I have come up with a smoothie that just can't be beat when it comes to being nutrient dense and delicious. We all know how easy smoothies are, and that you can add or skip ingredients as you wish according to your own taste buds, but this makes a good base for whatever kind of smoothies you like. Every ingredient in it has a purpose and makes a fantastic wake up smoothie early in the morning when you are not allowed to drink coffee.
1/2 cup fresh young thai coconut juice
2 Tbsp fresh young thai coconut meat
1 little jar of homemade yogurt (about 3/4 cup), or store bought plain
2 Tbsp ground flax seeds
2 small bananas or 1 large one
honey to taste
ice
I know what you are thinking, it sounds like a difficult smoothie to make. I probably lost you at young thai coconut, but hear me out! You have yogurt for digestion and protein, flax seeds for omega fatty acids and fiber, bananas for potassium and mood boosting qualities, and of course, the coconut for energy, metabolism, your skin, and so so much more. The coconut is the most crucial part of this smoothie not just for flavor, but for nutrients sake. If you are not already on board the coconut band wagon, let me enlighten you!
Coconuts have had a bad reputation in the US and I am not really sure why, as they are highly regarded in almost every other part of the globe. They have been used not only as a delightful addition to the diet, they have also been used as medicine in Asian and Pacific populations. The juice, milk, meat and oil have all been found in various ways to treat baldness, stomach problems, scurvy, rash, malnutrition, skin infections, tumors, weakness, and the list goes on and on.
Unfortunately in America we had a period of time recently where we dismissed anything with any trace of fat in it, thinking it would make us, well, fat! Not true my friends and we should all know that by now. Fats should be a key component in our diet. They help your inner organs run smoothly, beautify your outer appearance and are a key component to brain function. So embrace your fats! And especially the coconut. Our "modern science" is just now finding out what millions of cultures already know: the coconut is a super-food! Coconut oil has been called "the healthiest oil on earth". Not only is it healthy, but the oil has one of the highest smoke points, which means you can heat it to a very high heat and it will not go rancid like olive oil or canola oil will. Now modern science finally knows that coconut can cure herpes, reduces inflammation, helps with diabetes, improves your bones and teeth, improves digestion and bowel function, supports the immune system, aids in weight loss, and so much more that I can't even begin to write it all down. But if you want to see a full list, you can go to coconutresearchcenter.org and see for yourself. And the reason I like coconut, and the purpose for including it in my wake up smoothie, is that coconut is nature's purest energy drink. The juice from a young thai coconut contains electrolytes and sugars that make up a perfect energizing combination. It literally perks you up and gets you going just moments after drinking it! And the benefits to your skin and hair are a plus too.
In these next summer months when everyone likes everything to be tropical, treat yourself to everything coconut and reap the benefits of nature's most nutritionally complete and miraculously healing food! You can find young thai coconuts at little Asian markets and sometimes Mexican ones. They are not the fuzzy brown ones we are all used to! Look for a white little block with one end flat and the other end in sort of a point. They should be very cheap and don't be intimidated by the exterior! They are quite easy to open.
To Open a Coconut...
1. use a sharp knife to shave away the pointed end until you reach the hard coconut.
2. set the coconut on it's flat bottom. imagine a small 3 inch in diameter circle on the top of the coconut. use the back end of your knife to whack the coconut where you imagine the edges of this circle will be. The coconut will begin to crack in a circle, just follow the natural cracks. Once it is loosened, you can easy take off the top and you will see it overflowing with yummy coconut juice!
3. How to check if it is bad... pour the juice into a mason jar or bowl. If it is slightly yellow tinted and smells sweet, you have a good coconut. If it is pink in any way and smells funny, throw it away. The meat should be springy and tight and not have any flecks of pink. Pink means bad!
And now that you know how to open a coconut you have no excuses! Drink the juice straight when you need a pick me up, throw the meat in smoothies or eat it as a snack, and find a health food store that sells coconut oil so you can start cooking with it! You want a cold-pressed extra virgin oil for the most nutrients. It is a solid oil unlike what you are probably used to. Delicious in vegan cookies as a replacement for butter!
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