Coconut vs palm tree. Is it true that coconut oil is the worst?

Causes of allergies and their manifestations

Hypersensitivity to coconuts occurs in one person in a thousand. It is often combined with intolerance to peanuts and other nuts. Signs of the disease appear after using butter, consuming pulp and milk.

Wherein:

• rashes appear on the skin in the form of pimples or blisters;
• nausea and stomach pain, stool disturbances;
• the conjunctiva of the eyes becomes inflamed;
• swelling appears;
• stuffy nose, shortness of breath and cough;
• burning in mouth and ears;
• blood pressure levels decrease.

If the allergy is severe, swelling spreads to the larynx, gradually the airways narrow, and breathing becomes difficult. This is dangerous due to suffocation and anaphylactic shock. In this situation, if help is not provided in time, the patient may die.

This type of allergy is directly related to a violation of the absorption of fatty acids. Individual intolerance may also interfere with the digestion process.

Coconut classification

Although coconut is often called a nut, it is actually a fruit.

In fact, coconut falls under a subcategory known as drupe, which is defined as a fruit that has an internal flesh and seed surrounded by a hard shell. This category includes a variety of fruits such as peaches, pears, walnuts and almonds ().

The seeds of drupes are protected by outer layers known as the endocarp, mesocarp and exocarp. Meanwhile, nuts do not contain these protective layers. A nut is a fruit with a hard shell that does not open to release the seed (,).

Confusingly, some drupes and nuts may be classified as tree nuts. Technically, a tree nut is any fruit or nut that grows on a tree. Therefore, coconut is a type of tree nut that falls under the classification of drupe (,).

Conclusion:

Coconut is a fruit known as a drupe and not a nut. However, it is technically a type of tree nut.

Coconuts for children and pregnant women

Whether coconut is allergenic or not, it is of particular interest to women during pregnancy. The oil of this nut is recommended to be applied to the surface of the skin to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. But pregnant women should include new foods in their diet with caution.

During the period of bearing a child, metabolic processes in the body are disrupted. If previously eating coconut was not accompanied by negative reactions, then due to hormonal changes from products containing coconut, unpleasant sensations may appear.

Expert opinion

During breastfeeding, coconut is allowed from the third month after the birth of the child. It contains useful vitamins and microelements, but you need to consume it in small quantities, observing the baby’s reaction. If he does not accept the nut well, then he should try again in a few months.

An allergy to coconut can occur not only in infants, but also in older children, which is associated with insufficient maturity of the immune system. They experience unpleasant symptoms not only after eating coconut, but also from mattress filler or substrate used for seedlings or terrariums.

What's in coconut oil?

Here are the nutritional values ​​for 15 grams of coconut oil contained in one tablespoon:

• Calories - 120.
• Belkov - 0 g.
• 14 grams of fat, of which 12 g are saturated (harmful), 1 g are monounsaturated (healthy) and 0.5 are polyunsaturated (also healthy).
• Cholesterol - 0 g.
• There are practically no useful dietary fibers, vitamins and minerals.

As you can see, there is nothing particularly useful in it, as some propagandists promoting this oil claim. But also something particularly harmful that is not found in other fats.

Kinds

Hypersensitivity to coconut can manifest as a negative reaction to:

1. Nut. Consumption of shavings and milk pulp may result in red rashes on the skin, difficulty breathing, runny nose and swelling.
2. Oil. Allergies can occur if you use soaps, creams, scrubs that contain coconut oil, as well as after using a pure product. After applying it to the skin, rashes and blisters appear, and certain areas of the body swell.
3. Milk. It is eaten or used for lamination of hair. This can also cause unpleasant symptoms.
4. Chopped fibers and peels in the form of briquettes. They are used to grow seedlings, indoor plants, and create terrariums. Under the influence of coconut in this form, symptoms from the respiratory system appear.
5. Coir. This substance is used to fill mattresses. If you have an intolerance to coconut-containing products, you should turn to hypoallergenic mattresses.

Allergen f36 - coconut, IgE

Quantitative determination of specific IgE antibodies to coconut, which can cause allergies in sensitized individuals.

Synonyms Russian

Specific immunoglobulins of class E to “coconut”.

English synonyms

Allergen f36 - Coconut (Cocos nucifera), IgE; Specific IgE to Coconut.

Research method

Chemiluminescent immunoassay.

Units

kU/l (kilounit per liter).

What biomaterial can be used for research?

Venous blood.

General information about the study

Coconut is a fruit (often mistakenly called a “nut”) from a fruit tree in the palm family. The coconut palm is native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, but is now grown in tropical areas of North, Central and South America, and Africa. Coconut is the most important food product in Asia.

The coconut palm is a long-lived tree with a single trunk, reaching a height of 30 m, with pointed or long drooping leaves at the top. From 90 to 200 fruits grow on one tree per year. The middle of the fruit contains a partly liquid (coconut milk), partly solid (coconut pulp) single seed.

