Coconut Flour and Its Amazing Health Benefits

Nowadays, there are so many natural or homemade remedies that prove themselves to be more efficient than those bought from the drug store. Many women know that a hair mask made out of coconut oil, a half of banana, jojoba and natural honey will make the hair softer and leave it shiny and healthy. But how many of you know that some ingredients, when used for baking, have incredible health benefits? One of those miraculous ingredients is the coconut flour.

How to use coconut flour

Coconut flour is a type of flour resulted from finely grounding the coconut solids, until they reach the form of a powder. It has a soft coconut smell and flavor, making it perfect for baking muffins, cakes or any other baked goods. It can also be incorporated in recipes that are not too spicy or that don’t contain flavors that would not mix well with coconut.

But coconut flour has not become popular among people only because of its flavor, but also due to its numerous health benefits.

Top 10 health benefits of coconut flour

• The most important benefit is the fact that it’s a safe product for those who suffer from the Celiac disease (a condition in which the nutrients can’t be absorbed by the small intestine because of gluten intolerance). In other words, coconut flour is gluten free, making it easier for people who are allergic to gluten to digest it.

• It is safe for diabetics as well, having a low level of digestible carbohydrates, therefore it does not affect the sugar levels as much as the processed flour does.

• It has a high level of dietary fibers – a study published in the 2006 issue of Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies shows that 100 grams of coconut flour has around 39 grams of fibers. It is double than what wheat contains. Thus, it’s very helpful in fighting constipation.

• Rich in proteins – 100 grams of coconut flour includes 19.3 grams of proteins, making it a perfect ingredient for vegetarian bodybuilders.

• High in beneficial fats – coconut flour is rich in beneficial fats and it can be easily consumed by those who have high cholesterol or other heart-related problems.

• It’s good for your immune system, due to its lauric acid richness that supports and improves immunity. This way, you will be protected against diseases.

• It’s rich in manganese, which supports bones’ health, thyroid health and the proper functioning of the nervous system.

• It helps with the detoxification process by accelerating the process of eliminating toxins out of your body.

• Decreases your blood pressure and protects you against heart attacks and strokes.

• Helps with the low energy levels by improving the energy production.

Due to its various health benefits, coconut flour seems like the perfect ingredient to incorporate in your diet. Switching from processed flour to coconut flour will make a difference, not only on a health level, but also when it comes to taste. Remember that all these health benefits are drawn from the coconut, also known to be one of the healthiest fruits in the world.