How is Coconut Milk Made?

We know that you can't milk a coconut. So what is coconut milk, exactly?

Well, it’s not milk in the dairy sense, but close to its level of creaminess. 

What is Coconut Milk?

Coconut milk can be thick or thin. When making thick milk, usually used for cooking, manufacturers grate the flesh of mature coconuts, then squeeze it through cheesecloth to extract the liquid. Thick milk retains more fat than thin milk.

How is Coconut Milk Made?

Thin coconut milk, usually used as milk substitute in smoothies or with cereal, comes from the squeezed coconut flesh left inside the cheesecloth. Manufacturers mix it with warm water then strain it through cheesecloth a second time. The resulting liquid is much thinner.

What are the Benefits of Coconut Milk?

Coconut milk has lots of benefits! Research suggests three main health benefits. Below, we describe the effects on weight loss, heart health, and the immune system.

1. Studies suggest that coconut milk is fantastic at aiding weight loss. This has a lot to do with medium chain triglycerides and studies showed that people who ate MCTs in the morning were unlikely to eat more later in the day.

2. Coconut milk is thought to be chock-full of minerals and electrolytes. For example, the level of magnesium in the milk is said to be extremely beneficial for everyday immunity.  

3. Some studies suggest that a diet rich in coconut milk may also help to stave off anemia. That’s because the milk has plenty of iron, which can help you maintain a healthy level of red blood cells.