The Scoop on the Drupe

You might call it a cultural craze, since the coconut has been exploding on the scene lately. In fact the two largest soda brands have both recently acquired coconut water brands. Additionally, you can find coconut related products in health food stores and in mainstream retail. It's everywhere! So let's take a look at this fascinating phenomenon called the coconut. Even though the word nut is in coconut, its not a nut or wholly even a fruit for that matter. It's technically called a drupe: it's a fruit with an outer husk or skin, a usually succulent middle layer, and a hard and woody inner shell typically enclosing a single seed.

Other examples of drupes include: stone fruits such as plums, cherries, dates, mangoes, and apricots as well as raspberries and blackberries, which make up of clustered tiny droplets surrounding a central stem. While coconuts may fit neatly under the "drupe" umbrella, there are important differences within the coconut world to consider. While it is true that coconuts are superfoods packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, there's a difference, for instance between young coconuts verses mature coconuts as well as coconut water verses coconut milk. For example young coconuts have more water and soft gel- like coconut meat. While mature coconuts have less water and firmer coconut meat.

Speaking of coconut water, let's clarify that coconut water is the liquid inside the coconut. Coconut milk, however is made from the expressed juice of grated mature coconut meat and water. Going a step further coconut cream is made in a similar way as coconut milk, but contains a higher ratio of coconut to water, thereby making it thicker. You can even buy or make coconut kefir from coconut water or coconut milk. You'll not only get the health benefits of coconut, but since coconut kefir is a lacto- fermented beverage, you'll also get probiotics and enzymes, which help support digestion.

While we're at it let's not forget about coconut oil - known as the world's healthiest oil - from the coconut meat that contains ultra - healthy medium chain fatty acids like lauric acid, myristic acid, caprylic acid, palmitric acid and more. Don't use just any coconut oil, either because coconut oils on the market vary dramatically quality- wise. Low - quality coconut oils are processed by chemical extraction using solvents or are hydrogenated, bleached and deodorized. A high - quality virgin organic coconut oil derived from fresh coconuts with no GMO ingredients. bleaching, deodorizing, refining or hydrogenation is what you want to look for and use.

Two other coconut products gaining in popularity with the health trendsetter crowd are raw coconut cream and raw coconut kefir. Raw coconut cream is created by pressing or "juicing" the meat of the mature coconut. This creates a food loaded with medium- chain fatty acids that are easily absorbed by the body - providing a yummy source of quick energy. An added bonus is that raw coconut cream has the consistency of cream cheese and has a smooth texture - making it an ideal healthy snack or ingredient in a raw desert or smoothie. What's more, raw coconut cream is perfect for those on a raw, vegan diet.

Raw coconut kefir is made from raw coconut water that is naturally fermented with probiotics, but it's dairy - free suitable for vegans and packed with enzymes. Raw coconut kefir also promotes a healthy intestinal environment supporting your body's immune and digestive systems. Likewise, raw coconut kefir supports proper hydration since it is a highly organized ionized water source. With such great taste and a variety of health benefits it's no wonder there's a cultural coconut craze. So, if your going cuckoo for coconuts, now you have the scoop on this amazing drupe!

Energizing Enzymes For Our Health

Most of us have heard of enzymes, but if you need a refresher, here's an Enzymes 101" of sorts. There are three main types of enzymes: metabolic enzymes, digestive enzymes, and food enzymes. Metabolic enzymes are instrumantal in heart, brain, lung, and kidney function, and literally hundreds of metabolic enzymes keep the body running along. They're in our cells, internal organs, blood and even our bones. Digestive enzymes are secreted by the salvary glands, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. They break down large food molecules into amaller units that can be absorbed by the blood and into cells. This is essential because that's how our bodies get nourished from the macronutrients: proteins, fats and carbs. In fact, the enzyme protease works to digest proteins, lipase woaks to digest fats, while amylase works to digest carbs. Digestive enzymes spped up the digestive process and without digestive enzymes, food molecules would break down fat to slowly to be absorbed. Food enzymes are found naturally in raw uncooked foods and help digest those foods so their nutrients can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Food enzymes, like digestive enzymes, help to digest food so that it can absorbed properly by the body. Food enzymes can be destroyed, however, when heated above temps of 118 degrees Fahrenheit. We usually lack enzymes from food because we cook them to death. without those raw enzymes, our digestive systems work harder to digest food. In fact, cooked foods can take up to 2 to 3 times longer to pass through the digestive system than raw foods do. Eating enzyme - dead food also taxes your pancreas and other organs from the wear and tear they undergo digesting mostly cooked foods. Additionally the more stress put on these organs, the less time they have to rebuild cells and tissues or keep the immune system strong. Overcooked foods aren't the only reason we come up short on enzymes, though. Eating processed or fast foods, being run down or under stress, living in an overly hot or cold climate, the aging process, pregnancy, being a frequent flyer, or even sweating can diminish enzyme stores. In turn your health can take a hit because overall health is tied to digestive health and good digestion relies on the right enzymes in the right amounts - at the right place and time. Luckily eating raw, cultured or sprouted foods can help keep your enzyme levels energized.