What is a Coconut?

Coconut is a highly nutritious food. It contains many valuable vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It also serves medicinal purposes such as:

- killing bacteria and viuses
- supports a healthy thyroid
- acts as an anti-inflammatory
- supports a healthy immune system

Many people believe that a coconut is a nut simply by its name. Its name may be misleading, though. A coconut is actually a seed. It is also commonly known as a drupe. According to www.dictionary.com, a drupe is defined as:

"any fruit, as a peach, cherry, plum, etc., consisting of an outer skin, a usually pulpy and succulent middle layer, and a hard and woody inner shell usually enclosing a single seed."

So there appears to be debate about how to define a coconut. Regardless, a coconut allergy is possible although relatively rare. Symptoms of a coconut allergy may range from oral itching to anaphylaxis (life-threatening reaction). There are blood and skin testing available to test for coconut allergy if you think that you or someone you know is allergic. Please consult your physician or allergist for this testing.

If you want more information on coconuts, please see the following internet site:

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/