The coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family). It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos, and is a large palm, growing up to 30 m tall, with pinnate leaves 4–6 m long, and pinnae 60–90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly, leaving thetrunk smooth. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spellingcocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word.
The coconut palm is grown throughout the tropics for decoration, as well as for its many culinary and non-culinary uses; virtually every part of the coconut palm can be utilized by humans in some manner. However, the extent of cultivation in the tropics is threatening a number of habitats such as mangroves; an example of such damage to an ecoregion is in the Petenes mangroves of the Yucatan. In cooler climates (but not less than USDA Zone 9), a similar palm, the queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana), is used in landscaping. Its fruits are very similar to the coconut, but much smaller. The queen palm was originally classified in the genus Cocos along with the coconut, but was later reclassified inSyagrus. A recently discovered palm, Beccariophoenix alfredii from Madagascar, is nearly identical to the coconut, and more so than the queen palm. It is cold-hardy, and produces a coconut lookalike in cooler areas.
The coconut has spread across much of the tropics, probably aided in many cases by seafaring people. Coconut fruit in the wild is light, buoyant and highly water resistant, and evolved to disperse significant distances via marine currents. Fruit collected from the sea as far north asNorway are viable.[citation needed] In the Hawaiian Islands, the coconut is regarded as a Polynesian introduction, first brought to the islands by early Polynesian voyagers from their homelands in Oceania. They are now almost ubiquitous between 26°N and 26°S except for the interiors ofAfrica and South America.
Health Benefits of Coconut Water
*Contains 5 electrolytes – Potassium (more Potassium than a banana), Magnesium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphorus
* Natural rehydration
*Fat Free, Cholesterol Free, low in acidity
*Low Sugar
*Coconut water is naturally sterile and has the same properties of human blood plasma. Coconut water has actually been used intravenously in emergency cases.
* Helps carry nutrients and oxygen to cells.
* Helps eliminate swelling in hands and feet
*Naturally cools the body to the proper temperature
* Boosts Poor Circulation
* Helps Maintain hot flashes in menopausal women
* Raises Metabolism
* Detoxifies and helps fight off viruses
* Control Diabetes
* Balance body PH thus reducing chances of cancer
* Treats kidney and urethral stones
* Cleans digestive tract
* Boosts your immune system
* Promotes Weight Loss
* Hangover relief
Coconut – Should this even be in a list of fruits? The fruit of the coconut palm is harvested throughout the tropical world for food, oil and Coir (the brown fibrous husk of the coconut).
