Coconut Malai Benefits: Here's How The Natural Ingredient Boosts Your Skin, Health

Do you discard the coconut right after sipping the water? Stop! Most coconuts have a lot more to offer than just water rich in nutrients like calcium and potassium. Coconuts have a thick, creamy layer called 'coconut malai' inside the inner cavity. This layer of malai is not your regular cream or coconut milk, it has a rich coconut flavour and the goodness of many vitamins and minerals. 

What Is Coconut Malai?

Coconut malai is also known as coconut cream or coconut meat. It is the thick, white-coloured creamy layer stuck inside the coconut shell. The cream tastes sweet and creamy. It can be consumed fresh as is, used in different recipes, or dried and stored for later consumption.

What Are The Benefits Of Coconut Malai?

Coconut Malai Benefits For Health

Coconut Malai Helps In Digestion

If you suffer from digestive issues like constipation, and indigestion then coconut malai can do wonders for your digestive health. It has dietary fibre which boosts digestion and promotes bowel movements. 

Coconut Malai Is Rich In Nutrients

For the healthy functioning of our body, we need to fuel ourselves with nutrients. Coconut malai has vitamins C, E, iron, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus that boost nutrient content in your body.

Coconut Malai Improves Heart Health

Coconut malai has saturated fats present in it. These healthy fats have a positive impact on heart health. Coconut flesh reduces the bad cholesterol present in our body which leads to heart issues. However, coconut malai shouldn't be consumed in excess. 

Coconut Malai Boosts Energy

Consuming coconut malai is a great way of giving your body a quick source of energy. It is also a great pre-workout snack.

Coconut Malai Has Antioxidants

Our body needs antioxidants to fight the harmful free radicals that lead to diseases. Coconut malai has antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenols that boost your overall health.

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Coconut Malai Fights Heat

During this hot and humid weather, it is recommended to eat coconut flesh. It has a cooling effect on the body and helps you fight excess heat during the summer season.

Coconut Malai Is Beneficial For Expecting Mothers

Coconut malai is believed to benefit expecting mothers and their unborn baby. It boosts the development of the fetal brain and nervous system. Coconut flesh also reduces nausea, and morning sickness in mothers-to-be.

Coconut Malai Benefits For Skin

Coconut Malai Moisturises Skin

Ditch those chemical loaded moisturises and turn to coconut malai. The thick cream contains natural oils that keep your skin soft, hydrated. Gently massage it in your skin and it works as your natural moisturiser. (How to do coconut facial)

Coconut Malai Delays Ageing

Since coconut cream is loaded with antioxidants, they help in preventing the skin from oxidative stress caused by free radicals, further delaying signs of ageing like wrinkles and fine lines. 

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Coconut Malai Helps In Skin Repair

With time, our skin starts to lose its collagen. Consuming coconut malai or using it on the skin helps in improving skin elasticity and skin repair.

Coconut Malai Moisturises Lips

Coconut cream is an effective lip balm. Use some coconut malai on your lips. It helps keep your lips moisturised all day long and prevents chapping. 

Coconut Malai Helps Manage Acne

Coconut cream has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help reduce skin inflammation caused due to acne. (Ingredients good for acne prone skin)

Coconut Malai Heals Skin

Coconut cream is a great natural skin healer. It has healthy fats that soothe skin and heal issues like irritation, sunburn, rashes, and insect bites.

Coconut Malai Is A Natural Exfoliator

Coconut malai has exfoliating properties. Gently scrubbing it all over your face helps in removing dead skin cells and gives you an even, smoother complexion.

Ways To Consume Coconut Malai

Coconut malai or flesh can be consumed as is or in the form of different recipes. 

• Coconut meat can be used to prepare curries. The cream gives a rich, creamy flavour to the curry.
• Coconut malai can be added to tomato, and sweet corn soups to add a creamy texture. 
• Add a spoonful of coconut flesh to prepare a glass of thick and delicious smoothie at home.
• Prepare ice creams, and sorbets using coconut flesh. Coconut malai can be a great alternative to milk and milk cream. 
• Make salad dressings by combining ingredients like coconut malai, herbs, lemon juice, and seasonings. 
• Coconut flesh can be used to make creamy sauces and dips with your fried treats.
• You can replace curd or yoghurt with coconut malai if you wish to go dairy-free.
• Dry coconut flesh can be also added to the homemade nut mix and munch on it when you get hunger pangs.
• Cut coconut malai into small pieces and top it over your fruit and vegetable salads. They can also be added to your bowl of oatmeal or cereal. 

It is usually healthy to consume one cup of coconut malai in a day. However, eating more than a cup is believed to increase weight because of the high-fat levels of the coconut flesh.

Though coconut malai or cream is healthy and can boost your skin and health in many ways, it is a good idea to consume it in moderation since it is high in fats. Also, if you are undergoing health treatment, do consult your doctor before making it a part of your daily diet.

Coconut malai isn't recommended to individuals with coconut allergies and those with certain medical conditions like gall bladder issues, or pancreatitis.