In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “Can coconut milk cause diarrhea?” with an in-depth analysis of what to eat when you have diarrhea? Moreover, we are going to discuss the nutritional value and benefits of coconut milk.
Can coconut milk cause diarrhea?
Yes! coconut milk can cause diarrhea and other digestive issues because it contains fermentable carbohydrates.
What are the problems caused by consuming too much coconut milk?
Consuming too much coconut milk can cause several health problems in people having coconut allergy such as;
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Irritation of the mouth, throat, eyes, and skin
- Anaphylaxis
What to Eat When You Have Diarrhea?
When you have diarrhea, try to use food like;
- chicken soup
- Saltines
- Also try to follow the BRAT diet – bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
Let’s discuss them one by one.
Salty and Sweet:
- Diarrhea causes dehydration and loss of nutrients in your body which can cause several complications if not treated on time.
- That’s why it is advised to use liquids containing sugar and salt in plenty of amounts to keep the body hydrated.
BRAT Diet:
- In a normal routine, it is advised to use whole grain and high fiber-containing food. However, in diarrhea, such food can make the problem worse.
- It is mandatory to take a BRAT diet like bananas, rice, etc in case of diarrhea as they contain lower amounts of fiber and help you fulfill nutritional deficiency caused by diarrhea.
Probiotics:
- In diarrhea, it is advisable to use probiotics to fight a problem.
- Probiotics add or replace useful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
What type of coconut milk should you buy?
- Canned coconut milk has a higher fat content and is used for cooking and baking, however, it is thick.
- On the other hand, coconut milk beverage contains less protein than dairy milk but it has a thin,cream-like consistency.
- If you are using coconut beverage milk, make sure to take protein from other sources in your diet to meet its deficiency.
- It is advised to use coconut products that have few ingredients.
- Don’t forget to check the labeling before buying it will give you information about added sugar, preservatives, and artificial thickeners.
How to use coconut milk?
There are several ways through which you can use coconut milk. The coconut milk goes well with;
- Cereals
- smoothies
- Soup
- Oatmeal
- Chicken curry
What is the nutritional value of coconut milk?
The nutritional value per cup of raw, canned coconut milk is:
- calories: 445
- water: 164.71 grams (g)
- protein: 4.57 g
- fat: 48.21 g
- carbohydrates: 6.35 g
- calcium: 41 milligrams (mg)
- potassium: 497 mg
- magnesium: 104 mg
- iron: 7.46 mg
- vitamin C: 2.30 mg
The nutritional value per cup of sweetened coconut milk beverage is:
- calories: 74
- water: 226.97 g
- protein: 0.50 g
- fat: 4.99 g
- carbohydrates: 7.01 g
- calcium: 451 mg
- potassium: 46 mg
What are the Health Benefits of Coconut Milk?
There are several benefits of consuming coconut milk if it’s taken in the right way. Some of the health benefits of coconut are following;
Weight loss:
- Coconut milk contains short and medium-chain triglycerides that increase the feeling of satiety which results in less eating.
Antioxidants:
- Coconut milk contains vitamin E and vitamin C that are rich in antioxidants.
- Antioxidants in the body help us by neutralizing the effect of harmful substances produced in the metabolic process.
Prevention of Heart Diseases:
- Coconut milk increases the amount of HDL cholesterol in our body that has anti-inflammatory properties.
- If taken in low amounts, coconut milk also helps in reducing the amount of LDL in the body.
- LDL is the bad cholesterol that results in heart diseases and heart attacks by narrowing down the blood vessels.
Strengthen the Immune System:
- Coconut milk boosts the immune system because it contains lauric acid. Lauric acid is well known for its anticipated properties.
Promotion of gastrointestinal health:
- Coconut milk is used by people having lactose intolerance as a substitute.
- Coconut milk also contains zinc that promotes gastrointestinal health.
Healthy Skin and Hair:
- Coconut milk is used for conditioning hair as it is rich in fats.
- That’s why it helps in reducing dandruff and itchiness if applied to the scalp.
- Coconut milk is also useful for the skin. It helps in the maintenance of elasticity of skin and reduction of wrinkles formation.
- It also has antibacterial properties which help in acne treatment.
Anemia Prevention:
- The presence of iron in coconut milk helps in the production of red blood cells which in turn maintain hemoglobin levels.
- In this way, coconut milk can prevent us from anemia.
Here are several other benefits of coconut milk.
Conclusion:
In this brief guide, we answered the question “Can coconut milk cause diarrhea?” with an in-depth analysis of what to eat when you have diarrhea? Moreover, we discussed the nutritional value and benefits of coconut milk.