Coconut water is now the trendy sports drink to carry to yoga sessions, and with good reason; a rich isotonic source of essential electrolytes it keeps your body hydrated at the cellular level. Also, did you know that the humble, hairy coconut is one of the most versatile and beautifying foods in the planet (next to fruit of course)? The coconut yields milk, water, cream, oil and even nut ‘meat’ which can be made into creamy puddings and treats galore, and all pack a prettying punch.
Coconut water is now the trendy sports drink to carry to yoga sessions, and with good reason; a rich isotonic source of essential electrolytes it keeps your body hydrated at the cellular level. Also, did you know that the humble, hairy coconut is one of the most versatile and beautifying foods in the planet (next to fruit of course)? The coconut yields milk, water, cream, oil and even nut ‘meat’ which can be made into creamy puddings and treats galore, and all pack a prettying punch.
Beauty nutrients inside the coconut include high amounts of iron and zinc: a cupful of coconut milk contains 50 percent of your RDA of iron and 25 percent of your zinc recommendation, plus decent levels of manganese and magnesium. Coconuts are renowned for being high in fat – the main reason many dieters and health-seekers have shunned them in the past – but newer research suggests that medium-chain fatty acids like lauric acid and capric acid, found in coconut, are very healthy for the body and can even help dieters to shed unwanted fat… astonishing! A fat that makes you gorgeous, and slim.
As a beauty food specialist I always like to recommend that coconut is consumed in as close to its natural state as possible; even though it is a healthy fat, too much is still too much. Coconut milk and meat are far healthier than coconut oil, which is a fractionated food devoid of all nutrients other than the fatty acids. It’s also important to avoid toasted coconut, as the heat destroys the beautifying fatty acids. Raw coconut shreds and flakes, and organic coconut milk and cream are daily essentials in my ‘facelift kitchen’. Add them to your breakfast cereals, smoothies and fruit salads. Or try my anti-ageing coconut recipes :
COCONUT RASPBERRY MUESLI
•1 large handful of gluten-free rolled oats
•1 tbsp raisins
•1 tbsp goji berries
•10-15 plump juicy raspberries
•1 tbsp raw coconut flakes
•Nut milk of your choice
1 Mix together the oats, raisins, goji berries and nut milk and leave to stand for a few minutes to plump up.
2 Sprinkle with delicious, ripe raspberries and coconut flakes and devour!
COCONUT AND ROSE PETAL JELLIES
•1 handful of dried fragrant rose petals
•1 tin organic coconut milk
•1 tbsp powdered xylitol
(or other natural sweetener)
•3 tsp agar agar flakes
1 Simmer the rose petals for about 15 minutes in the coconut milk then add the xylitol. Stir to dissolve it.
2 Remove briefly from the heat to stir in the agar flakes, then heat to a rolling boil stirring carefully for 10 minutes.
3 Pour into silicon cake or jelly moulds (hearts and round shapes are nice) and leave to stand until cool. Once cool, pop into the fridge to firm up.
VERY STRAWBERRY
•Lots of English strawberries
•160ml organic coconut cream (not coconut milk)
•Xylitol, honey or other natural sweetener to taste
•1 tsp vanilla powder
1 This is strawberries and cream the healthy way! Chop up the strawberries and divide between two bowls.
2 Mix the coconut cream with the natural sweetener and vanilla powder and pour over the strawberries.
3 Serving to friends? Pimp this up further by adding some shaved fresh coconut, maple syrup drizzle and freeze-dried strawberry sprinkles.
By Star Khechara 
