A coconut tree is known as the ‘tree of life’ and it truly lives upto its name. Every part of the tree can be used either as food, drink, construction material or even home decor! We all love coconut water during summers right? But there is more to these fruits. Yes, a coconut is a fruit (if you didn’t already know).

• Fresh/dried coconut is a great source of fibre. Essential for people with constipation issues
• It is a good source of Vitamin B and C
• Coconut water contains significant amounts of potassium which is essential for controlling blood pressure
• It is a great source of iron, copper, magnesium, manganese and selenium, all of which are required by our body
• It has very low glycemic index so it makes for a great snack specially for diabetics
• It also has antimicrobial properties which help with killing bacteria in your mouth.

Coconut pulp contains something called medium chain fatty acids – these are fats which are easy to digest. But here is where things get interesting. They have the power to reduce glycemic index of your food! That is, when eaten with a meal, they help slow the absorption of sugar into the blood. One other food that has the same quality is ghee.

This results in a gradual rise in blood sugar levels, rather than rapid spikes. So having a spoon of chutney with your idly/dosa in the morning will keep you full for longer and also prevent a sugar spike.

Standard dietary recommendation is 2 TBSP of grated coconut or 30 g of coconut pulp per day. Coconut is great but also high on calories and fat so you got to balance its intake.

Now you realise even chutney has significance in your diet!