Wellness 4 Life

Home Spun Coconut Milk- A Healthy Alternative

There are many super foods I have talked about in the past- today I want to highlight the benefits of coconut. If someone is looking to go move to a more dairy free type of diet, drinking coconut milk is one option. Now, you can easily go to your local market and pick up coconut or any nut milk. However, the taste and consistency of these drinking is not pleasant. I find that the carton in our fridge stays around for a long time because no one wants to use that much. Well fast forward the the beginning of 2017 when we decided to go less dairy and add coconut milk to our everyday meals. Home made coconut milk. Yes, that's right, getting a fresh coconut from the grocery store, cutting it open and making coconut milk. What a huge difference ! Like night and day. Drinking coconut milk is super refreshing and it fills you up, and its very very tasty.

Coconut is packed with medium fatty acids and lauric acid as well. What is significant about lauric acid? Lauric acid is converted in the body into a highly beneficial compound called monolaurin, an antiviral and antibacterial that destroys a wide variety of disease causing organisms. Therefore, consuming coconut milk now helps protect the body from infections and viruses. How is coconut nutriently beneficial? Coconuts are rich in fibre, vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6 and minerals including iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous.If you are lactose intolerant, you can also drink this milk because there is no lactose in fresh coconut milk.

Here are the Simple Steps To Making Coconut Milk:

Break Open the Coconut - You can use a hammer or the back of the knife. Keep hitting it especially at the seams.

Next Take out the coconut Meat. I just use a stainless steel knife to do this. I stick the knife into the coconut and pull away. Be very careful with your sharp kitchen knives. See my instragram video on arc4lifehealth.

Next Take this coconut meat and put it into your high efficiency blender (like a Vitamix) and add a few cups of water.What I do exactly is use 1/2 of the coconut meat and add 3 cups of water. I save the rest for my next batch of coconut milk. Blend it at a high speed for a good 2 - 3 minutes. Next get your strainer out with a cheese cloth. Add this coconut pulp through this seive. Squeeze out the coconut milk. This is a very refreshing drink  by the way. Oh and did I mention that its healthy too !!!

Now you will have all this desicatted coconut pulp that has a very mild flavor. What to do with that. DO not throw it out. It can be repurposed very easily actually. 

• Use it in your morning oatmeal
• Put it into your smoothies
• Add it to your pancake batter
• Make coconut ice cream
• Make Coconut Flour

Additional Reading and Viewing:

Part I: How to Open Up a Coconut to Make Coconut Milk

Part II: How to Take out the Coconut Meat to Make Coconut Milk

Part III: How to Mix the Coconut Meat and Water to Make Coconut Milk

Part IV: Making the Actual Coconut Milk 

Part III and IV: How to Make the actual Coconut Milk: See Below

Related articles

Do I Get An Epidural?

1st Starting With A Neck Pillow...Go Gradual

A Healthy Alternative to Pasta Poosta - Spaghetti Squash

Are you looking for a healthy alternative to Pasta? Or Pasta Poosta as we say in our family? Well here it is - its called Spaghetti Squash and it seriously resembles spaghetti. I found this at my local farmers market this weekend. You could eat gluten free pasta but I have found that it is completely tasteless, is nutrient lacking and renders a weird consistency. Believe me, this is a far better alternative !

Spaghetti squash, is so rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as being naturally low in carbohydates and calories. Its high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, B6, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, folate, pantothenic acid and vitamin K. Research has shown that Spaghetti squash is even more beneficial than taking vitamin supplements. Also importantly it contains vital minerals such as manganese which helps with metabolism, regulation of blood sugar, absorption of calcium and better nervous system function. Other minerals that are found in #spaghettisquash is potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, zinc and selenium. There is also a lot of fiber in this squash that helps you feel full longer, helps with #hearthealth and #lowerscholesterol. Finally, I want to mention that it contains omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to help prevent heart disease, inflammation, arthritis, and certain cancers.

I think that one reason I was hesitant about using this squash is the preparation of it. To be honest, it does take some muscles to cut this squash! Some grocery stores will cut it for you too. Maybe your partner will help you ! Well, I think you can do it yourself - I  recently found a new technique where you cut the spaghetti squash into rings first:

Then Take Out the Seeds:

 

 

 

Salt them with Coarse Kosher Salt and let them sit for 15 minutes. You will notice that water will build up after 15 minutes. 

 

Then wash off the rings. After that you basically bake them for 30 minutes in a 400 degree oven. Then Use your fork to take out the long spaghetti like strands. 

 

By the way, my 4 year old who does not like pasta, ate up his whole plate of spaghetti and meatballs. When your picky children like what you have cooked, its all worth it. 

Spaghetti and Meatballs with Roasted Broccoli

 

Related articles

Do I Get An Epidural?

Kelly Ripa's Chiropractor Recommend an Alkaline Diet

Why am I Tired All the Time?

I Have Pain When I Breathe?...

The Golden Milk - Your Immune System's Friend

Here at the PainRelief4Life Blog, we are always ranting and raving about the benefits of turmeric root. I was recently transported back to my childhood the other day when I came across the recipe for golden milk (better known as turmeric or “haldi” milk). My husband and I actually swapped this “tea” as a replacement for our regular afternoon coffee ritual and it was a sure hit! The list of ingredients taste as enticing as they sound – turmeric powder, warm cinnamon, a smidgen of fresh ginger, honey, coconut oil, freshly ground black pepper, whole milk. You can also make this with coconut/almond milk as well. Blitz it all together with a high speed blender and then heat it on the stove top. The health benefits of this “tea” are amazing.

Turmuric is an anti-inflammatory spice that has "shown therapeutic potential against a number of human diseases," including cancer and Alzheimer's. Because turmuric decreases inflammation in the body, it helps with gas, bloating, and digestive discomfort. Studies have shown it helps people with their weight, depression and allows for better sleep and improved brain health. If you live in a colder region and are suffering from flu and colds, drink this golden turmeric golden milk. Bottom line, if you have something going on, try turmeric milk - it does the body good in so many ways.

Additional Resources:

• 10 Ways to Improve Your Posture
• The Turmeric Curcumin Supplement
• Study shows how Tart Cherry Juice Can Help You Sleep
• The Tale of Two Pillows

Related articles

1st Starting With A Neck Pillow...Go Gradual

Do I Get An Epidural?

Kelly Ripa's Chiropractor Recommend an Alkaline Diet

I Have Pain When I Breathe?...