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| COCONUT. |
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| INTRODUCTION |
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ORIGIN AND VARIETIES
 Own of the islands of tropical and subtropical climate of the Pacific Ocean, his cultivation has spread over Central America, the Caribbean Sea and tropical Africa. The types of coconut palms qualify in giants, dwarfs and hybrids and, inside every group, a big number of varieties exists.
are used for the production of oil and the fruits for fresh consumption. His water content is raised and his slightly sweet flavor. Between his advantages they emphasize the size of the fruit and the high content of copra. The most cultivated giant varieties are: (GML), (GRL) (GOA)
the most cultivated varieties are (AAM), (AVEB) Due to the good flavor of the water and the small size of these coconuts, they are used fundamentally for the production of stiff drinks. The copra is of bad quality.
product of the crossing between the previous varieties. There are fruits of medium or big size, good flavor and good yield of copra. The most cultivated hybrid is ; a crossing between Dwarf of Malaysia and High place of Panama.
HIS BEST EPOCH
It is possible to have this fruit during the whole year.
CHARACTERISTICS
 rounded, it presents an external, tough or fibrous rind, of 4 ó 5 centimeters of thickness, with hard adherent hair to the nut. He is followed by an intermediate and thin layer and other one harder that he has next three orifices between themselves, with a triangular disposition and placed in the apex. One of the above mentioned orifices is vulnerable to the pressure, place where the coconut milk can spill before breaking the rind and is where the seed is. The pulp contains in his central cavity the coconut milk, a sugary liquid that is in a 300 milliliters approximate quantity, shut up inside.
 is a covered drupe of 20-30 centimeters fibres and it can go so far as to weigh up to 2,5 kilograms.
 the external rind is yellow or orange and the pulp is the eatable part and of white color.
 intense and very agreeable.
The harvest of the coconut changes according to the type of production, especially from January until July. If it is commercialized like fresh fruit or is assined to the industry with ends of packing water, the harvest is carried out when the coconut has between 5 and 7 months. In this epoch the content of sugar and water is very high and the flavor is more intense.
If it is assined to the production of streaky, dehydrated coconut or copra for the oil extraction, the harvest is realized when the coconuts fall down to the soil or when one of the coconuts of a bunch is dry. These coconuts remain in the plant for 12 months.
HOW TO CHOOSE IT AND TO PRESERVE IT
It must be aromatic like the melon. If one does not listen to the typical splash of the water in his interior, it is because the coconut is dry, past of mature. In the above mentioned conditions the pulp is usually mellow. The fresh coconut survives for two months. After open sea, it has to be consumed in the same day or to keep in a receptacle covered with water, not more than five days. The streaky coconut survives two days in a dated plastic bag.
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Composition for 100 grams of eatable portion |
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Calories |
351 |
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Fats (g) |
36 |
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Carbohydrates (g) |
3,7 |
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Fibre (g) |
10,5 |
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Potassium (mg) |
405 |
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Magnesium (mg) |
52 |
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Vitamin And (mg) |
0,7 |
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Vitamin C (mg) |
2 |
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Acid fólico (mcg) |
26 |
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| mcg = micrograms |
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NOURISHING PROPERTIES
The composition of the coconut changes as this one matures. The fat constitutes the principal component after the water and it is rich in saturated greasy acids (88,6 % of the whole), therefore his caloric value is the highest of all the fruits. It contributes a low carbohydrates quantity and minor still of proteins. Likewise, the coconut is rich in mineral salt that take part in the mineralization of the bones (magnesium, phosphorus, calcium) and in potassium. As for other nutrients, he emphasizes his contribution of fibre, which improves the intestinal transit and helps to reduce the risk of certain alterations and illnesses. The magnesium is related to the functioning of intestine, nerves and muscles, is part of bones and teeth, improves the immunity and possesses a soft laxative effect. The calcium and the phosphorus, also they intervene in the formation of bones and teeth, and the calcium, he collaborates also in the transmission of the nervous impulse and in the normal muscular activity. The phosphorus takes part in the energy metabolism. The potassium is necessary for the transmission and generation of the nervous impulse, for the normal muscular activity and it intervenes in the water balance inside and out of the cell. He emphasizes also his vitamin content E, of antirust action and of certain vitamins hidrosolubles of the group B, necessary for the good functioning of our organism.
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