Rugie
Is coconut milk safe for an infant (9 weeks old)? Thanks!
Answer
YES YOU CAN GIVE YOUR BABY COCONUT MILK!!!! CHECK THIS OUT!
Can babies eat coconut? Well, chunks of fresh coconut are clearly more than your little one's gums can handle! However, there ARE ways to include nutritious coconut in its various forms into your baby's diet... and we'll show you how!
Coconut is not a commonly allergenic food and is not on the list of restricted foods for those who have allergies to tree nuts.
You should, of course, check with your doctor before giving coconut to your baby. With your doctor's consent, you can begin adding coconut products to your baby's recipes once he is safely enjoying other fruits and vegetables. To be on the safe side, however, do NOT introduce coconut at the same time as other new foods. That way, it it DOES cause any unwelcome reaction - you will easily be able to identify it as the culprit.
NOTE: There DOES appear to be an association between coconut allergy and an allergy to latex. If your baby is allergic to latex, then be sure to mention this to your doctor when discussing the introduction of new foods.
Is coconut a healthy food?
You bet! In some parts of the world, where coconuts grow in abundance, they are a staple food - packed with nutrients and credited with many health promoting properties.
Coconut 'meat' provides B vitamins, protein, zinc, phosphorus and iron. Experts used to believe that coconut is too high in unhealthy fats to be considered a useful addition to the diet - but more recent research has suggested that the fat in coconut is actually very good for us!
This is because it is high in lauric acid, which also happens to be the main fatty acid found in breast milk. Lauric acid is what makes breast milk so digestible and is believed to protect the body from infection and boost the immune system.
Organic, hand pressed or extra virgin coconut oil is considered by many to be the healthiest type of dietary oil (this does NOT apply to refined coconut oil, which is the type more commonly found in stores). At room temperature, coconut oil is solid - making it a very healthy alternative to margarine or butter.
What is coconut water?
When you pick up a whole, fresh coconut and shake it, you should hear a lot of liquid sloshing about!
That liquid is coconut water (not, as many people believe, coconut milk).
Coconut water is very nutritious - the sweetest coconut water comes from very young coconuts and it is somewhat less sweet in more mature coconuts. Until the coconut is opened, its water is completely sterile - in fact, during the second World War, the water of young coconuts was used as a glucose supply for injured soldiers when no sterile glucose was available!
After checking with your doctor, why not try giving your older baby a drink of fresh coconut water - it certainly makes a healthy alternative to many commercial juices!
NOTE: Fresh coconut water should be refrigerated and used within 24 hours.
Coconut milk and coconut cream
Coconut milk and coconut cream are available - usually unsweetened - in most supermarkets around the world. Coconut cream is generally used in dessert recipes, whereas coconut milk has many culinary uses!
If you want to use coconut milk in your baby food recipes, then make sure it is unsweetened and has had nothing else added to it.
Better still, make your own coconut cream or coconut milk from fresh coconut - it's VERY easy to do!
Step 1
Choose a good coconut. It should be dark brown in colour and full of coconut water. If it feels as if there is not much liquid inside, then the coconut itself is probably cracked. Not only will you have lost some water, but the coconut may have begun to rot inside.
Step 2
Open the coconut (you'll find some tips to help you here), then grate the flesh. It is not essential to remove the brown skin (which is a great source of fibre), but you may if you prefer!
A coarse hand grater is, we find, the most effective tool for shredding coconut.
Step 3
Cover the grated coconut with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes.
Step 4
Place a fine mesh strainer or a damp piece of muslin over another bowl and strain the coconut through it. If using a mesh strainer, push down hard on the coconut with the back of a spoon to get out all of the liquid. If using muslin, gather it up and squeeze as hard as you can!
The resulting liquid is coconut cream, which should be rich and thick, with a strong flavor. Placing this liquid in the refrigerator causes any thinner liquid (coconut milk) to separate from the cream - you can then spoon the thickest part off the top.
Don't throw the drained coconut away - just repeat the entire process and this second press will give you pure coconut milk!
Another (quick) method is to cut a fresh coconut into small pieces and place them in a food processor. Then, cover them with boiling water and process at high speed. Finally, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any remaining little pieces... and refrigerate!
YES YOU CAN GIVE YOUR BABY COCONUT MILK!!!! CHECK THIS OUT!
