When it comes to following the Paleo diet the main food groups that you should be avoiding are legumes, grains, and dairy. For those who have only just transitioned over to this lifestyle, you may be looking for alternatives to milk.
If you’ve just begun following the Paleo lifestyle there is one kind of milk I would recommend you try. You should try including more coconut milk in your diet.
You can now buy this or you can make it yourself. Of course, the most nutritious form of this product is the kind you make yourself.
When buying canned coconut milk or the kind available in cartons there are a few things you need to remember.
a) Make sure that it is a brand that is free of BPA (Bisphenol A).
b) Need to choose the unsweetened varieties. So they include no added sugar.
c) Look for ones that contain no carrageenan.
d) If possible choose ones made using organic coconut.
e) Select ones that don’t include any preservatives in them such as sulfites.
f) Check how much Vitamin A Palmitate they contain. This is especially important if you take a Vitamin A supplement.
So now you know which ones to be buying what are the benefits of including such milk into your Paleo lifestyle?
Benefits Of Coconut Milk
1. Lowers Blood Pressure And Cholesterol Levels
This is because this food is a great source of Lauric Acid. 50% of the fat in coconut contains this type of acid. Not only does it have great antibacterial properties but antiviral ones as well.
Also, coconut milk contains certain minerals that our body needs. These are the ones that help to control blood flow. These minerals also help to keep blood vessels more flexible and elastic. As well as help to prevent plaque from building up in them. One mineral contained in this type of milk is magnesium. Not only does it help with circulation but helps muscles remain relaxed.
2. Help You Build Muscle And So Lose Fat
In this milk, you’ll find MCT (Medium-chain triglycerides) fatty acids. Not only do they help you to generate more energy. You’ll find that they help you perform better.
After exercising our muscles need lots more nutrients. They specifically need electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium. Both of which are to be found in coconut milk.
These help to now only repair tissue but help it to grow back even stronger.
You’ll also find the healthy fats in this milk help to prevent you from snacking. This is because they make you feel fuller for longer. So, of course, your body will turn to the fat stored in it to provide it with the energy it needs throughout the day.
3. Prevents Fatigue
It helps to prevent fatigue through the electrolytes it contains. Plus there are certain minerals in this milk that help to maintain blood volume. In turn, leads to regulating heart health.
You’ll find these electrolytes prove invaluable as they prevent dehydration or diarrhea from occurring.
After you’ve exercised or been ill such milk will prove invaluable. You won’t feel as exhausted and the risk of developing heart problems is reduced. You’ll find the risk of suffering from heat stroke, muscles cramps or aches is much lower. Plus you’ll find it helps to boost your immune system.
4. Improved Brain Function
The MCT fatty acids found in this milk helps to increase brain energy. This is done without them actually needing to pass through the digestive tract first.
5. Makes Losing Weight Easier
As this milk is rich in MCT’s it proves to be filling. As well as being a fat burning food. When you feel satisfied then the risk of you overeating is reduced. Plus you may find that you don’t crave other foods as much. So helping to reduce the risk of you putting weight on.
6. Improves Digestion
Sometimes when you start following a Paleo lifestyle you may find yourself becoming constipated. But the inclusion of coconut milk in your diet can help to prevent this. This is because this milk helps to nourish the lining of your digestive tract.
In turn, this also helps to improve your gut health. It could then lead to preventing you from suffering from conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
7. Can Help To Control Diabetes
The fat found in this form of milk can slow down the rate at which sugar is released into your bloodstream. So helping you to control your insulin levels better. In turn, this could lead to you no longer suffering from “sugar highs”. It could even help to control or even reverse your diabetes.
Plus of course, the MCT’s contained in this food are preferred by our bodies.
8. Help Prevent Anemia
The amount of iron found in this milk isn’t that high. But it still provides you with a good source of plant-based iron. The kind that can help to prevent you from becoming deficient and so suffer from anemia.
9. Help Prevent Join Inflammation
The MCT’s found in coconut milk help to lower inflammation in the body. In turn, this can help to reduce symptoms associated with certain conditions such as arthritis.
Plus you may find after exercising it reduces the amount of pain you may find in your joints or muscles.
10. Help Prevent Ulcers
This type of food can help to reduce the occurrence of ulcers. Even more so than coconut water can. When drank coconut milk helps to protect the gastric mucus in your stomach.
As already discussed above you can buy coconut milk in either cans or cartons. But if you really want to reap the benefits of this food then why not consider making your own.
The whole process is relatively simple. The great thing is you don’t need to use fresh coconut. If you want you can use dried coconut flakes instead.
Below is a recipe worth trying out that you may find useful. One that will help you to enjoy delicious nutritious coconut milk anytime you want.
But in order to make it you will need the following pieces of equipment:
Colander
Cheesecloth
High Powered Blender – Such As Vitamix Or Blendtec
Homemade Coconut Milk
Recipe type: General
Cuisine: Healthy
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 1⅔ Cups
- 2 Cups Unsweetened Dried Coconut - Finely Shredded
- 2¾ Cups Water
- In a saucepan combine together the water and coconut.
- Bring to the boil over a high heat.
- Once boiling turn off the heat and cover. Leave the ingredients to set for an hour.
- Now pour the mixture into a blender and blend on high for 2 to 5 minutes. You may find if you have a Vitamix or Blendtec you will not need to blend for so long as these are very powerful blenders.
- Whilst the blender is running place a tea towel or cloth over the lid and keep your hand on top.
- The mixture should now be thick and slightly granular.
- Now pour the pulp into the cheesecloth and suspend it over a glass blow. You may find placing the cheesecloth inside a strainer or sieve makes it easier to handle.
- You can now let either the milk strain through the cheesecloth by gravity or if you want you can help the process along by squeezing the pulp.
- If you don’t intend to use your coconut milk straight away then store it in a glass jar.
- It can be kept in the jar for up to 2 weeks if you store it in the refrigerator. But if you freeze it, it will last for up to a year.
- Before using it you need either to shake it well, blend it or gently warm it through.
3.5.3226
The great thing is once you have made your coconut milk, don’t through away the pulp remaining. If you have a dehydrator place the pulp on to fruit roll sheets and place in your dehydrator. If you don’t have fruit roll sheets then use some parchment paper to line the racks in your dehydrator. Now leave in their for between 12 and 24 hours. After this time remove and place in a blend and mix at high speed until a fine powder is formed. You now have your own coconut flour.
If however, you don’t have a dehydrator you can also prepare the flour in an oven. Place the pulp on a parchment paper covered baking tray and place in the oven. This should be set at the lowest temperature setting possible. Now leave in the oven for 4 hours. After this time the pulp should have dried out completely. Again place in a blender and blend on high until it forms into a fine powder.
