Coconut is undeniably one of the most beneficial plants we have here on Earth. Almost every part of it is beneficial for us humans. Have you heard of the coconut flour before? Well, yes, this isn’t a hoax –there really is a coconut flour. It mainly comes from the inner white flesh of the coconut. Furthermore, this has a lot of essential nutrients in it, which are all essential for the overall health status. Not only that, but these are also what form the different health benefits of coconut flour. If you want to learn more about this coconut flour that I am saying, feel free to give this article a read.
Coconut Flour: What is this?
The coconut flour is a white flour that comes from the white inner flesh of the coconut, which has been processed and dried in the meal. Though coconut now is grown all over the different tropics, the tree has its own origin in South Asia and India. However, it migrated all over the world. This is all thanks to the ocean currents and he traders. In today’s day and time, coconut is one of the extensively used ingredients all over the world. Its use ranges from being a basic dried coconut to coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut water.
Moreover, the coconut flour isn’t a flour by any traditional sense of the word. This is since it has no grains in it. Further, it is also popular with people who are suffering from nut allergies who are not capable of having alternative or substitute flours like almond. In recent times, it has already become popular –all thanks to the Paleo diet that excludes grain and dairy products. Nevertheless, coconut flesh has long been used and dried in the traditional culinary traditions all over the Southern hemisphere.
If you are going to use coconut flour in baking, you need to put a lot of moisture. Since it is not made of grain, it is much soften and much more absorbent than the wheat flour. Also, you aren’t allowed to substitute it in a one-is-to-one ratio. If you are to use the coconut flour in some other applications, you may utilize it, just like the regular flour for dredging. You can also use it in making sauces and gravies.
Nutritional Facts of Coconut Flour
A hundred grams serving of coconut flour has about:
- 333 calories
- 20 grams of fat
- 13 grams of protein.
Furthermore, it also has about:
- 40 grams of fiber
- 53 grams of carbs
- 20 grams of sugar
Health Benefits of Coconut Flour
Here are some of the most surprising health benefits of coconut flour:
Possesses low glycemic index.
Due to its high levels of insoluble fiber, the coconut flour has a significantly low level of glycemic index. Adding this flour in baking may in fact, help in preventing blood sugar spikes, and may be a great addition to the diet of those who are managing and doing their best to prevent diabetes.
Availability of minerals.
The coconut flour has no phytic acid in it and doesn’t really interfere in the mineral absorption. This is quite different from those flours made from grains, which possess phytic acid. This particular acid binds to various minerals and stops them from getting absorbed correctly by the body.
Rich in protein and fiber.
The coconut flour has the highest level of fiber among the commercially available flours. Furthermore, the coconut flour is in fact, made up of 60% fiber, 565 of which is insoluble fiber. and the rest is soluble. Diets rich in fiber aren’t just good for the digestive health and blood pressure, they are also beneficial in lowering the bad cholesterol levels.
Possesses healthy fats. 
The coconut has high levels of healthy saturated fats and nutrients, while having a low polyunsaturated fat content. Nevertheless, recent medical research suggests that not all fats is bad. In fact, most of the fat in the coconut flour is made of medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs. These are easily digestible by the system and possess antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties.
Free of any gluten.
The coconut flour is naturally free of gluten and has become one of the favorites of modern consumers who are on dairy-free, nut-free, or gluten-free diet plans. Not only that avoiding gluten in the diet help in the weight management, but the foods with gluten may also help in encouraging inflammation and block the absorption of nutrients.
There are some other health benefits of coconut flour that are not in this article. If you want to, look out for more, in the internet. Alternatively, you could just try using or incorporating coconut flour into your diet, and experience the different health benefits by yourself.
Caution on the Consumption of Coconut Flour
The coconut flour is generally safe in whatever amount. Those who are allergic to coconut must avoid the use of coconut flour. Furthermore, the coconut flour also has saturated fats in it and may increase the cholesterol levels in some people if they use it too often. Just like any addition to the diet, use this particular flour in moderation.
