Contents:
- Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Why coconut oil is bad for your heart
- Nutrient content of coconut milk
- So how much coconut milk can you consume?
- So is coconut milk dangerous?
- Also be aware of the dangers of coconut milk for health
Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Why coconut oil is bad for your heart
There are many Indonesian food menus that use coconut milk as a marinade, from chicken opor, rendang to curry. The savory taste makes the coconut milk a favorite among people. Coconut milk is also often used as an alternative to milk substitutes. Although the taste is savory and can be a substitute for milk, but can it be coconut milk every day? Are there certain restrictions that must be considered when eating coconut milk? What are the dangers of coconut milk for health?
Nutrient content of coconut milk
When viewed from its nutritional content, coconut milk has a high calorie content. As much as 93 percent of coconut milk's calories come from fat, which is called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).
Meanwhile, in 240 grams or one cup of coconut milk contains:
- Energy: 554 calories
- Fat: 57 grams
- Protein: 5 grams
- Carbohydrates: 13 grams
- Fiber: 5 grams
Reported on Verrywell Fit's page, more than 51 grams of fat contained in thick coconut milk are saturated fat.
So how much coconut milk can you consume?
Actually there is no limit to how much coconut milk is consumed in one day. But according to the American Heart Association, the limit of calories from saturated fat can be consumed by about 6 percent of total calories. Now, as mentioned earlier, coconut milk is rich in saturated fat so it needs to be limited according to the recommendations given.
For example, if your daily needs are 2000 calories, then the total amount of saturated fat that is safe to consume in a day is 6 percent of that calorie requirement or about 120 calories (13.3 grams).
Well, from these estimates, that means that in a day you should not consume food or drinks containing coconut milk to one cup, because the fat content is over the recommended limit in a day.
Reported on Verrywell Fit page, 1 tablespoon of coconut milk or about 15 grams contributes about 3.2 grams of saturated fat. So, consuming one tablespoon of coconut milk in one day is still within safe limits.
So is coconut milk dangerous?
Although many think that coconut milk is not good for health, some experts say that the original coconut milk that has not been mixed with sugar and other ingredients actually benefits health. An example is fighting fungi and viruses so that it effectively helps the body avoid viruses and fungi.
Genuine coconut milk containing lauric acid is also thought to reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides so that it can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
In addition, even though it is high in calories, pure coconut milk is actually a good source of vitamins and minerals. A cup of coconut milk can meet 11 percent of the need for vitamin C, 22 percent for iron, 32 percent for copper, 22 percent for magnesium, and 21 percent for selenium in a day.
Also be aware of the dangers of coconut milk for health
Even though it is rich in vitamins and minerals, the consumption of coconut milk must remain limited wisely. Of course, coconut milk consumed too often will cause health problems.
The danger of coconut milk for the body is actually related to saturated fat levels which can increase the risk of various chronic diseases, especially heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks.
So if you want to eat coconut milk, don't exceed the maximum consumption limit in a day.
