Is Coconut the New Soy?

In a time of multiple food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances, Americans have embraced a wide assortment of non-dairy milks, cheese and yogurts. In the early twentieth century milk was delivered fresh from the farm in its raw and unfiltered state to be churned into butter, fermented into yogurt or after skimming the rich cream, used for cooking or drunk straight out of the bottle while standing in front of the ice-box.

Then came the pasteurization, homogenization, bovine growth hormone, antibiotic-injected age of milk production, and with it the realization that the human body cannot tolerate this toxic stand-in for real milk. Is it any wonder that we are always looking for something to replace what was once a quality food, but now sunk so low as to be considered dangerous for children and adults alike? What then will work in coffee, tea or over morning cereal? No! Even more important, what can replace the queen of all late night binge foods…ice cream?

Enter the humble soybean. It made sense to the food manufacturing industry. After all it can be grown in mass quantities, and processed into any kind of food product without even tasting like a bean. Except once it flooded the food market, taken up with great enthusiasm by the irritable bowel masses, reports began to filter in from experts on both sides of the allopathic-complementary medical fence. Difficult for many to digest, soy is just not that good for you in an unfermented state. That narrowed the market considerably to a little known soy paste called miso, a rather obscure Indonesian cake known as tempeh, and a not-for-the-delicate Limburger tasting Natto. With Genetically Modified soy accounting for 91 percent of soybeans planted, there is the fear that we may yet strangle on our own Frankenstein food science.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Geetha S.

8:46PM PDT on Sep 28, 2011

I hope not. I would hate to have coconut GMO'ed.

send a green star

Jane W.

11:32AM PDT on Jul 16, 2011

Coconut milk the new soy - I certainly hope so!

Anne T.

9:54AM PST on Feb 12, 2011

When I was pregnant with my first child 20 years ago, an older Afro American women told me to use coconut oil on my tummy and elsewhere everyday to prevent stretch marks, after 4 pregnancies I do not have a single stretch mark!!!! So, I don't know if it was the coconut oil or my genetic caucasian makeup but I tell every pregnant women to use coconut oil now. Pass it on!

Jen D.

12:47AM PST on Feb 3, 2011

Coconut is awesome, just stay the hell away from soy please. “Imagine drugs that are known, by years of scientific documentation, to be both carcinogenic and to also cause DNA and chromosome damage being prescribed and administered through the food supply to populations of many countries around the world without the knowledge or consent of the individuals consuming these foods … with no way to track dosage, individual reactions, or harmful side-effects … and without any concern for some people’s increased vulnerability to these drugs, such as cancer patients. It sounds crazy, but that is exactly what is happening around the world when Soy is added to our food supply. Soy contains the scientifically documented carcinogenic and DNA damaging and chromosome damaging natural chemicals genistein and daidzein.” - True Health, the magazine of Carotec Inc., Naples, Florida. May/June 2004.
“(Soyfoods) are not nutrients. They are drugs.”

karen T.

7:25AM PST on Nov 9, 2010

I have 100% pure organic virgin coconut oil based gift soaps, lotions, and massage therapy oils, from the tropical island of Samoa. Mailelani soap is crafted depicting tropical flowers and sea life, typical of Samoa with south pacific fragrances. Mailelani products are paraben and alcohol free, Our coconut oil is extracted by the DME method. I am looking for people who would like to distribute Mailelani Samoa in the US. please contact me at karen@mailelani-samoa.com

Beng Kiat L.

1:21AM PDT on Jul 9, 2010

thanks

Maryellen D.

2:47PM PDT on Jul 1, 2010

So Mike, you're saying as long as I have my flaxseed and fish oil, coconut milk will be fine in my diet? Sounds like a great alternative to soy. I just had some Coconut milk ice cream this weekend and it was ssssssssssssssooooooooooooooo goood. I was hoping it was good for me too.

Mike F.

8:10PM PDT on May 6, 2010

Coconut would be an excellent component in any diet so long as the "missing" essential fats (omega 6 and omega 3) are supplied to go with it. Soy, canola, sunflower, corn and many nuts are rich in omega 6, while omega 3 is found in flax-seed (linseed), black currant, soy, canola, and richest of oil - fish oil.
Coconut oil contributes much from its medium-chain components (65% of the total) in terms of ready energy that boosts metabolic rate and can assist in weight loss, and elleviation of Type 2 diabetes symptoms. Also the lauric component (50%) has proven antibiotic effects that reduce infections from bacteria, fungi (eg tinea) and even viruses. So coconut oil in a mix with others is a wonderful supplement.

Ashtyn D.

9:57PM PDT on May 3, 2010

This would make becoming vegan much easier since I bet cocounut milk makes ice cream taste better than soy milk would.

Nellie K A.

5:08PM PDT on Apr 18, 2010

That's me. I take soy and coconout or tofu products, Sometimes dairy. I'm lactose intolerant since 1995-1996.