Coconut is one of the most talked about super foods. The nutritional benefits of coconut are well researched and so widely recognised that coconut by-products are now popular ingredients found in most kitchens. Coconut by-products, which include (but are not limited to) coconut milk and coconut oil, are very versatile. Coconut complements a wide variety of ingredients and is a healthy lifestyle alternative and an allergy alternative for many foods.
Non-dairy Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is a delicious and creamy alternative to cow’s milk. The subtle coconut flavour of organic coconut milk makes it versatile enough to match a variety of flavours, both savoury and sweet. For example, coconut milk offers a luscious texture and delicate coconut flavour to soups and curries but is equally delicious in cakes and biscuits.
Coconut milk is also a very popular substitute for cow’s milk in ice cream, thanks to its creaminess and subtle flavour profile. Coconut ice cream artisans have discovered the benefits of using coconut milk and how well it complements a wide range of flavours: from chocolate, toffee and vanilla, through to fruity flavours like mango, passionfruit and strawberry.
Allergy-free Coconut Milk
What also makes organic coconut milk so appealing is that it is free of allergens. Coconut allergy is actually very rare and coconut is not considered to be an allergen. Coconut is a fruit which means that it is actually nut-free. Coconut is also dairy-free, lactose-free and gluten-free, and complements a vegan and paleo lifestyle. Therefore, many foods -which were once avoided by many people- can now be enjoyed and savoured as part of their normal diet. Coconut ice-cream is indeed one of these foods, offering the same smooth, creamy texture as dairy ice-cream.
Nutritious Coconut Milk
Coconut is rich in fibre and packed with many beneficial vitamins and minerals. Coconut milk contains lauric acid which is a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA). Medium-chain fatty acids are unlike other fats because they are metabolised differently by the body. These fatty acids increase metabolism and are not stored within the body but used as a quick source of energy by the liver.
The lauric acid in coconut milk also aids good health by fighting bacterial and fungal infections within the body. While coconut does contain natural saturated fats, these fats actually increase the levels of the “good” cholesterol (HDL), while decreasing the levels of the harmful LDL cholesterol.
Delicious Coconut Milk
More and more people are enjoying the nutritional benefits and delicious taste of coconut by-products, such as organic coconut milk. Organic coconut milk can be incorporated into many foods that were once off-limits for people with allergies or particular lifestyle preferences. One of the most popular food alternatives created with coconut milk is coconut milk ice-cream. Coconut milk ice-cream is a creamy, frozen treat that offers the delicious taste and texture of traditional dairy ice-cream while, providing a healthy, nutritious and allergy-free alternative.
