Coconut (Nariyal) is a healthy and nutritious fruit. It is available in many varieties and is grown in many parts of the world. There are many health and as well as beauty benefits of coconut because of the number of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, lauric acid and other compounds present in them.
Although coconuts are good for us and provide a lot of health and beauty benefits, but still it is better to eat them in moderation as too much of anything is bad, and same goes with “coconut”.
Below are the side effects of eating coconuts:
- Sugar Level rise: One of the major side effects of eating too many coconuts is the accumulation of too much sugar in our blood stream because of the high sugar content present in it. It has been found that eating one ounce serving of dried, unsweetened coconut has 2.1 grams of sugar and the sweetened coconut of the same serving can provide around 10.4 grams of sugar. Because of this unexpectedly high level of sugar present in both coconuts, it is advised to eat coconut in moderation as too much of sugar is bad for our health and can increase the risk of diabetes.
- Increases Blood Cholesterol Levels: Eating too many coconuts can also be very harmful to our heart and increases the risk of cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke and irregular heartbeat. Around 90 percent of the total fat present in coconut is saturated fat and eating too much of saturated fats can increase the blood cholesterol level.
- Potential Weight Gain: It is important to note that eating too many can lead to weight gain because of the high number of calories present in it. It has been found that eating an ounce serving of dried, unsweetened coconuts can provide around 187 calories and the same serving of sweetened coconut contains 129 calories. Similarly, one cup of undiluted coconut milk provides around 550 calories which are nearly one-third of the total calories required by our body per day.
- Can Cause Allergic Reactions: Coconut is not at all suitable for the individuals who are allergic to tree nuts (like walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashew etc ) as in some extreme cases, these allergic reactions can be life-threatening. So, if you are allergic to tree nuts and stay away from it (to save yourself from the allergic reactions) then it is better for you to stay away from coconuts too.