People use all parts of the coconut tree. The inedible parts of the coconut are used to make housing coverings, fertilizers, charcoal, timber, furniture parts, tools, filters and various handicrafts. Coconut coir (coconut fiber) is sometimes included in mattresses. The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw or cooked, as part of many dishes. Palm wine and vinegar are made from the sap. The apical buds of the tree are used in some countries for food as “palm cabbage”. Coconut milk, extracted from unripe nuts, is consumed both fresh and fermented. Dried coconut meat is used in confectionery, and coconut oil is widely used as margarine. Coconuts contain a large amount of protein, as well as lauric acid, which in the body is converted into monolauryl, which has antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic properties. Coconut oil is used in cosmetology, soap making, and in the pharmaceutical industry.

Coconut is a hypoallergenic food, but it is a rare but possible cause of allergic reactions in sensitized individuals. Several allergens have been isolated from coconut, one of which is immunologically similar to soybean storage protein. Despite the very distant relationship, cross-allergic reactions between coconut, walnut and hazelnut are possible. However, individuals who are sensitized to coconut may not have reactions to other nuts, and vice versa.

An allergy to this food product may manifest itself as itching in the mouth, cough, shortness of breath, bronchospasm, redness of the skin, angioedema, urticaria, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. In rare cases, severe life-threatening anaphylactic reactions may occur after eating coconut. Isolated cases of the development of severe gastrointestinal disorders in infants who received a mixture containing coconut oil have been described, in which sensitization to coconut was confirmed using skin prick tests and provocative tests. An allergy to coconut can occur in people who have previously repeatedly consumed this fruit without any reactions. And sensitization to coconut can be either isolated or in combination with allergies to other foods.

More often, it is not food allergies that occur, but allergic contact dermatitis when lotions, shampoos, soaps and other care products that contain derivatives of coconut and coconut oil are applied to the skin. The possibility of primary sensitization to coconut through the skin cannot be ruled out. There are known cases of allergic rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma in individuals sensitized to coconut pollen.

What is the research used for?

• Identification of sensitization to coconut in children and adults;
• determination of possible causes of exacerbation of an allergic disease (allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, angioedema, gastrointestinal disorders).

When is the study scheduled?

• If you suspect an allergy to coconut in children and adults;
• when examining patients with skin rashes, angioedema, redness and burning of the eyes, swelling of the eyelids, lacrimation, sneezing, congestion, rhinorrhea, itching in the mouth, cough, shortness of breath, bronchospasm, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea after eating coconut;
• if skin testing is not possible.

What do the results mean?

Reference values: negative.

Reasons for the positive result:

• sensitization to coconut.

Reasons for negative results:

• lack of sensitization to this allergen;
• long-term restriction or exclusion of contact with the allergen.


Important Notes

• Performing this study is safe for the patient compared to skin tests (in vivo), since it eliminates the patient’s contact with the allergen.
• Taking antihistamines and age characteristics do not affect the quality and accuracy of the study.

Also recommended

[02-029] Clinical blood test: general analysis, leukocyte count, ESR (with blood smear microscopy to detect pathological changes)

[08-017] Serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE)

[21-673] ImmunoCAP ISAC allergy chip (112 allergy components)

[21-074] Allergen f14 - soybeans, IgE

[21-225] Allergen f256 - walnut, IgE

[21-055] Allergen f20 - almonds, IgE

[21-648] Allergen f92 - banana, IgE (ImmunoCAP)

[21-541] Mixture of food allergens No. 1 (IgE): peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, coconut, Brazil nuts + determination of specific immunoglobulins class E for other allergens

Who orders the study?

Allergist, gastroenterologist, pediatrician, therapist, general practitioner.

Literature

1. Teuber SS, Peterson WR. Systemic allergic reaction to coconut (Cocos nucifera) in 2 subjects with hypersensitivity to tree nut and demonstration of cross-reactivity to legumin-like seed storage proteins: new coconut and walnut food allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103(6):1180-5.
2. Rosado A, Fernandez-Rivas M, Gonzalez-Mancebo E, Leon F, Campos C, Tejedor MA. Anaphylaxis to coconut. Allergy 2002;57(2):182-3.
3. Nguyen SA, More DR, Whisman BA, Hagan LL. Cross-reactivity between coconut and hazelnut proteins in a patient with coconut anaphylaxis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2004;92(2):281-4.
4. Tella R, Gaig P, Lombardero M, Paniagua MJ, Garcia-Ortega P, Richart C. A case of coconut allergy. Allergy 2003;58(8):825-6.
5. Couturier P, Basset-Stheme D, Navette N, Sainte-Laudy J. A case of coconut oil allergy in an infant: responsibility of “maternalized” infant formulas. [French] Allerg Immunol (Paris) 1994;26(10):386-7.
6. Newhall KK, Amoruso LS, Sinacore JM, Pongracic JA. Presence of common food allergens in commercially available pediatric skin care products. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2004:113:S235.
7. Karmakar PR, Chatterjee BP. Cocos nucifera pollen inducing allergy: sensitivity test and immunological study. Indian J Exp Biol 1995;33(7):489-96.
8. Wittczak T, Pas-Wyroslak A, Palczynski C. Occupational allergic conjunctivitis due to coconut fiber dust. Allergy 2005;60(7):970-1.
9. Anagnostou K. Coconut Allergy Revisited. Children (Basel). Oct 2017; 4(10): 85.