Can babies eat coconut? Well, chunks of fresh coconut are clearly more than your little one's gums can handle! However, there ARE ways to include nutritious coconut in its various forms into your baby's diet... and we'll show you how!
Coconut is not a commonly allergenic food and is not on the list of restricted foods for those who have allergies to tree nuts.
You should, of course, check with your doctor before giving coconut to your baby. With your doctor's consent, you can begin adding coconut products to your baby's recipes once he is safely enjoying other fruits and vegetables. To be on the safe side, however, do NOT introduce coconut at the same time as other new foods. That way, it it DOES cause any unwelcome reaction - you will easily be able to identify it as the culprit.
NOTE: There DOES appear to be an association between coconut allergy and an allergy to latex. If your baby is allergic to latex, then be sure to mention this to your doctor when discussing the introduction of new foods.
Is coconut a healthy food?
You bet! In some parts of the world, where coconuts grow in abundance, they are a staple food - packed with nutrients and credited with many health promoting properties.
Coconut 'meat' provides B vitamins, protein, zinc, phosphorus and iron. Experts used to believe that coconut is too high in unhealthy fats to be considered a useful addition to the diet - but more recent research has suggested that the fat in coconut is actually very good for us!
This is because it is high in lauric acid, which also happens to be the main fatty acid found in breast milk. Lauric acid is what makes breast milk so digestible and is believed to protect the body from infection and boost the immune system.
Organic, hand pressed or extra virgin coconut oil is considered by many to be the healthiest type of dietary oil (this does NOT apply to refined coconut oil, which is the type more commonly found in stores). At room temperature, coconut oil is solid - making it a very healthy alternative to margarine or butter.
What is coconut water?
When you pick up a whole, fresh coconut and shake it, you should hear a lot of liquid sloshing about!
That liquid is coconut water (not, as many people believe, coconut milk).
Coconut water is very nutritious - the sweetest coconut water comes from very young coconuts and it is somewhat less sweet in more mature coconuts. Until the coconut is opened, its water is completely sterile - in fact, during the second World War, the water of young coconuts was used as a glucose supply for injured soldiers when no sterile glucose was available!
After checking with your doctor, why not try giving your older baby a drink of fresh coconut water - it certainly makes a healthy alternative to many commercial juices!
NOTE: Fresh coconut water should be refrigerated and used within 24 hours.
Coconut milk and coconut cream
Coconut milk and coconut cream are available - usually unsweetened - in most supermarkets around the world. Coconut cream is generally used in dessert recipes, whereas coconut milk has many culinary uses!
If you want to use coconut milk in your baby food recipes, then make sure it is unsweetened and has had nothing else added to it.
Better still, make your own coconut cream or coconut milk from fresh coconut - it's VERY easy to do!
Step 1
Choose a good coconut. It should be dark brown in colour and full of coconut water. If it feels as if there is not much liquid inside, then the coconut itself is probably cracked. Not only will you have lost some water, but the coconut may have begun to rot inside.
Step 2
Open the coconut (you'll find some tips to help you here), then grate the flesh. It is not essential to remove the brown skin (which is a great source of fibre), but you may if you prefer!
A coarse hand grater is, we find, the most effective tool for shredding coconut.
Step 3
Cover the grated coconut with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes.
Step 4
Place a fine mesh strainer or a damp piece of muslin over another bowl and strain the coconut through it. If using a mesh strainer, push down hard on the coconut with the back of a spoon to get out all of the liquid. If using muslin, gather it up and squeeze as hard as you can!
The resulting liquid is coconut cream, which should be rich and thick, with a strong flavor. Placing this liquid in the refrigerator causes any thinner liquid (coconut milk) to separate from the cream - you can then spoon the thickest part off the top.
Don't throw the drained coconut away - just repeat the entire process and this second press will give you pure coconut milk!
Another (quick) method is to cut a fresh coconut into small pieces and place them in a food processor. Then, cover them with boiling water and process at high speed. Finally, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any remaining little pieces... and refrigerate!
xylitol and coconut oil for my cat's teeth and gums, severe tartar?
Jean
it works in humans, I am hoping it would help my cat with inflamed gums and severe tartar. I have used Petzlife and Tartar Away.
Answer
I would suggest a dentistry from the vet, then follow up care prescribed by the vet. At the very least, as your vet it this would be ok.
I would suggest a dentistry from the vet, then follow up care prescribed by the vet. At the very least, as your vet it this would be ok.
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