Coconut
Scientific names: Cocos nucifera
Family: Arecaceae/Palmae
Alternate names: Coco, Coco da Bahia, Coco da Praia, Coconut Milk, Coconut Palm, Cocotero, Cocotier, Copra, Coqueiro, Coqueiro da Bahia, Coqueiro da Praia, Kalpavriksha, Kokosnuss, Kokospalm, Kokospalme, Mnazi, Noix de Coco, Tree of life
Actions: Antidiabetic effect, Hypocholesterolemic effect
Background
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is the fruit of the coconut palm, which grows in tropical places around the world. It can be eaten as food or used as medicine.
Coconuts contain a high amount of a saturated fat called medium chain triglycerides. These fats work differently than other types of saturated fat in the body. They might increase fat burning and reduce fat storage. Coconut flour, which is made from coconut, contains high amounts of dietary fiber.
People use coconut for diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don’t confuse coconut with coconut oil or coconut water. These are not the same.
Coconuts contain a high amount of a saturated fat called medium chain triglycerides. These fats work differently than other types of saturated fat in the body. They might increase fat burning and reduce fat storage. Coconut flour, which is made from coconut, contains high amounts of dietary fiber.
People use coconut for diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don’t confuse coconut with coconut oil or coconut water. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Coconut is commonly consumed as food. Coconut is possibly safe when used as medicine, short-term. In some people, eating coconuts might cause an allergic reaction. Symptoms might include skin rashes and difficulty breathing.
Allergy to coconut oil or related plants: Coconut might cause serious allergic reactions in people who are allergic to coconut oil, coconut palm pollen, components of coconut, or other members of the Arecaceae plant family.
High cholesterol: People who eat large amounts of coconut have higher cholesterol than those who eat less. But eating foods with coconut flour might actually decrease cholesterol levels. This might be due to the type of coconut product used. Whole coconut contains coconut oil, which is made up of saturated fat. But coconut flour is processed to remove fats. Use whole coconut cautiously if you have high cholesterol.
Surgery: Coconut might interfere with blood glucose control during and after surgery. Stop using coconut at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Coconut is commonly consumed as food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if coconut is safe to use as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Allergy to coconut oil or related plants: Coconut might cause serious allergic reactions in people who are allergic to coconut oil, coconut palm pollen, components of coconut, or other members of the Arecaceae plant family.
High cholesterol: People who eat large amounts of coconut have higher cholesterol than those who eat less. But eating foods with coconut flour might actually decrease cholesterol levels. This might be due to the type of coconut product used. Whole coconut contains coconut oil, which is made up of saturated fat. But coconut flour is processed to remove fats. Use whole coconut cautiously if you have high cholesterol.
Surgery: Coconut might interfere with blood glucose control during and after surgery. Stop using coconut at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using coconut for a number of purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
Coconut is commonly eaten as food.
As medicine, there isn’t enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of coconut might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
As medicine, there isn’t enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of coconut might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Coconut might lower blood sugar levels. Taking coconut along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Coconut might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per 6 g:
- Coconut water powder
- Magnesium citrate
- Magnesium glycinate
- Fragaria ananassa (juice) powder (Strawberry)
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui berry)
- Garcinia mangostana (fruit) powder
- Lycium barbarum (fruit)
- Glycine
- Magnesium orotate
- Potassium citrate
- Taurine
- L-glutamine
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Calcium citrate
- Natural strawberry flavour
- Levocarnitine tartrate (L-carnitine)
- Curry leaf extract
- Psidium guajava (Guava)
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Phyllanthus emblica
- Ocimum tenuiflorum
- Bixa orellana
- Malic acid
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Zinc citrate dihydrate
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Folic acid
- Thaumatin
- Punica granatum
- Rubus idaeus (fruit) powder
Practitioner product
Per 5 g:
- Coconut water powder
- Turnera diffusa (leaf)
- Panax ginseng
- Eleutherococcus senticosus
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Mucuna pruriens
- Lycium barbarum (fruit)
- Tribulus terrestris
- Smilax officinalis
- Hebanthe eriantha
- Panax notoginseng
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Natural apple flavour
- Myrica rubra (berry) powder (Yumberry)
RRP: $44.95$38.20Save: 15%
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Per 3 g:
- Coconut water powder
- Magnesium hydroxide
- Tapioca
- Calcified lithothamnion (Red algae)
RRP: $26.10$21.53Save: 18%
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Per 10 g (Blood Orange):
200 g Blood Orange
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Per serve (Chocolate):
1 kg Chocolate
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Per 20 mL (Better Belly BBQ):
- Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- Beef bones
- Paprika
- Carya juice
- Water
- Sea salt
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cichorium intybus (fibre)
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Brassica juncea (seed) powder
- Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato)
- Natural pomegranate flavour
- Allium cepa
- Allium sativum powder
- Citrus limon (juice) (Lemon)
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Tamarindus indica
375 mL Better Belly BBQ
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Per 17 g:
RRP: $59.95$50.96Save: 15%
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Per 30 g:
RRP: $49.95$42.46Save: 15%
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Per 35 g (Chocolate):
- Coconut milk powder
- Cannabis sativa powder 20.65 g
- Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla bean extract)
- Sunflower lecithin
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous
- Thaumatin
- Theobroma cacao powder 9.8 g
- Natural chocolate flavour
- Natural flavours
- Tapioca maltodextrin
- Acacia sp.
