10 Surprising Facts About Coconuts

Everyone knows that coconut is a wonderful food product, it is used to make a healthy drink, and it has even become a favorite ingredient in celebrity diets. But these are far from all the facts known about this “fruit of life”.

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10. Useful properties.

Coconut fruit contains many useful substances for the body. As it turned out, coconut milk also contains important components and is a short-term substitute for human blood plasma, as evidenced by experiments conducted back in the 50s. There was a recent case where coconut was used to treat a critically ill patient in the Solomon Islands.

9. Coconut in a gas mask.

The First World War went down in history with many gas attacks, as a result of which gas masks became a necessary means of survival. Carbon was used to purify the air in gas masks, but it is not always obtained in the same way. In the US, they found a way to obtain carbon from coconut by burning the shell of a nut. The scientists found that gas masks using coconut carbon were superior to others at filtering out harmful substances.

Even now, coconut carbon is still an important tool in the fight against radiation and was actively used in the accident at the Japanese nuclear power plant "Fukushima".

8. Coconut and monkeys.

Collecting coconuts is not an easy and even dangerous task for a person, so for a long time peasants have attracted monkeys, real experts in this matter.

In tropical countries such as Sumatra, farmers have trained monkeys to harvest coconuts for them. Most farmers control the animals with a long leash, but some monkeys are so well trained that they listen to the owner's voice commands. Such monkeys are in great demand and bring a good income to their owner.

7. Coconut Palace

Coconut not only has a lot of nutrients, it is also an excellent building material. Former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos was convinced of this when he built himself a coconut palace.

Wanting to surprise Pope John Paul II during his visit to the Philippines, Marcos ordered the construction of a luxurious mansion, which cost 37 million pesos ($10 million). Seventy percent of this two-story building was constructed from coconut lumber. Other components of the coconut tree and nuts are also included in the decor and architecture.

Did the coconut palace impress the Pope? Yes, but not what the Philippine authorities expected. Pope John Paul II condemned the palace, considering it too pretentious and pompous, especially against the backdrop of the low standard of living of ordinary Filipinos. So the Pope decided to stay elsewhere.

6. Coconut and art.

Talented artists can create beauty from what at first glance is not applicable in art. Coconut is no exception. It is used as a material for sculptures, both in its original form and in the complex form associated with the unusual processing of coconut.

Coconuts are also an integral part of some ethnic folk dances and other cultural events. So, during the traditional Filipino dance maglalatik, coconut shell halves are tied to different parts of a man's body and used as an impromptu drum.

5. Coconut fuel.

Coconuts are good "fuel" for the body, but did you know that they can also be used to make sustainable fuel for cars? Biodiesel, which is a great alternative to existing environmentally damaging gasoline fuels, can be extracted from coconuts in significant quantities. Thus, the substances contained in coconuts can perform several functions: act as a base substance, an additive, or a direct substitute for diesel.

4. Coconut and history.

Coconut has become a key factor in the growth and development of many civilizations. Modern scholars have discovered how significant a role coconuts played in the trade and migration of ancient peoples.

There are over 1,300 species of coconut, and they can be divided into two main groups with respect to their genetic origins: those growing on the Pacific coast and those growing on the coast of the Indian Oceans. By studying the genetic origin of coconuts, evolutionary biologist Kenneth Olsen and his team were able to trace the major trade and migration routes of ancient human civilizations.

3. Coconut vodka.

Your seaside vacation is not complete without a refreshing coconut cocktail to help you relax and unwind.

In the Philippines, coconut-colored buds are used to make an alcoholic drink called Lambanog. This drink is prepared exclusively from organic ingredients and does not contain any chemicals. Traditionally made at home, Lambanog has recently begun to be produced on an industrial scale.

2. Coconut armor.

When we hear the phrase "coconut armor", the first thing that comes to mind is probably a hollowed out coconut shell used as a helmet. But the artisans of the Republic of Kiribati were able to make something more interesting.

Their coconut hazmat suit was made from a very thick carpet-like dense fabric woven from coconut fibres. The armor consisted of a headdress, body armor, a back plate, pants, and a tight-fitting jacket with a high collar.

1. Coconut and music.

Now you are convinced that coconut is a fairly popular fruit. Moreover, he became the inspiration for numerous musical works. "Coconut" by Harry Nilsson, a whimsical and charming song that appeared in the early 70s and quickly became a hit. After appearing on the air, the song has repeatedly become a track for films and video games.