| When you think of coconuts the image of | | | | sudden spike in your blood sugar by making sure |
| palm-lined beaches and clear blue water surely | | | | you consume bagged coconut that is free of |
| comes to mind, but did you know coconuts also | | | | added sweeteners. If you'd like to try cooking |
| may help protect your heart? Because coconuts | | | | with coconut milk, try a delicious grilled coconut |
| contain more saturated fat than butter, at one | | | | shrimp or coconut-crusted chicken on a balmy |
| time many health experts believed that | | | | summer evening for a change of pace. If you're |
| consuming this sweet treat would result in clogged | | | | really in the coconut tropical mood, go ahead and |
| arteries and heart disease. However, studies show | | | | plant a palm tree, buy a set of tiki torches, have |
| that the benefits of coconuts outweigh the | | | | a Caribbean cookout, because you'll be jam'in to a |
| possible risks, which should please those with | | | | healthier you! |
| tropical fever. In a study published in Clinical | | | | Recipe (serves 2) |
| Biochemistry, 2004 1, researchers looked at | | | | Coconut Crusted Shrimp |
| coconut oil as a component of diet in laboratory | | | | 20 medium shrimp |
| animals (Sprague-Dawley rats). In this study, virgin | | | | 1 tsp. garlic and herb seasoning |
| coconut oil, which was obtained by wet process, | | | | 1/2 tsp. black pepper |
| had a beneficial effect in lowering total cholesterol, | | | | 3/4 cup flour |
| triglycerides, phospholipids and low-density | | | | 2 medium eggs, well-beaten |
| lipoproteins (LDL). | | | | 1 cup shredded coconut |
| Even though coconuts do have a high saturated | | | | Directions |
| fat count, more than 50% of that is lauric acid. A | | | | Preheat oven to temperature 400°F. |
| study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition | | | | Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray. |
| reported that although lauric acid raises LDL | | | | Sprinkle garlic and herb seasoning and pepper |
| ("bad") cholesterol, it raises HDL ("good") | | | | evenly over the shrimp. Place the flour, egg, and |
| cholesterol even more. The other 50% of the | | | | coconut in three small separate bowls. Dip shrimp |
| saturated fat content is made up of fatty acids | | | | into the egg, then the flour, then the egg again, |
| that have little or no effect on cholesterol. | | | | and then into the coconut. Place shrimp on the |
| Lowering your cholesterol levels is one of the | | | | baking sheet at least 1 inch apart. Bake for about |
| easiest ways to reduce your risk of heart | | | | 12-15 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden |
| disease, so it looks like coconuts are back on the | | | | brown. Serving suggestion: dip in mango sauce. |
| menu! | | | | 1.   Beneficial effects of |
| This tasty tropical treat is still high in calories, so | | | | virgin coconut oil on lipid parameters and in vitro |
| don't overdo it. Instead, buy a bag of shredded | | | | LDL oxidation. K.G.Nevin and T. Rajamohan, Clinical |
| coconut and have just a handful as a mid-morning | | | | Biochemistry 37,2004;830-835). |
| snack or mixed into your trail mix. Try to avoid a | | | | Recipe is adapted from Chefs. |