Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

1

2

I've been interested in coconut products for a while and started by using coconut oil in cooking. I then started having a morning smoothie with coconut milk (1/4 c.). Later I started adding 1 T. coconut oil to those smoothies. At that point I started noticing that I was frequently sick to my stomach in the morning (I'm definitely not pregnant before anyone suggests that). One morning I just couldn't get my smoothie down at all and ended up dumping it down the drain, but I thought maybe my coconut milk had been in the fridge too long and was going off a bit or there was something wrong with the berries I used.

I decided to try some muffins for breakfast instead. I tried a recipe using coconut oil and coconut flour and once again had stomach aches. At that point I started to suspect coconut was the problem. I had a muffin this morning and got a stomach ache. After a while it finally went away, but later in the afternoon I had a spoonful of Coconut Manna (which I've eaten many times before without incident) and it came back again.

The problem seems most severe when I am using more than one coconut product at a time. Am I using too much? Should I stop eating all coconut products for a while and try to reintroduce them gradually? If so, how long should I wait?

flag	asked Oct 3 2011 at 0:31 Kewpie 6,876●6●22

1

That's too much of one thing, period. Step back and think about it: would you eat that much of any one thing like that? Coconut especially can have adverse effects if consumed in large quantities. – ben61820 Oct 3 2011 at 1:23

2

I think it may be too much coconut for my body, but I definitely don't think most people would find 1/4 c. of coconut milk and 1 T. coconut oil per day to be too much. Or, on a different day, one pumpkin muffin containing coconut flour and coconut oil. – Kewpie Oct 3 2011 at 1:31

1

I have no problem with those amounts of coconut, so bodies definitely do vary. Well, other than the taste. To be honest, I'm not too high on coconut flavors... – James Oct 3 2011 at 19:41

2

1/4 cup and a tablespoon is a pretty tiny amount, and millions of people around the world eat much higher amounts. If your reaction really is caused by that, you might have some coconut allergy, or maybe the additives in coconut milk are causing the trouble. Most days I consume at least a half cup of coconut cream, plus coconut flakes, plus eggs fried in coco oil. No issues with that however some canned coconut milk curry does give me trouble. – jon w Aug 6 at 3:45

Michael · Answer 1 · 2011-10-03 01:39:26Z UTC

I actually can handle cooking coconut oii, or snacking on coconut flakes, or having a coconut milk-based curry at mealtime. My tolerance is quite decent, but if I do go over the line, I feel pretty unpleasant! Solution: Don't do that! There are lots of other foods in this world.

Rhubarb · Answer 2 · 2011-10-03 02:28:23Z UTC

2

This article by Chris Kresser is definitely worth a read, could help answer your question: - 3 reasons why coconut milk may not be your friend

answered Oct 3 2011 at 2:28

Rhubarb
5,157●3●13

Interesting article, but I don't think any of those are my problem. I only buy Native Forest coconut milk, so BPA is not an issue. A guar gum sensitivity is unlikely considering the quantities of beans I used to eat without incident. And, fructose malabsorption also seems unlikely considering the amount of fruit I eat--again, without incident. Whatever the problem is, it's unique to coconut. Great article, though. I really like Kresser's work. – Kewpie Oct 3 2011 at 2:46

Travis Isaacs · Answer 3 · 2011-10-04 03:10:06Z UTC

2

You're essentially eating coconut every meal. Take a break for a week or so and reintroduce.

answered Oct 4 2011 at 3:10

Travis Isaacs
934●1●3●7

EJG2112 · Answer 4 · 2011-10-04 04:24:24Z UTC

Yeah, that's not too much coconut for some people, but too much coconut for you, at least right now. Thankfully I can handle pretty decent amounts of coconut oil and coconut milk daily. My advice would be to back off on all coconut products for a month, then add back the coconut oil and see what happens, if there are no problems, add back the coconut milk, etc...

Keep in mind, you may be able to handle the coconut oil and not the coconut milk and or coconut flour because of the protein in those. Might be having a reaction to it. There is also some moderate amounts of phytic acid in coconut (amounts similar to corn) that may not be helping things either. So if you really don't want to give up coconut for a month entirely, eat only the coconut oil and see if you are ok with just that.

Another important issue to consider is that your body may not be able to handle all that fat at once, your bile flow may be impaired. Taking some bitters, or raw apple cider vinegar, lemon juice in water before a fatty meal will definitely start to help if that is the case. A person can have limited bile flow from following a low fat diet for an extended period, being overweight, eating a lot of wheat and grains, or eating deep fried foods and bad fats in the past. Not sure what your history is, but I've had to deal with that myself. Of course, if that is the issue, your stomach would be just as upset eating the same amounts of butter and cream, olive oil, or animal fats.

Actually now that I look at the other question you posted, I'm pretty sure the bile flow is an issue. When there is not enough bile being released by the liver and gall bladder to emulsify the fat, constipation, bloating, and stomach aches can be a big problem. It's certainly difficult to lose weight when the digestive system is stopped up. I also recommend taking Natural calm magnesium supplement before bedtime (will help keep things moving) and also a probiotic powder or fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, or pickles, (or yogurt and kefir if you can handle dairy) and also NOW brand super enzyme tablets with each meal, if you are not already. In time your body will adjust to dealing with the extra fats you are eating, but right now it's a bit of a shock to your digestive system.

Karen · Answer 5 · 2011-11-19 20:17:43Z UTC

I found this thread when I looked up "coconut stomach upset". For the first time this morning, I used coconut flour and made pancakes. I have been burping and having stomach upset ever since. Right after I finished eating them I felt flushed in the face, hot all over and strange. I guess some people, me included, just can't handle that much coconut. My son, on the other hand, loved the pancakes and feels great.

vdh1979 · Answer 6 · 2011-10-03 01:16:30Z UTC

1

I've read from a few people that coconut products have that effect. I can't handle coconut oil straight. Has to be mixed in with something or it makes me gag.

answered Oct 3 2011 at 1:16

vdh1979
3,671●4●20

I agree on the coconut oil straight! I don't know how people do that. I tried it once and almost threw up. – Kewpie Oct 3 2011 at 1:32

Allie · Answer 7 · 2011-10-03 19:28:42Z UTC

1

Yeah, too much coconut. Cease and desist.

answered Oct 3 2011 at 19:28

Allie
3,191●1●10●29

ROB · Answer 8 · 2011-10-04 00:25:40Z UTC

1

I increased my coconut cream consumption recently and I developed a critically red face and a scratchy throat, it completely went away when I eliminated the creamed coconut. It's a shame really because it's such a good bulking food.

answered Oct 4 2011 at 0:25

ROB
3,342●8●30

MayaBee · Answer 9 · 2011-11-20 10:45:46Z UTC

0

I think your evidence speaks for itself! Better cut down - try introducing it in very small amounts - but maybe its just not for you. I would cry if it were me... I have to have coconut something every day.

answered Nov 20 2011 at 10:45

MayaBee
1,384●2●9

johnny deep · Answer 10 · 2012-08-06 02:19:26Z UTC

I take up to 5 T of coconut oil a day, but I had to work my way up slowly. I don't eat other coconut products (not the flour, or the 'milk', and only rarely shredded coconut. I have no problems with allergic reactions. I think the trouble here is the flour and the milk. Try thinking paleo and not having flour or milk substitutes; I think these are the source of your ills.

Too Much Coconut?

10 Answers