Coconut Flour’s Nutritional Benefits And How To Consume It

1. Keeps your blood sugar levels normal

According to the American Diabetic Association, fat and fibre tend to lower the glycemic index in a particular food which is why coconut flour has a low glycemic index (GI). This means having it will not cause a spike in your blood sugar levels. Studies have also shown that glycemic index foods such as coconut support stable blood sugar levels which is effective for diabetic patients. This can also help diabetics to maintain a healthy weight.

2. Speeds up your metabolism

Coconut flour contains high levels of healthy saturated fats in the form of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA). These fatty acids are used by the body quickly to provide energy and help increase your metabolism rate, thus boosting your metabolism. MCFAs also increases the body's ability to burn fat.

3. Promotes proper bowel movements

Are you suffering from constipation? Try including coconut flour in your diet as it contains high amounts of insoluble fibre which is essential to promote the easy passing of the stool through the digestive system. Thus it prevents constipation or irregular bowel movements. Fibre also supports the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut, thereby maintaining a good digestive health.

4. Lowers cholesterol

Studies have shown that coconut flour has a high nutrient density which helps in supporting heart health. It has the ability to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and serum triglycerides in people who have high cholesterol levels. This, in turn, increases HDL (good) cholesterol which supports heart health and prevents any kind of heart disease.

5. Helps in building muscles

Another nutritional benefit of coconut flour is it contains a significant amount of protein which contributes to your total daily protein intake that helps in repairing tissues and aids in muscle recovery and growth. Protein is an essential component which helps in building bones, muscles, cartilage and skin.

6. Helps treat skin infections

Organic coconut flour possesses antiviral (acts on lipid-coated viruses), antifungal and antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial property is due to high lauric acid content in coconut that has been used as a medication for oral infections like mouth sores.

7. Prevents inflammation

Coconut flour is free of gluten, a type of protein found in wheat products which is responsible for the elastic texture of the dough. Too much of gluten consumption causes an inflammatory response in the body which leads to rheumatoid arthritis, a common symptom of gluten intolerance. Gluten may also escalate the risk of metabolic syndrome, obesity, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cardiovascular risk.

How To Consume Coconut Flour?

Coconut flour is extremely absorbent in nature and a very little amount is required to use in both sweet and savoury dishes. It easily blends well with other ingredients and does not overpower the other tastes because it is unsweetened and has a slight smell and taste.

It is better to combine coconut flour with other flours while baking to get the best results. In cooking, coconut flour can also be used on its own to thicken soups and stews.

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