EAT & DRINK IT: Cococuts

The coconut is one of the greatest gifts of this planet! The coconut has a natural water filter - it takes almost 9 months to filter each liter of water. The water travels through many fibers being purified to where it is stored away STERILE inside the nut. Coconut water is pure and one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man. It is identical to human blood plasma (plasma makes up 55% of human blood), which makes it the universal donor. Therefore eating and drinking coconuts is really good for you. I have been purchasing young Thai Coconuts (water is slightly sweeter and the meat is softer) at a local health food store, and also from Whole Foods for about $3.00 each.

If you do not have easy access or perhaps want to take on a trip- there are two boxed coconut water companies, Zico (tastes more similar to Thai coconuts I like) and Vita Coco, I have tried that are available for purchase online. Of course, drinking right from the source is more optimal, as once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.

Sometimes opening a young coconut is not so easy- recently I purchased a Henckels cleaver (on amazon.com) and also a coconut opening tool (still waiting for it) from youngcoconuts.com to help. Click here and here for more info on coconuts. Click Here to go to rawglow's link with pictures on how to open, and below is a video for tips on opening the young coconut.