What Are The Health Benefits Of Unsweetened Coconut?

The coconut is a fruit that grows from a palm tree in tropical climates. The origin of the coconut is unknown but record of its existence traces back to India 4,000 years ago. The components of the coconut are all useful. People have used its milk, oil, meat and shell throughout history for food, medicinal and functional uses. The popularity of coconut oil in recent years has sparked an upsurge in the coconut trade. The coconut meat is also healthy and provides a variety of dietary benefits.

Protein

A 1-cup serving of unsweetened coconut provides 2.7 g of protein, or 5 percent of the Food and Drug Administration daily value. Protein contributes to important functions in the body, including supplying amino acids, the component parts of protein that build enzymes, muscle and skin tissue and help process metabolic reactions.

Healthy Fat

The coconut is well known for its fat content. Coconut lipids in one cup of coconut provide 26.8 g of fat, the equivalent of 41 percent of the 65 g FDA daily value. The saturated fat content is 23.8 g, more than the 20 g daily limit established by the FDA. The claims regarding the health contributions of coconut oil are disputed among experts. Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky recommends avoiding the trends and focusing instead on a balanced, healthy diet. Monitoring the saturated fat content in the diet is important when consuming coconut because the amount in one cup exceeds the FDA recommendation.

Fiber

The fiber in one cup of coconut is 7.2 g, or 29 percent of the 25 g FDA daily value. Fiber improves digestion by facilitating absorption and elimination of metabolic wastes. It also improves consistency of blood sugar and decreases fluctuations that contribute to glycemic disorders such as diabetes.

Minerals

The 1.9 mg iron contribution of coconut to the diet is 11 percent of the 18 mg FDA daily value. Coconut provides 285 mg of potassium, or 8 percent of the 3,500 mg daily value. Iron provides oxygen to the various organs in the body. Lack of iron leads to anemia, a condition with varying degrees of seriousness that causes fatigue. Potassium controls the fluid and electrolyte elimination and retention integral to normal blood pressure.