benefits of Coconut :
Prevents simple goiter (enlarged non-toxic thyroid) because of its organic iodine content.
Good body builder, so it is a food recommended for building up the body muscles of thin and emaciated individuals.
Constipation and for any build-up of gas in the stomach and intestinal tract.
Coconut milk has been found to help cases of sore throat as well as relieving stomach ulcers.
Coconut oil has been found to heal cuts, scratches, burns and sunburns.
The oil has also been recommended for facial massage and is reported to be good as a wrinkle remover.
Coconut oil is also good for the scalp and hair and makes hair dressing unnecessary.
Intake of at least 2 Tbsp. of Virgin coconut oil per day can lessen your Vitamin E requirement.
Coconut water is good for kidney and urinary bladder problems.as recently been reported to reduce the viral load of HIV. ( info from the www)

Before coming to Thailand , the only thing I knew about coconuts was that my dad us to draw faces on them to make them look like a monkey ,and that shredded coconut was good on a cake and that the milk was kind of sour and the meat was hard and also a lot of work to get it out of the shell . All that has changed and now that I am in the land of fruits and coconuts , I have learned how great coconuts and their milk and juice and coconut oil, are for your health and that the Thai cooks use them in hundreds of their dishes , there are many varities also, and each has it specific use in the Thai kitchens.
You can find lots of recipes on Golf's new blog http://www.awesomethaifood.com/ together her and Steve write the great blog called ThaiMusings, check them out, you'll find not only a lot of good Thai dishes to cook but , you'll enjoy all the other good stuff on the blog. Thanks for the read . Malcolm

9 comments:

Mike said...

Hi Malcolm, its very hot here too. So much for the rainy season, I thought it had come last month but its three weeks again since it rained.

Is the Kwai Yai low near you?

BTW I agree about the young coconuts which I can just about reach if I stand on the garden wall!

Anonymous said...

I too go loco for coco, and nuts for nuts. Haha

malcolm said...

Thanks anonymous , I can always depend on you for a laugh , thanks for the readssss .

Mike all the small lakes and reservoirsare very low . but they have opened up the dams up north and the river is flowing pretty good not as high as in the rainy season , but ok . thanks for the read . Malcolm

Lawrence said...

Thanks for this reminder about one of the things I love the most when I'm in Thailand, Malcolm. Young coconut and juicy mango with coconut milk are two things I can't get enough of.

Martyn said...

So Elvis has turned into the coconut kid.

When we take our annual trip to Pattaya, Wilai loves sitting on Jomtiem beach and a coconut is the first thing she orders (closely followed by papaya pok pok). I really do like the juice myself.

In Wi's village there are plenty of coconut trees about and now and again one of her uncle's will bring one to our house. I think Wi looks on it as a special kind of treat.

richard said...

now you can stay away from the diet coke

*lynne* said...

This is one of the first things I drank upon getting back to Malaysia this past April!

And yes, the true young coconut is the best, with its transparent flesh and subtle taste!

In Malaysia it's said to be a very 'cooling' drink, although ladies are not to take too much of it, something to do with impacting their sexual function, so it's been hinted, but I've never gotten a straight answer whenever I press for more info, LoL!

Erich said...

I'm taking my ridgeback for a walk and buying coconut juice from the lady who sells it near the wat. Thanks for reminding how good it is to sip on the magic stuff.

Malcolm and Ciejay Burgess said...

Erich, We have a rbd tooo , get back to me if you find time , and I grew up in Delray and Boca , small world