The Amazing Coconut{11}
I first started to get an idea of how truly special the coconut when I began using coconut oil for cooking. Previously I hadn’t cooked much but when circumstances changed and I had to fend on my own, I found I needed an oil that would stand up to high temperatures. Can’t even remember why now, but it’s not important. I did the research and coconut oil was at the top of oils. It was basically considered the cream of the crop of oils. The organic kind is sold in health food stores for a premium price. Not surprisingly, the Philippines produces over 50% of the world’s supply.
I had no idea that the coconut was so versatile, though. Sure I knew it was used in deserts, pastries, etc. and coconut milk was popular in some areas of the world, but I truly didn’t know it’s potential.
“The amazing thing about the coconut palm is that it provides almost all the necessities of life: food, drink, oil, medicine, fiber, timber, thatch, mats, fuel, and domestic utensils, as well as serving important environmental services such as soil erosion control in coastal regions, wind protection and shade for other crops,” wrote Craig Elevitch, author of various books on tropical agriculture.
The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of the coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.*
What really caught my eye was an article I ran across regarding the use of the coconut as a biodiesel. Coconut methyl ester (CME), is the biodiesel extracted from coconut. The Philippines is the first country to use coconut as source for biodiesel. Studies have shown that for every liter of CME consumed, it generates a reduction of three kilograms of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, being a saturated biodiesel, emission of oxides of nitrogen (another greenhouse gas) is substantially reduced.
At least four Asian countries plan to mandate the blending of CME with diesel to help reduce the dependance upon crude mineral oil. Japan in particular has a total diesel requirement near 40 billion liters a year, and its plans for a CME blend of 5 percent will create a huge demand for this additive.
Dave Starr via the web magazine, Live in the Philippines, wrote a nice article with more detail about alternative energy in the Philippines. It’s well worth the read if you care to learn more about that.
Coconut: Another green source of fuel | Sun.Star Network Online
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Jun 21, 2009 @ 10:54:33
Randy,
Nice article. I remember last year when they cut down the coconut tree on our property. After they cut it down they sliced it up into lumber with a big chain saw. We used the wood to make the forms to build our store there in Digos.
Jun 21, 2009 @ 11:34:28
Hi Kevin – I don’t think we had any coconut trees on our Samal property.
I’d be interested in finding out more about the potential for income from them. Land needed, labor involved, etc.
How’s that store doing for you? Is it worth the effort?
Jun 21, 2009 @ 13:42:08
The tree we cut down is in Digos, where we have our land and family. The store, Kevtech, is a family sari-sari store. My brother in law and mom run it and it helps put food on the table. I made it a bigger store so they could be more self sufficient. All in all it’s working out ok.
Jun 21, 2009 @ 14:05:40
I see. I was thinking a small store (maybe bigger than a sari-sari-) would be OK for a little extra income and give Rechie something to do. Wasn’t sure if it was worth the effort.
Maybe we’ll open a bank instead
Making Money on Samal Island | Journey to Samal
Feb 09, 2010 @ 17:05:49
[...] is a place for this.AgricultureLots of possibilities here, but I particularly have interest in coconut and ginger. The export market seems to be open for certain products from within these items. There [...]
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May 09, 2010 @ 12:53:03
[...] Coconut, coconut water, Electrolytes, Natural, Waterby Randy CI’ve written before about the Amazing Coconut and all the various things the coconut can be used for. Recently I’ve learned of another use [...]
Jul 31, 2010 @ 15:41:02
Hi guys,
We’ve harvested between 15 and 20 coconut trees from our Samal land in the last year – I posted about this here:
The artisan with the huge chainsaw was amazing. The family has been replanting each felled tree with shorter coconuts from Lupon, which ought to be easier to harvest the nuts (so we’ve been told). The nuts from the felled trees (at least 50 from the 5 trees) were sold to a local trader. It’s difficult to get a straight figure, but I think the nuts sell at around P8-10 each depending on their maturity.
If you’re looking to plant some of the shorter trees, Randy, you know where to find us. My outlaws couldn’t understand why people on Samal struggled with the taller trees. There’ll be a reason, I’m sure, but not one that easily translates to English!
Aug 01, 2010 @ 08:54:40
Hi Angus – we are definitely going to have some coconut trees on our land. How many I don’t know. We will use them for personal use, and like you would rather have shorter ones.
If I had the money I think it might be a worthwhile investment to have a coconut farm somewhere, maybe even on Samal. The coconuts themselves don’t bring much, as you noted, but there is potential for many other products, as pointed out in the article.
Coconut Nectar | Journey to Samal
May 29, 2011 @ 12:33:15
[...] written previously about the many uses for the amazing coconut. It seems like a learn about another one every couple of months or so. My previous discovery, which [...]
Aug 04, 2011 @ 00:02:16
You’ve got your title right. Coconut oil is truly amazing. I’ve been using coconut oil for cooking, too – frying, salad dressing, and other recipe. Now, been using it for my skin and hair, too. It’s marvelous! Got mine from products.mercola.com/coconut-oil
Aug 04, 2011 @ 06:43:48
Thanks for visiting and your comment, Kelly. I use coconuts in way way or another every day. The Coconut Nectar is used on my cereal. I still use coconut oil for cooking, though I do not cook a lot.