Coconut milk is often a staple fat source for those following a Paleo diet. From a nutritional perspective, it’s an excellent choice. It’s high in saturated fatty acids and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which are both easily burned as fuel by the body. MCTs are particularly beneficial in that they don’t require bile acids for digestion, and they’re directly shunted to the liver via the portal vein.
Coconut milk and fruit can be a great snack for Paleo folks, and coconut milk smoothies make a great Paleo breakfast choice – especially in the summer.
So what could be wrong with coconut milk? Here are three things to consider.
Bisphenol-A
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical that has been used in consumer goods since the 50s. It’s found in reusable drink containers, DVDs, cell phones, eyeglass lenses, automobile parts and sports equipment. While the research on BPA is still mixed (some studies indicating harm and others not), given the uncertainty I think it makes sense to avoid it whenever possible.
So what’s the solution here? In short, if you want to be on the safe side and reduce your exposure to BPA, you have to reduce your consumption of canned foods (including coconut milk) as much as possible. I made this recommendation in 9 Steps for Perfect Health-#3: Eat Real Food. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that families who ate fresh food for three days with no canned food, and using only glass storage containers, experienced a 60% reduction of BPA in their urine. The reductions were even higher (75%) for those with the highest BPA levels at the beginning of the study.
The good news, however, is that there are brands of coconut milk with BPA-free cans or carton packaging. One is Native Forest, which you can purchase on Amazon if it’s not available at your local store.
Coconut milk can also be made quite easily at home, with coconut flakes, a blender and cheesecloth. Here’s a video to show you how (get a load of the soundtrack). I find that blanching the coconut flakes prior to blending improves the results.
Guar gum
It’s primarily the endosperm of guar beans.
Beans and legumes have a variety of compounds in them that make them difficult to digest, especially for people with digestive problems (1 in 3 Americans, from the latest statistics). In my clinical experience, many patients with gut issues improve when they remove guar gum from their diet—including canned coconut milk.
There’s no evidence that guar gum may cause serious harm. So, if you’re able to tolerate guar gum, there’s no reason to avoid it. If it does give you digestive trouble, look for a brand that’s free from guar gum. The other option, of course, is making coconut milk at home.
Fructose malabsorption
Fructose malabsorption (FM) is a digestive disorder characterized by impaired transport of fructose across the small intestine. This results in increased levels of undigested fructose in the gut, which in turn causes overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. Undigested fructose also reduces the absorption of water into the intestine.
Symptoms produced include bloating, gas, pain, constipation or diarrhea, vomiting and fatigue (to name a few). Recent research has also tied fructose malabsorption to depression.
Lest you think this isn’t a common problem, studies have shown that up to 30% of people in Western countries suffer from fructose malabsorption.
Even in healthy people without fructose malabsorption, however, only about 20-25g of fructose can be properly absorbed at one sitting. Glucose assists in transport of fructose across the intestine, so in general foods with equal amounts of glucose and fructose will be better absorbed than foods with excess amounts of fructose (in relation to glucose).
While fructose malabsorption can cause symptoms in anyone, those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are particularly affected. While the prevalence of FM is the same in healthy populations and those with IBS & IBD, the experience of FM appears to be more intense in the latter group. This is probably due to the increased visceral sensitivity common in IBS and IBD patients.
In fact, one of the most promising clinical approaches to managing IBS & IBD right now is the low-FODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligo-, Di- and Mono-saccharides And Polyols. These include:
- fructose (fruits, honey, HFCS)
- fructans (wheat, onions)
- lactose (milk sugar)
- polyols (sugar alcohols like sorbitol, xylitol & mannitol, along with fruits like apples, pears and plums)
- galactooligosaccharides (legumes & beans, brussel sprouts, onions)
- other sweeteners like polydextrose and isomalt
Studies have found that restricting FODMAPs can significantly improve the symptoms associated with IBS, IBD and fructose malabsorption.
What does this have to do with coconut milk, you ask? According to Drs. Gibson & Barrett, experts in fructose malabsorption, coconut milk is a FODMAP and should be avoided by people with digestive conditions like IBS & IBD.
According to NutritionData.com, coconut milk has very little sugar of any kind – including fructose. Nevertheless, I do have patients that cannot even tolerate homemade coconut milk (which has no guar gum in it), even though they are fine with coconut oil. I assume that they are reacting to the fructose in the coconut milk – but I can’t be sure. According to Monash University, small quantities (up to 1/3 of a cup or 80g) of coconut milk may be tolerable for those who are sensitive to FODMAPs.
