If you like visiting beach, you will find this familiar beautiful scenery: coconut trees with the wind blows the leaves. What you can enjoy directly when you are there is just the fruit. Who can resist fresh coconut water served in a hot day? But, do you know that all the parts of the trees are beneficial?
Coconut trees might be one of the most beneficial trees in the world. They are an important member of palm family. They grow in tropical areas and are harvested for culinary or non-culinary uses. We all know their functions for culinary uses. Who do not know how coconut milk makes curries delicious? Or can you taste its delicious taste in a glass of pina colada?
For so long, coconut has been considered as a valuable source of both food and medicine. Coconut fruit is called as functional food because it contains high fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These contents provide health benefits, and it is one reason why coconut is used in traditional medical world. People have learned the importance of using it as an effective way to cure illnesses.
The nutrition contained by coconut can treat many health problems, such as fever, colds, flu, cough, bronchitis, asthma, burns, earache, abscesses, dropsy, baldness, bruises, gingivitis, dysentery, irregular or painful menstruation, scurvy, sore throat, constipation, gonorrhea, jaundice, rash, scabies, skin infections, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, swelling, syphilis, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds. Just imagine how you are free from these illnesses only by consuming this delicious fruit!
In modern medical science, coconut is known as beneficial fruit which is able to:
- Kill bacteria that cause throat infections, cause ulcers, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, gonorrhea, gum disease and cavities, etc
- Kill viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, etc
- Boost energy and endurance
- Prevent osteoporosis
- Increase energy
- Support immune system function
- Prevent breast, colon, and other cancers.
- Relieve stress
- Support the development of bones and teeth
- Reduce the risk of heart disease
- Prevent obesity and overweight problems
- Control dandruff
- Reduce the risk of diabetes.
- Prevent liver disease, etc
Not only the fruit is beneficial, but also the other parts of the tree. Below are the functions of the other parts of coconut trees:
HUSKS AND SHELLS - they are a good source of fuel and charcoal. You can also use them for buffing floors. In Indonesia, shells can be used as traditional water dippers. Recently, the shells are formed into buttons and used in traditional clothes, like Batik. They can even create a sound effect of a horse's hoof-beats, so they are used in theater Foley sound effects. The dried half shells create a music effect, as used in Philippines for folk dances.
COIR - this is the fiber from the husk which is usually used in mats, ropes, brushes, caulking boats, and as stuffing fiber. People also use it for making potting compost. In India, coir is used in mattress making.
Husks and shells
LEAVES - They are traditionally used in basket making and for roofing materials. People usually wove them together to create such forms. The dried ones can be burned to ash. The stiff leaflet midribs are used to make skewers and arrows, and the bundled ones can be brooms and brushes. In Kerala India, the mid-rib of the leaves is used as a tongue-cleaner.
TRUNKS - They are used for building small bridges for their straightness, strength, and salt resistance. Hawaiians use them to form drums, containers, and even small canoes.
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