Young Green Coconuts
Great discoveries often stem from a touch of serendipity and some creative experimentation. Don Kidson, owner of the Living Lighthouse (the raw foods center for the Los Angeles area), introduced Donna to the value of young green coconuts. Most Americans have seen and tasted the milk and meat of the mature (brown, hairy) coconut; a green coconut is really the same food, but it is just younger. Sometimes the green outer shells are cut off before they are shipped to U.S. markets. Look for either the green shell or a white "husk" if the outer shell has been removed. You may not see them in the produce section of your big-chain supermarket, but they are readily available in Asian, Latino, and other ethnic or farmers' markets. Many health food stores will carry them upon request.

Although the liquid of the young coconut has an abundance of minerals, Donna was concerned that it would be too sweet. Drinking it would make the body too acidic and encourage the growth of pathogens and cancers. The idea to add Body Ecology's kefir starter to this liquid and "culture it" kept popping into her mind. She knew it would be a perfect medium for the growth of beneficial microflora.

On a pretty summer night in Malibu, Donna, Don, and two close friends combined the starter and coconut water, let it rest for 24 hours, and were delighted with what they had created. All the sugar disappeared and a fizzy, sour, champagne-like drink, like a spritzer, was born. Donna and Don began teaching many people how to make this great new discovery, and the results were miraculous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What People Say About Coconut Water Kefir (YCK)

• It completely stops your cravings for sugar. Imagine the benefits of that!
• It aids digestion of all foods
• It has a tonifying affect on the intestines, even flattening the abdomen!
• It appears to cleanse the liver. In Chinese medicine the liver rules the skin, eyes, and joints. Coconut water kefir eases aches and joint pains. Many people report having a prettier complexion. They experience the brown liver spots on the skin fading away and skin tags, moles, or warts drying up and disappearing. Vision also improves.
• It contains high levels of valuable minerals, including potassium, natural sodium, calcium, and magnesium, which explains why the hair, skin and nails become stronger and have a prettier shine.
• It appears to have a beneficial, cleansing effect on the endocrine system (adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, ovaries). Women find that their periods are cleaner and healthier; some who had experienced early menopause have found this important monthly cleansing returning again.
• It increases energy and gives you an overall feeling of good health.

Young green coconuts yield several delicious foods. You can ferment the water (not "coconut milk") into that delicious, healing kefir. You can also eat the very special meat. Soft, pudding-like, and technically a seed, this meat is high in protein, enzyme-rich, and very easy to digest. Like all seeds and nuts, it is a protein fat, but this seed provides an excellent source of lauric and caprylic fatty acids. You can scoop the meat out of the shell and eat it raw, or you can put it in a blender with enough water to make it the same consistency of guacamole and then ferment it. Just add our kefir starter, and in 24 hours, you'll have a sort of kefir "cheese," a fabulous fermented base for salad dressings, dips, or just plain eating as is. It's like eating yogurt, only it's dairy-free.