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Recommendations
Let’s bring this together into recommendations for three different groups of people:
- Women who are trying to get pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding, children and other vulnerable populations (chronically ill): should avoid canned coconut milk products except for those that are BPA-free, like Native Forest and Arroy-D. Note: Native Forest is organic, but Arroy-D is not.
- People with digestive problems (IBS, IBD, GERD, etc.): may want to avoid coconut products entirely, except for coconut oil
- Healthy people: may be fine with canned coconut milk, provided they don’t react to the guar gum, and provided they’re willing to take the side of industry scientists that claim BPA doesn’t cause harm in humans
Want organic coconut milk – but without the BPA and guar gum?
There are available options to buy organic, guar-gum-free coconut milk in a BPA-free container. Or, with a little extra effort, you can easily make this at home yourself.
- Purchase coconut cream (Let’s Do Organic and Artisana are good choices) and blend with water to make coconut milk.
- Purchase shredded coconut (again, Let’s Do Organic is a good choice), and follow the instructions below for making homemade coconut milk.
Homemade coconut milk instructions
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1.5 – 2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- Heat water until hot (but not boiling).
- Add shredded coconut and water to blender (preferably a Vitamix!) If all of the water won’t fit, you can add it in two batches.
- Blend on high for several minutes until thick and creamy.
- Pour through a colander to filter out the coconut pulp, then squeeze through a cheese cloth or nut milk bag to filter the smaller pieces of coconut.
- If you separated the water into two batches, put the strained coconut back into the blender with the second batch of water.
- Drink immediately or store in the fridge. Fresh coconut milk should be used within 3-4 days of making it for the best flavor and texture.
) If all of the water won’t fit, you can add it in two batches.
to filter the smaller pieces of coconut.
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We have 2 Asian markets in my area which has a few coconut milk and cream products. The ONLY one that is 100% pure coconut milk is Aroy-D. It’s in a box, although they do have cans. They have small boxes and larger ones. I wasn’t able to use the larger one all at once so I put it in the refrigerator. It got solid and I had to cut the box open, put it in a pan and heat it. I suppose I could have put the box in a pan of water, but was afraid it would leak. I couldn’t put it in the microwave because the inner lining is more than likely aluminum or some type of metal. That says to me that it is 100% coconut milk since it solidified upon being refrigerated. It even states on the package to use within 2 days or it will congeal. It has the best taste to me. I also buy a coconut cream in a 14 oz. can (probably BPA lined) by Savoy, and it says it is a coconut extract and water. Probably not as good, but is much less in cost than Aroy-D.
I freeze the coconut milk/cream by dividing the whole container into an ice-cube tray. I then use the amount of cubes I need. A medium sized cube weighs around 15 grams.
FYI, Savoy is an Aroy-D product and I use both for different things. Also, I use mine for weeks by putting it in a 16 oz, wide-mouth canning jar once I open the can. I take a piece of masking tape and write the date on it. I have had it in the fridge for as long as 4 weeks with no degradation in quality.
Savoy brand tastes like tin can so does Trader Joes.Thai kitchen is the best and no bpa liner,I buy it at Kroger
I was sold on Trader Joes fresh coconut milk in the milk jugs, refrigerated section. I also like that their canned version was low fat. I didn’t think it tasted bad, especially for using in recipes. Here’s a tip from Cuba: fresh coconut water, squeeze of lime and a shot of sweet Cuban rum!
I don’t recommend coconut milk either. I drink almond milk, great option for those who are lactose intolerant.
Nothing is like it use to be, which is why you should always look on the back to see what your really putting into your body.
Cheers,
Be careful of the high arsenic content in the brown ‘skin’ of almonds, (as well as apple seeds).
:^}!
Apple seeds contain cyanide, they are poisonous.
I wish someone would answer this question (I have asked on a few websites): Won’t I gain weight on Hi Fat Low Carb diet IF I do NOT exercise? I have MS and just simply cannot exercise or even walk down the hall.
Thanks and be well! Learning a lot! For hypoglycemia, I have replaced my “protein bars” with packets of almond or hazelnut butter. I also started coconut oil several months ago. I have GAINED 25 pounds over the past year (btw, the MS is progressing, I’m doing even less physical activity, using my power wheelchair in the house, etc.).
In answer to your question, here is my testimony:
I am extremely sedentary. I lost weight, and kept if off, after switching to a very low carbohydrate diet. I eat moderate amount of protein and the rest is fat. I do not count anything, except to get to make sure to eat enough protein.
My net weight loss was about 20 pounds, but only if I manage to stay away from the all-too-tempting nuts and full fat yogurt. I can eat either of those as if I were binging on cookies or ice cream, and an increase in abdominal fat follows.
