Coconut milk smoothie

There are so many good reasons to incorporate coconut milk and/or coconut oil into your life, and among those reasons are that it is: anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral.

The saturated fat in coconut is made up of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids that the body quickly turns into energy instead of storing as fat. Therefore, although high in saturated fat, coconut can aid in weight loss due to its ease of being metabolized by the body.

Half of the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut milk are composed of lauric acid, (which contributes to its anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties). Lauric acid is also found in mother's milk and has been shown to promote brain development and bone health.

Because Ethan has such limited non-allergen foods available to him that provide him with healthy fats (and even calcium), coconut milk has been a real health contributor for him. Needless to say, we try to find recipes and various ways of incorporating it into our diets.

I finally came up with a smoothie recipe that is a no-fail with my kids.

Coconut Milk Smoothie

1 can of coconut milk, chilled
3 ripe bananas, cut into chunks & frozen
1/4 - 1/2 cup frozen berry blend (blueberries, raspberries, elderberries, etc...)

Put coconut milk in blender and slowly add each chunk of frozen banana. When smooth, add the frozen berries and blend until thick and smooth. Enjoy!

Some could add a little nutmeg or a splash of maple syrup or honey but we find it plenty sweet and sooooo refreshing. I have not tried making these into popsicles yet but I am sure that would turn out pretty tasty (and fun), too!

Hope you can reap the health benefits of adding coconut milk into your own lives. Will post more recipes to share as time permits.