Mabuhay Coconuts

Image courtesy of http://filipinolifeinpictures.wordpress.com

Living in the tropics has its advantages, and one of them is the abundance of coconuts! Coconuts or "buko" as we call 'em, can be bought anywhere--in markets, on the streets, in food stalls etc. They're more hydrating than Gatorade and are a good source of energy! Coconuts are a known antioxidant and have numerous health benefits, including better digestion and metabolism, improved kidney function, increased immunity from diseases including cancer, lower blood pressure, and so on and so forth! My mom recently got addicted to them because they're also chemo-friendly--very refreshing, have no metallic after-taste, and they're filling without making the stomach turn.

How to eat: In the Philippines, we can buy the entire coconut nut, which we then chop in half, pour the juice into a pitcher, and then scrape the meat inside. The meat can be hard or soft, and you can actually request it from the coconut vendor. Just by knocking on the shell, he can tell which is it. You can eat and drink the coconut as is, or prepare it as a shake, icicle, salad, etc.

One fun fact about the coconut tree is that we call it "The Tree of Life" because of the endless list of products and by-products that can be derived from all of its parts. Isn't that amazing?