Coconut

The coconut is the fruit of the palm tree more cultured world, the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). It is native to the Pacific Islands and is found in all tropical islands. The largest producers of coconuts are India, Philippines and Indonesia.


Varieties
There are three types of coconut trees, but within each there are different sub-varieties:

The Giants, who are used to produce oil but also consume fruit.
The Dwarves, especially for the production of beverages, for the good taste of your water.
Hybrids, of medium size fruit consumed although these coconuts are devoted to other uses. And the coconut, besides being a delicious fruit, is also a very useful product for the industry (the oil is used for cosmetics and personal hygiene), for livestock, construction (for timber), crafts (development of fabrics and strings) and medicine.
Features
Coconuts, oval, have several layers, an outer shell and with thick hair (5 cms. Thick), a shell intermediate smooth and thin and finally a very tough crust (where the holes that can be juicing without having to open the coconut). Pulp, white aromatic, is adhered to the second shell.

In the inner cavity is coconut water so appreciated as natural isotonic beverage, especially in tropical countries. Not to be confused with coconut milk, it is obtained by grinding the coconut meat and even sometimes we add more milk or water.

When purchasing a coconut, you have to look and choose those containing water inside, this is proved by shaking, must be heard as a splash of water. If not, you are too mature or dry. When a coconut is in point, the brown skin that covers the pulp is eaten because it is soft. Coconuts also find already peeled in many markets.

The ripe flesh of coconuts can be consumed raw, whole or shredded. Grated coconut is widely used in baked goods. Although also used in many different and exotic fish and meat recipes, giving them flavor, aroma and very nutritious substances.

Nutritional properties
Do not abuse the coconut (or pulp or milk or water) because it contains fat, it can be rather indigestible. The fat is rich in saturated fatty acids, therefore the caloric value of coconuts is the highest of all fruits.

That itself is very rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. This makes a food coconut very beneficial for bone mineralization, promote intestinal transit, to enhance muscle activity and nerve transmission cells.