420 g Chocolate
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Per 6 g:
- Coconut sugar
- Theobroma cacao powder 1.92 g
- Pouteria lucuma (fruit) powder
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Mango (fruit)
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Natural chocolate flavour
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa mass)
- Sugar
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Arctic sea algae
- Sea salt
- Green banana
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
- Vaccinium corymbosum (fruit) powder
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Rubus idaeus
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Per bar:
- Coconut sugar
- Coconut oil
- Arachis hypogaea (Peanut protein isolate) 10.2 g
- Arachis hypogaea (Peanuts) 15 g
- Pea protein concentrate
- L-glutamine
- Prebiotic fibre
- Phoenix dactylifera (Date)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa mass)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa solids)
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice malt syrup)
- Grape (dried) (Sultana)
- Natural peanut flavour
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
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Per bar:
- Coconut sugar
- Coconut flesh (dried)
- Coconut oil
- Pea protein concentrate
- L-glutamine
- Prebiotic fibre
- Vicia faba (Fava bean protein)
- Prunus dulcis (Almond)
- Phoenix dactylifera (Date)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa mass)
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Sugar
- Sunflower oil
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa powder) 3 g
- Prunus serotina (fruit) ext. (Black cherry)
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice malt syrup)
- Grape (dried) (Sultana)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa solids)
- Natural cherry flavour
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Per bar:
- Coconut sugar
- Coconut flesh (dried)
- Coconut oil
- Pea protein concentrate
- L-glutamine
- Prebiotic fibre
- Prunus dulcis (Almond)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa mass)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa solids)
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Phoenix dactylifera (Date)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa powder) 5.4 g
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice malt syrup)
- Grape (dried) (Sultana)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Stevia rebaubiana
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Per 5 g (Chocolate):
- Coconut milk powder
- Lepidium meyenii powder 1 g
- Theobroma cacao powder
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 200 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 200 mg
- Asphaltum punjabinum (Shilajit) 200 mg
- Green banana
- Tremella fuciformis powder 160 mg
- Pearl powder
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 1.5 billion CFU
- Natural chocolate flavour
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa powder)
- Erythritol
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Xanthan gum
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
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Per bar:
- Coconut sugar
- Coconut flesh (dried)
- Vicia faba (Fava bean protein)
- Prebiotic fibre
- Vitis vinifera juice
- Theobroma cacao powder
- Anacardium occidentale (Cashew nut)
- L-glutamine
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa mass)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa solids)
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple oil)
- Oryza sativa (Rice juice concentrate)
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Per 30 g (Banana Cinnamon):
- Pea protein isolate
- Pumpkin seed protein
- Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon)
- Bacillus coagulans 50 mg
- Natural flavours
- Cinnamomum spp. powder
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Amylase enzyme
- Cellulase
- Lipase
- Lactase
- Protease
900 g Banana Cinnamon
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This monograph was last reviewed on 22/02/2023 11:00:00 and last updated on 13/06/2018 00:48:57. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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