As consumer habits continue to shift towards more plant-based foods, the dairy industry is feeling the threat. Analysts predict that dairy alternatives are projected to surpass $35 billion by 2024. While milk has been the primary product of the battleground du jour for Big Dairy, as seen in the recent Dairy Pride Act, a new threat is waiting on the horizon.

Most people are familiar with the health benefits of coconut oil, but now coconut butter is making waves in the natural food arena. Whereas coconut oil is extracted from the fruit, coconut butter is made from blending all parts of the coconut, including the flesh. Essentially the butter is taking the ground up, dried flesh of the fruit and pulverizing it into a silky smooth butter. This allows for the person consuming the butter to get the nourishment of not just the natural oil but the fiber from the coconut as well.

Aside from fiber coconut butter also contains potassium, magnesium, iron, and healthy fats. The butter provides several health benefits.

Boosts immunity

Coconut butter is a good source of lauric acid. This acid is helpful for boosting immunity and destroying harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi. It’s the same acid that’s found in breast milk that is responsible for developing the immune system to fight off viral and fungal infections.

Helps with weight loss

It increases your metabolism, which in turn helps you lose weight.

Protects skin

Coconut butter protects against free radicals that may be damaging to the skin. It’s also a great moisturizer as it’s able to penetrate into the deep layers of skin, strengthening the tissue. It can even help you reduce the look of aging by improving your skin’s elasticity.

Stabilizes blood sugar

By adding coconut butter to your diet, you can lower your glycemic index. This helps prevent your blood sugar levels from spiking. It also helps protect you from insulin resistance, which is associated with type II diabetes. (RELATED: Get more news like this at Fresh.news)

This dairy free alternative burns quickly, so it should not be used for stove top cooking on anything higher than a low heat. Coconut oil is still the better option for replacing dairy in that measure. Coconut butter works better as a replacement for butter as a condiment, spread, or baking ingredient as some people already do with almond butter or peanut butter. You can melt coconut butter and pour it over vegetables, add it to a smoothie, or even it spread it on toast.

Just like coconut oil, coconut butter also goes beyond providing benefits solely from ingestion and can be used topically as well. Some people have reported using the butter as a skin moisturizer, shaving cream, lip balm, massage oil, makeup remover, and a rash or burn soother. If you do decide to integrate coconut butter into your health and beauty routine, it is suggested that you should test a patch of skin first to rule out any sensitivity or possible allergic reaction to the product.

Coconut butter is already being touted as a superfood because of all the health benefits it provides. Though it is not meant to completely replace butter, which has received a bad reputation over the years despite some health benefits it may provide, it is always nice to have natural, plant-based options.

Sources:

Theheartysoul.com

Fooddive.com

Healthline.com