By Kim Robson
Listening to Calypso music recently, I heard Harry Nilsson’s 1971 “Coconut” song, about lime and coconut:
“Put the lime in the coconut, drink them both together,
Put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better.
Put the lime in the coconut, drink them both down
Put the lime in the coconut, and call me in the morning.”
It got me to thinking, “I bet there’s something to that.” As it turns out, lime juice and coconut milk are two of nature’s best medicines.
Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia) has been used for millennia to treat various ailments. It was discovered in the 17th century to be a cure for the dreaded disease scurvy, due to its high vitamin C content. Captain Cook successfully circumnavigated the world without a single scurvy loss because he stopped regularly to re-stock fresh fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C. Minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, vitamins E and K, niacin, and folate, plus a large dose of vitamin C are also abundant in limes.
Lime is fantastic for the gut. It stimulates the secretion of digestive juices, biles, and acids, and also stimulates the peristaltic motion of the intestines. Its high acid content makes it great for constipation. Lime has antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties, making it an excellent natural treatment for peptic and oral ulcers and for gout. Its high potassium content makes it good for urinary and prostate disorders. It super-charges the immune system and helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk, and oil, and has nourished tropical populations around the world for ages. On many islands coconut is a dietary staple; in fact, nearly a third of the world’s population depends on coconut to some degree. Aside from being highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, coconut is classified as a “functional food” because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content.
Coconut oil is extensively used in traditional Oriental medicine. Once considered unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it’s now known that the fat in coconut oil is unique from all other fats and possesses superior healing properties. Now enjoying long overdue recognition as a nutritious health food, coconut oil has been described as the healthiest oil on earth. What makes it different from all other oils, especially other saturated fats? The difference is in the construction of the fat molecule. The coconut palm is so highly valued by Pacific Islanders that it is called “The Tree of Life.” Recently, modern medical science has figured out what islanders have known for thousands of years, that coconut …
- kills viruses, bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. Coconut milk has even been used as an emergency substitute for blood plasma in field hospitals;
- kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites;
- improves digestion, bowel function, and absorption of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids;
- improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose;
- reduces inflammation, boosts immune system function, and protects the heart;
- contains antioxidant properties that protect the body from harmful free radicals that cause premature aging and disease;
- supports thyroid function, helping with weight loss;
- is fantastic for the skin and hair; and
- is completely non-toxic to humans.
So listen to the wisdom of the islands. The natives knew what they were doing! Drink them both together and, between the lime and the coconut, there is a cure for what ails you. Lucky for us, both are readily available at every grocery store.