A recipe to start your dietary routine.
Coconut Curry
Coconut, especially in the form of coconut water and coconut oil, has enjoyed some time in the sun in recent years. We hear stories about how coconut water was used as IV fluid for wounded soldiers in World War II, and about health miracles people have experienced by incorporating coconut oil into their diets. Everywhere you turn, it seems, there’s a positive claim about coconut—and rightfully so. Now let’s get down to what hasn’t yet been discovered: that coconut enhances the power of anything it touches. It has an incredible reach. When combined with any healing food, coconut gets in touch with those benefits and super- charges them. For example, if you add coconut water to a smoothie with parsley, that coconut water increases the parsley’s ability to remove unproductive acids from your body by 50 percent and dramatically improves the effects of parsley’s already beneficial trace minerals. Or if you add coconut meat to a salad, everything else in the salad—cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, spinach, anything that has healing properties— becomes more nutritious and life-changing. Coconut drives a food to fulfill its highest purpose by igniting amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients, and in doing so, nourishes you so you can perform your life’s purpose and then some—your purpose-plus. Though you wouldn’t look at a coconut palm tree and think it has much in common with a human, we’re more connected to these plants than you may realize. For one, as that IV story teaches us, coconut water is remarkably similar to human blood. Secondly, coconut palms are tropical—they need warmth. Though humans are scattered all over the globe, we really are tropical beings at our origins. You won’t find someone surviving in a snowy climate without protective body gear and some source of heat. Coconut puts us in touch with that foundational essence of who we are. Coconut water provides vital glucose and critical mineral salts, including potassium and sodium, to the bloodstream. This is a fundamental component of our neurotransmitter chemical production. If we don’t have the neurotransmitter chemicals we need, it can lead to insomnia, neurological sleep apnea, and other sleep disturbances. The best thing you can do to avoid these issues is to drink coconut water—it is the best tool of all time for neurotransmitter support. For those who struggle with infertility or other disorders of the reproductive system, take note that coconut water’s trace minerals and electrolytes nourish your reproductive tissue. Coconut water is also incredibly important for people with hypoglycemia and other blood sugar disorders, including diabetes. It’s critical for people with over or underactive adrenals. It’s good for every single brain and neurological disorder. Coconut water can greatly benefit people with Parkinson’s, and it’s also a must for those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. It’s incredible for helping to prevent the onset of seizures and offers special support for eye conditions. Coconut meat (and the oil derived from it) is antipathogenic due to its lauric acid content combined with other antioxidants present in it, so turn to coconut when you’re in need of an antibacterial and antiviral food. When coconut drops from the stomach into the intestinal tract, it kills off any pathogen it touches. Plus, its medium-chain fatty acids break loose other fats and aid in pushing them out of the body. CONDITIONS If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing coconut into your life: Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS); Addison’s disease; Raynaud’s syndrome; adrenal fatigue; hypoglycemia; diabetes; thyroid cancer; tachycardia; atrial fibrillation; depression; anxiety; bipolar disorder; Asperger’s syndrome; insomnia; seizure disorders; optic nerve conditions; glaucoma; migraines; Parkin- son’s disease; Alzheimer’s disease; dementia; Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)/mononucleosis; HHV- 6; HHV-7; HHV-8; HHV-9; the undiscovered HHV-10, HHV-11, and HHV-12; thyroid disease; shingles; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); autism; thyroid nodules; urinary tract infections (UTIs); infertility; low reproductive system battery; sciatica; bacterial pneumonia; Lyme disease; mycoplasma; Chlamydia pneumoniae; parasites; carpal tunnel syndrome; depression; anxiety; hypertension; human papilloma virus (HPV); norovirus; pancreatitis; small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO); sunburn SYMPTOMS If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing coconut into your life: Heart palpitations, grand mal seizures, arrhythmia, anxiousness, brain fog, blurry eyes, Bell’s palsy, memory loss, weight gain, food allergies, frozen shoulder, jaw pain, neuralgia, all neurological symptoms (including tingles, numbness, spasms, twitches, nerve pain, and tightness of the chest), back pain, blurry