Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

4

specifically: is it harmful to eat the thin, brown skin (for lack of a better word) that surrounds the raw, white coconut meat? Once I have drained the coconut and removed the hard outer shell, I just dig in and enjoy. In order to avoid damaging the GI tract should I be cutting the brown part off and only eating whatever is white?

flag	asked Sep 12 2010 at 18:17 texasleah 4,809●1●14●34

	so far, this is the first comment/question about eating a raw coconut out of the shell. I love coconut and just ate a whole one in two days. Not a regular practice, but wonder if that is too much. I always eat the thin brown skin, doesn't seem to bother me at all. – Sue Holt May 31 2011 at 17:51
	I hope you use the water you drain from the coconut... my practice is to use it to make scrambled eggs. – Paul Brin Oct 24 2011 at 5:45

FED at LiveCaveman.com · Answer 1 · 2011-05-30 22:58:18Z UTC

5

From the plant-defense perspective. A coconut is pretty well protected without having to invest additional energy into a toxic "wrapper". The only other animal that I know of (besides humans) that eat coconut is that insane crab.

Specifically, THIS insane crab...

alt text

Whoops, that's a burger-eating, cheapskate crab.

I meant THIS one!

alt text

And, just so you know that isn't a small tree... alt text

answered May 30 2011 at 22:58

FED at LiveCaveman.com
19.2k●20●60

Wow, those crabs are awesome! – Rhubarb May 31 2011 at 0:56

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I think I may have nightmares... – texasleah May 31 2011 at 17:09

I bet the crab's tasty, too. – WyldKard May 31 2011 at 17:26

beautiful!! Is that a standard size trash can? Just get some butter and a HUGE pot!!! – Sue Holt May 31 2011 at 17:50

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Dude I would so eat that crab. – UncleLongHair Oct 23 2011 at 19:51

show 3 more comments

Matt Baldwin · Answer 2 · 2010-09-12 18:33:39Z UTC

The thin brown membrane is known as a pellicle. You can peel it off using a standard vegetable peeler. But if you don't mind the taste or texture, you don't need to, apparently. But I haven't studied the chemical composition of the stuff, just I see (from my google search) that certain fans of coconut don't mind eating it.

modderbaard · Answer 3 · 2010-09-12 18:55:22Z UTC

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I always eat the brown part. I have never heard of it being harmful.

answered Sep 12 2010 at 18:55

modderbaard
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Usually, outer coatings of seeds and fruits contain a mixture of antioxidants and antinutrients, both of which are designed to protect the important plant product from natural decay and predators. So, one might hypothesize that the pellicle has harmful antinutrients; but in the absence of positive indications of that, I wouldn't worry about it. – Matt Baldwin Sep 12 2010 at 19:32

Jennifer · Answer 4 · 2011-10-23 17:41:17Z UTC

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I think the raw coconut does taste better and have better texture with the thin brown "membrane" on the outside.

answered Oct 23 2011 at 17:41

Jennifer
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Celton · Answer 5 · 2011-10-24 03:12:06Z UTC

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Unless it hurts your GI track, go for it. I know it kills mine.

answered Oct 24 2011 at 3:12

Celton
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Ed · Answer 6 · 2011-10-24 04:42:26Z UTC

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You can eat it. To find out more about coconuts go to The Coconut Research Center at: http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/ Coconut is a super food.

edited Oct 24 2011 at 4:42

Ed♦

answered Oct 23 2011 at 21:05

Dan Moffett
73●2

Dan, welcome to PaleoHacks. Please do not include your blog link in your answers. See the FAQ regarding self-promotion. – Ed♦ Oct 24 2011 at 4:45

Eating Raw Coconut

6 Answers