Coconuts are crazy healthy for you

You've made your way to the Coconutery, the world's leading non-existent coconut community. 

You know by now that coconuts are crazy healthy for you, but what specifically makes them grade-A? 

Here's a few reminders:

They're highly nutritious

Unlike many other fruits that are high in carbs, coconuts provide mostly fat (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

They also contain protein, several important minerals, and small amounts of B vitamins. However, they’re not a significant source of most other vitamins (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

The minerals in coconut are involved in many functions in your body. Coconuts are especially high in manganese, which is essential for bone health and the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and cholesterol (8Trusted Source).

They’re also rich in copper and iron, which help form red blood cells, as well as selenium, an important antioxidant that protects your cells.

Benefit your heart

Studies have found that people who live on Polynesian islands and frequently eat coconut meat have lower rates of heart disease than those who follow a Western diet (10Trusted Source).

However, native Polynesians also eat more fish and less processed foods, so it’s unclear if these lower rates are due to eating coconut or other aspects of their diet (10Trusted Source).

Another study in 1,837 Filipino women found that those who ate more coconut oil not only had higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol but also higher levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides (10Trusted Source).

Overall, it concluded that coconut oil has a neutral effect on cholesterol levels (10Trusted Source).

Contains antioxidants

Coconut meat contains phenolic compounds, which are antioxidants that may help protect cells from oxidative damage. The main phenolic compounds identified include (20):

• gallic acid
• caffeic acid
• salicylic acid
• p-coumaric acid

Lab tests on coconut meat have shown that it has antioxidant and free-radical-scavenging activity (20).

The polyphenols found in it can prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, making it less likely to form plaques in arteries that can increase the risk of heart disease (4Trusted Source).

Some test-tube and animal studies have also shown that antioxidants found in coconut oil may help protect cells from damage and death caused by oxidative stress and chemotherapy (21Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source).

What's YOUR favorite part about coconuts? Drop us a line in the comments below! We'd love to hear from you.

Information provided by Healthline