eyes, confusion, chemical sensitivities, mineral deficiencies, fatigue, listlessness, malaise, dehydration, headaches, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, connective tissue inflammation, ear pain, foot pain, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances, low platelet counts, nervousness, ringing or buzzing in the ears, urinary urgency EMOTIONAL SUPPORT Do you know anyone who travels through life reacting to everything with the response, “But how does this affect me?” If so, offer her or him coconut in any form. Coconut is for that person who’s narcissistic, self-consumed, and completely saturated in her or his singular world- view. Coconut opens the emotional channel for someone to let go of the self-addiction and weigh others’ needs and values alongside her or his own. SPIRITUAL LESSON Coconut palms are quick to drop their coconuts in a storm. This comes from the trees’ wisdom of survival—they can either hold onto the coconuts and risk toppling as the winds whip through, or they can let go of them, and make themselves less vulnerable. It’s a lesson we would all do well to take to heart. When life gets stormy, we sometimes have to let go of what’s most precious to us, and it can feel like the end of the world. Coconut trees teach us that in the end, the sun comes back out, and what matters most is that you’re okay. TIPS * When buying coconut water, only get it if it’s clear or very slightly tingedwith pink. It’s a misconception that deep pink or reddish coconut water is beneficial—in fact, this is a sign that it’s rapidly oxidizing and going bad. Also avoid any coconut water that contains natural flavors, citric acid, or sweeteners such as agave nectar or refined cane sugar. * If you’re able to get ahold of some young, green coconuts, try to consume them over the course of a few days. If they sit too long without refrigeration, they’re liable to pop, and you’ll end up with coconut water on your walls and ceiling. * If you don’t have access to fresh coconuts, some of the best forms to seek out include jarred coconut butter or frozen young coconut meat to use with dishes such as salads. For cooking, use coconut oil. * Bring coconut into your life if you have a fear of swimming or open water. Coconut trees often grow on the coast, leaning over the water’s edge and dropping their coconuts into the ocean. Coconuts are excellent swimmers; they stay buoyant for long stretches of time and miles upon miles of open sea, taking on knowledge of the ocean as they oat, until they eventually reach a new shore where they can take root. When you consume coconut, you inherit this natural instinct for life on the water, which helps to strengthen you as it alleviates your aquatic anxiety. * Coconut in the evening is ideal for those who have trouble sleeping during a full moon. The coconut provides extra mineral salts and electrolytes for your neurotransmitters and electrical impulses; this helps defend you from the full moon’s subtle gravitational pull. YELLOW COCONUT CURRY This rich, complex curry is the perfect dinner for meals around the table with family and friends. The recipe makes a big batch, so you’ll have enough for a hungry crew, or for leftovers to be eaten throughout the week. Yellow curry is mild and warming, with the mingled flavors of ginger, garlic, and turmeric simmered in coconut milk and loaded with potatoes, carrots, and squash. This dish will become a favorite to return to over and over again. 1 small kabocha squash 8 potatoes 8 carrots 1 tablespoon coconut oil 3 onions, diced 8 garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons grated ginger 2 tablespoons yellow curry powder 3 cups coconut milk 2 teaspoons honey 11/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 cup cilantro 1 lime Red pepper (optional) Place the kabocha squash in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until squash softens slightly. Drain and set aside to cool. Roughly dice the potatoes and carrots and set aside. When the squash is cool enough to handle, slice it in half and remove the seeds. Roughly dice the squash and return to the pot along with the carrots and potatoes. Add 2 inches of water to the pot and bring to a boil. Cover to steam, stirring occasionally. Add more water if needed. Steam until the vegetables are just cooked through. For the curry, warm the coconut oil in a large pot. Add the onions and sauté over high heat until they are soft and fragrant (about 5 minutes). If needed, add water to prevent sticking. Add the garlic, ginger, and curry powder to the onions, stirring frequently for 1 minute. Add the coconut milk, honey, and salt, and continue stirring. Add the vegetables and bring to a low simmer. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Serve the curry topped with cilantro, lime juice, and red pepper, if desired. Makes 6 to 8 servings Excerpt from the #1 New York Times Bestselling book Life-Changing Foods
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