The Kidney Citizen April 2017 | Page 10

The Swiss Army Knife of the Plant Kingdom: The Coconut by Jessiana Saville , RD, owner of kidneygrub.com There are few foods as versatile as coconut. It is edible, drinkable, and wearable. It is currently one of the hottest food and health trends buzzing through grocery stores, restaurants, blogs, books, and magazines. It is touted as being able to whiten teeth, fight infection, clear acne, and solve a myriad of chronic diseases. There are so many health claims surrounding coconut at this time that it seems to be the holy grail of food. Food manufacturers have taken note of this. Coconut is no longer just the packages of sweet white flakes in the baking aisle or your tropical drink next to the pool in the Bahamas. Coconut now can be readily found in all stores in a dizzying variety of products. Coconut sug