Health Benefits Of Coconut Flour

More and more people are working towards eating a “gluten free” diet by reducing their refined flour intake. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, and other grains, which can cause irritation in the intestinal lining and causes allergic reactions in many people. Moreover, wheat flour is high in digestible carbohydrates which may be a deterrent to people looking to lose weight. Coconut flour has come forth as an alternative to using wheat flour. Coconut flour is gluten free and offers many other health benefits which are listed below.

How is Coconut Flour Good for You?

Coconut Flour is Rich in Dietary Fiber – Dietitians have recommended that people should consume close to 35 grams of dietary fiber per day, but it’s been studied that most people usually consume less than 15 grams. Including foods rich in dietary fiber is a must for a healthy body. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables are some foods that contain good amounts of dietary fiber, now you can include coconut flour to the list.

Flour of coconut contains close to 58% dietary fiber in its constitution. So including this flour in your diet can significantly increase your dietary fiber consumption. Dietary fiber is highly essential in maintaining a good digestive and excretion system. It also helps reduce the toxicity in your body by clearing the colon.

Coconut Flour is Beneficial for Diabetes – It has been found that including coconut flour in your diet can help control your blood sugar. The reason is quite simple, the dietary fiber present in coconut flour inhibits fast absorption of sugars from the digestible carbohydrates. So it helps moderates the blood sugar swings by slowing down the absorption of sugars in the stomach. Blood sugar spikes can lead to several issues including heart diseases, obesity, hypoglycemia and diabetes. Including flour of coconut in your diet can help protect you against these conditions.

Rich in Protein – The advantage of eating coconut flour as compared to wheat flour, is that you get a high amount of protein from the former while also being gluten free. Wheat contains protein but most of it is in the form of gluten. Coconut flour is free of gluten while providing significant amounts of protein, making it ideal for people who are looking to eat a gluten-free diet.

Coconut Flour can Help in Weight Loss – This flour contains equal amounts of digestible and indigestible carbohydrates. The indigestible carbohydrates act as dietary fiber and is not converted into calories, while the digestible carbohydrates are converted to sugar which may be stored as fat in the fat cells of the body. Wheat contains significantly higher amounts of digestible carbohydrates as compared to indigestible ones. So coconut flour is not fattening and is a much better option for people looking to control their weight.

Can Help Fight Against Cancer – The high amounts of dietary fiber present in coconut flour acts as a virtual broom that sweeps the toxins present in your colon. Dietary fiber has the property of absorbing fluids in the colon, hence it absorbs harmful carcinogens and toxins that may be lodged there. Colon cancer is on the rise due to reduced intake of dietary fiber in our diet, and it’s the second most common cancer next to lung cancer. Including this flour in your diet can benefit your health by keeping your colon toxin free.

In Conclusion

Coconut flour has several health benefits while also being a tasty alternative to wheat flour. It can be used for baking or can be added to your shakes, smoothies, soups or gravies. Whether you plan on replacing wheat flour or you are just looking to eat a healthier diet, coconut flour is an option you cannot lose out on.