Diagnostics

Allergies to coconut milk and other nut-containing products are detected after certain tests are performed. To determine which allergen caused the rash or swelling, do the following:

1. Skin tests. This is a painless technique during which a scratch is made on the surface of the skin and an allergen is applied. Also, the intended irritant can be injected under the skin with an injection. If redness and other symptoms appear at the intervention site, this indicates sensitivity to coconut.
2. Antibody test. The blood is examined for the presence of immunoglobulin E, which indicates the development of an allergic reaction.
3. Provocative tests, during which the introduction of an allergen is also practiced. Allergists say this technique is only useful for a limited number of potential irritants.

Based on the results of the study, a suitable treatment option is selected.

Where did it all start?

Let's try to understand this problem without emotions. Let's begin to unravel the tangle from the very beginning, with a speech by Karin Michels, director of the Institute for the Prevention and Epidemiology of Cancer at the University of Freiburg and at the same time a professor at one of the Harvard medical schools. She stated that coconut oil is one of the most unhealthy foods we consume. She attributed this to saturated fat (considered unhealthy), which is higher in coconut oil than lard and beef tallow. More precisely, it contains 92% saturated fatty acids, usually about half of which is medium-chain lauric acid, the rest being myristic, palmitic and oleic acids. Consumption of these fatty acids increases the level of “bad” LDL cholesterol in the blood, which can lead to heart disease. But lauric acid also increases “good” HDL cholesterol.

Let's be honest, this is clearly not enough to declare coconut oil the most harmful. Firstly, this has long been known, and no one has demonized him for these qualities. Secondly, the negative view of saturated fatty acids is being revised and they are no longer considered so harmful. And most importantly - thirdly. Professor Michels did not specifically study the effects of coconut oil on human health. In the list of her works, we were unable to find articles devoted to this oil. She made her statement at a public lecture in Freiburg, which means that her words should not be treated as the ultimate truth. Let's just say, most likely, this is some kind of exaggeration of the kind that is allowed when speaking in public.

Based on much the same data, the American Heart Association and the US Department of Agriculture warn citizens against excessive consumption of coconut and other tropical oils, considering them unhealthful. But at the same time, they do not claim that these are the most harmful products.

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Treatment

Whether coconut milk is an allergen or not is of interest to all lovers of this product. If you are hypersensitive to coconut, this substance may cause unpleasant symptoms.

To eliminate the problem, use antihistamines. With their help, you can improve your well-being and get rid of allergies. Such medications should be prescribed by your doctor, as they can have various side effects. You cannot treat the disease on your own.

An allergist prescribes medications. He will conduct an examination, prescribe tests and determine the allergen. With the right therapy, improvement can be achieved within a week.

Coconut oil is prohibited for allergies, like other products. Their use will provoke a relapse.

Cooking recipes with coconut

Candied coconut without sugar

A tablespoon of carob or natural cocoa, if you eat it, a Fitparada type sweetener, 1 coconut.

Chop the coconut, cut into cubes, mix cocoa or carob with water and sweetener until you get the consistency of regular cocoa. Place coconut cubes into the mixture, simmer for 20 minutes over low heat, and dry. Sprinkle with stevia-based powdered sugar if you have it.

Coconut milk based drink

Milk from 1 coconut, a teaspoon of honey or sweetener, plain water, a little mint or lemon balm.

Place all ingredients in a jug, mix and cool in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes before serving.

Coconut curry

Coconut milk and a little grated coconut pulp, brown rice, 1 cup, and shrimp, 200 g, peeled, plus curry seasoning.

Boil the rice separately. Heat coconut milk in a frying pan, add curry seasoning, stir, add shrimp. Cook until done, add rice and some coconut. If desired, you can add carrots, celery and bell pepper to the dish.

Recipes with coconut with step-by-step photos:

“Raffaello” Coconut leek soup Vegetable soup with coconut Berry-coconut cocktail

For women

For a woman’s health, coconut is a storehouse of benefits. Its inclusion in the menu affects both the appearance and the health of a number of organs. Exot is a natural antioxidant; it triggers the process of skin cell regeneration and slows down the appearance of gray hair.

For the female reproductive system, the tropical fruit is useful as an anti-inflammatory and tonic product.

In pregnant women, drinking coconut will reduce the symptoms of toxicosis and protect the mother’s body from vitamin deficiency. An exotic product is valued on the menu of nursing mothers: lauric acid increases the nutritional value of milk.

Walnut pulp also helps a woman’s body cope with age-related hormonal changes.