Have you caught onto the coconut milk trend? This delicately flavoured liquid is used in soups and sauces, desserts and curries. Coconut milk has long been popular in South American and Asian cuisine, but it has recently gained in popularity in the UK.
Here are a few quick facts about coconut milk, and advice on how to use this versatile ingredient in your cooking.
What is Coconut Milk?
Coconut milk is a liquid that is extracted from the coconut. You take the flesh of the nut and grate it, then soak it in hot water. You shouldn’t confuse coconut milk with coconut oil, water, or cream. After the soaking process, you collect the cream from the surface for use as coconut cream. Then you sieve the leftover liquid to separate the flesh from the coconut milk. Of course, it is easier to buy coconut milk in a can. Coconut milk in a can collects all the benefits of the milk into a convenient package.
But what are the benefits of coconut milk?
Coconut Milk Can Help You Lose Weight
Coconut milk contains healthy fats called short and medium-chain triglycerides. These beneficial fats make you feel fuller and cause you to consume less at each meal. Drinking coconut milk or using it in cooking also helps you to stop snacking between meals.
Coconut Milk Is Rich In Antioxidants
Antioxidants like vitamin C and E in coconut milk prevent free radicals from forming. Free radicals damage the cells and can promote tumour growth. Coconut milk contains high levels of antioxidants, making it a beneficial ingredient in healthy cooking.
Coconut Milk Helps With Electrolyte Balance
Electrolytes are crucial for good health. Coconut milk contains electrolytes like potassium, which is vital for maintaining normal heart rhythm. Magnesium, another electrolyte, is necessary for the immune system and it helps to maintain nerve function and muscle tone. Besides, phosphorus in coconut milk helps your bones and your teeth.
Coconut Milk Prevents Heart Disease
Do you want to maintain a stronger heart, free from disease? Drinking or cooking with coconut milk helps to reduce the LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) in your body. This, in turn, helps to promote the health of your heart.
Coconut Milk Improves Your Immune System
Help strengthen your immune system with coconut milk. The liquid assists with fighting infections and in strengthening the immune system against the damage done by antibiotics. Coconut milk also raises the levels of iron in the blood, which prevents the onset of anaemia.
Where to Buy Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is now a recognised staple in cooking, both in the home and in restaurants. You find it in major supermarkets as well as in bulk from restaurant suppliers. Coconut milk UK suppliers provide traceable coconut milk from high-quality sources to use in restaurant dishes. You can buy coconut milk online for delivery. The milk also comes from Asian and Oriental supermarkets.
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