The Amazingly Versatile Coconut

Well, there you are. I was wondering if you’d click by today and I’m tickled pink that you did. Fill your mug and try a coconut muffin or a doughnut with coconut sprinkles on it. Take one of each!  The coconut is an amazingly versatile plant, isn’t it? It provides a high-calorie food, potable water, fiber that can be spun into rope, and a hard shell that can be turned into charcoal. 

Every part of the coconut plant has its value to humans; here are some of the many uses of this truly amazing plant:

1. Tableware: The shell of a coconut can be used to make tableware such as bowls, serving tray, spoon or ladle.
2. Fashion accessories : The coconut shell can also be carved out to make fashion accessories like necklaces, bangles, pendants, earrings and so on. In fact, the Hawaiians use coconut shell to make the buttons for their Hawaiian shirts.
3. Furniture: The trunk of the coconut palm can be turned into furniture.
4. Fuel source : The coconut shell and coconut husks are good sources of fuel.
5. Brooms: The midribs of the coconut leaves are usually bundled and tied up with strings to become brooms.
6. Barbecue skewers : The midribs or the coconut leaves can also be used as barbecue skewers.
7. Ropes: The fiber material of coconut husk, which is also known as coir, can be used to make ropes.
8. Brushes : The fiber material of coconut husk can also be used to make brushes which are usually used to scrub floors.
9. Woven products: The coconut leaves can be woven to create products like baskets, bags and mats.
10. Musical instruments : Halved coconut shells are knocked together to make up rhythms and beats. The coconut shells are also used to make the base of musical instruments such as the Chinese “ban-hu” and “yea-hu”.
11. Roof: The dried coconut leaves are used to make roofing materials for tropical huts in the ancient times. However, nowadays roof made up of coconut leaves is still being used for chalets at tourist attractions.
12. Hair oil: Coconut oil is regularly used as natural hair oil by people in some parts of the world like in India and in Southeast Asia. It is believed that coconut oil can promote healthy hair growth and also to treat hair infected by lice.
13. Bridge: The palm wood of the coconut trunk is also used as a bridge to cross river in the olden days.
14. Canoe: The hollowed trunk of coconut palm is used as small canoe by the Hawaiians.
15. Soap: Coconut oil is used as a basic ingredient in some of the cosmetic soap products.
16. Toothpaste: Coconut oil is also used as a basic ingredient to make toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
17. Relieve minor skin irritations : Coconut oil can also be applied to skin to treat minor irritations like insect bites and sunburn.
18. Compost : The fibre of coconut husk is also used as compost in horticulture.
19. Medical benefits of virgin coconut oil: Virgin or pure coconut oil is believed to be beneficial to human. More and more research efforts are being put forward to prove that it has many medicinal values such as an important dietary supplement to boost up immune system, assists constipation or digestive problems, assists weight control, anti-cancer agents, anti-aging properties and many more.
20. Dye : The roots of the coconut plant are used as a dye.

21. Car parts: In 2009, A team of Baylor University researchers developed a way to use coconut husks in automotive interiors for synthetic polyester fibers in compression molded composites. The coconut fibers can be used to make trunk liners, floorboards and interior door covers on cars.

22. Flotation device: Coconuts can keep you afloat.

23. Charcoal: Husks are turned into charcoal for BBQs.

24. Sauces: Coconut milk and cream are used in many foods.

Tomorrow, I’ll share one of my favourite coconut recipes with you.

See ya.

Bob