journal53


		October 11, 2004 - One of the fun things I have learned here is that modern science can still learn a lot from old "folk" wisdom. Back in my high school health class we learned that saturated fat is bad. If we wanted to be healthy, we had to avoid foods with saturated fat. Coconuts have a lot of saturated fat and was considered a bad food choice. In the Philippines, coconuts have been used in food preparation for thousands of years. People drink the water and eat the meat of the young coconut (buko) and use the older coconut to make coconut milk and oil. According to my health class, Filipinos should be dead. Who is right? In the October 7th Far Eastern Economic Review,



recent studies of fresh squeezed coconut oil found it to be anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It also boosted digestion, immune activity and helped prevent heart disease. Those are the kinds of results that can change the negative perception of coconut oil and maybe even make it popular in western markets. The Philippines is the #1 producer of coconuts in the world. Most of the crop is made into copra, dried coconut, that is processed into soap. It sells for $600 a ton. Coconut oil can sell for $8000 a ton. It sounds like a great investment opportunity for the Philippines.


			Knowledge and recipies using coconut milk have been passed down from generation to generation here. Everyone knows coconuts are healthy and good for the body. My family, like many families, uses coconut milk to prepare chicken, fish and vegetables. I thought it would be fun to share how we make coconut milk. The first step is to break open the coconut using a big knife. Next, as Ikai my host sister demonstrates, grate the coconut using our little tool (picture top left). Then, add a little bit of water and squeeze (picture above). Finally, pour the coconut milk through a strainer (picture left). My favorite coconut milk dish is the vegetable gaway. Gaway is the leaves of the taro plant. To prepare, first boil the leaves until they are soft.
Next, add coconut milk with the leaves and is boil until most of the water evaporates. The result (picture right) is a tasty and healthy dish. Filipinos have known and enjoyed this recipie for many years. In the future, maybe more people will enjoy the health benefits of cooking with coconut oil..



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