Sorry, I said “the rest is fat.” Not true.
The rest is fat AND some vegetables & occasional berries.
Dear Jane, Thank you for your replies! You put it into perspective for me, especially coming from another “sedentary” person. I’ve been studying “Grain Brain” on the internet but finally read the phrase “aerobic exercise.” Said almost like a “given.” So, I know, the carbs have got to go ‘way down. Thanks so much, so kind of you to reply.
PS I also will let go of nuts and full-fat yogurt, which I was doing. I was advised to switch to these foods… Well, our own bodies tell us what works and what doesn’t. Be well!
I have autoimmune illness that left me pretty disabled/sedentary. I’ve lost 50 lbs following (The Paleo Mom) Sarah Ballentyne’s Autoimmune Paleo Protocol. I eat no nuts/seeds, but a couple of table spoons of coconut oil daily in addition to cooking w it & olive oil. My only carbs are green vegetables and I keep starchy/sweet veggies to a minimum (a few servings per week). I don’t each much fruit. Fruit is a treat or enhances a salad w just w sprinkle. Managing life… & weight can be so hard without full mobility. Best wishes!
Diane,
I hope you saw Rob’s reply too. He adds important details.
Sarah Ballantyne’s Autoimmune Paleo Approach and Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook explain the most nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet that I have seen.
Like Rob though, I would caution that for extremely sedentary people, the extra step of cutting out starchy vegetables and fruits is extremely important.
I recommend that you look up Terry Wahls, MD., who has MS herself, and is leading some clinical trials.
She has also published a book about a protocol and diet for autoimmune conditions.
Wahls includes neuromuscular electrical stimulation in her protocol, which I gather can strengthen muscles and promote strength and mobility.
There’s another similar group of low carb dieting called “Trim Healthy mama’s”
I’m hearing great things from friends.
Hi Jane,
My 2 cents: I quit all forms of MSG. Which means all processed food and most restaurant food. I eat whatever I want as long as I cook it from scratch or know all the ingredients. Currently losing 1 to 1.5 lbs a week with no change in exercise, and my achy joints, tendon issues, and rosacea are all rapidly clearing (1 month in). MSG (processed free glutamic acid) is implicated in many conditions and diseases, including weight gain and MS. See msgtruth.org or any blog or website that not influenced by big food producers.
Diana,
You may want to consider a paleo diet. Check out this link that shows a doctor controlling her MS with paleo. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/23/overcoming-multiple-sclerosis-through-diet.aspx. You may also want to increase your vitamin D intake. There are links to vitamin D deficiency and many health issues one being MS. Hope this helps.
Read up on pufas, hazelnut oil is an excellent way to gain unhealthy fat, especially when combined with sugar (particularly fructose). Coconut oil is excellent though.
Almond butter as well. If you have m.s, steer clear and good luck.
Hi! Just wanted to add that I lose weight without exercising following a low-carb diet. I was too lazy and working too much but just shifting to low-carb instantly started the scale moving. I first tried Atkins which led me to discovering paleo. For me primal has made the most sense and I really like Mark Sissons attitude and take on things. I notice immediate improvement in so many areas following it. I unfortunately have a serious grain addiction so I keep going back but am getting better and better with limiting consumpton and choosing better quality when I do eat them. I’ve successfully kept off approx 25-30lbs and I credit it all to diet more than exercise. Exercise is important but diet seems to have the most impact. Good luck to you!
You should sincerely look into almond milks ingredients and truth about it. The amount of almonds used in it is not worth the “colored water” you are drinking. I would consider makind almond milk myself.
RT, coconut milk by definition is lactose free
http://www.livestrong.com/article/408353-is-coconut-milk-lactose-free/
I have been searching also for a coconut milk that does not contain anything other than coconut and water. I thought I had found the perfect one with Aroyd-D which we can import here in New Zealand. EVERY other coconut cream in supermarket and health food stores contain guar gum. They can water it down and then thicken it using the gum. The effects of eating this cause explosive diarrhoea which I prefer to avoid. Sadly I am now getting this effect every time I eat the Aroyd-D brand. It does not state on the can or packet that it contains anything more than coconut and water, if this is the case it is deceptive and surely illegal to market a product without all the ingredients listed. I know each country is different. I like to know what I am eating. I have tried making my own coconut cream but it is quite a process. Any ideas?
Buy raw coconut butter from Artisana, Nutiva, and other brands mix it with medium warm water and you will get coconut milk. That is what i do when i need coconut milk and i make my own coconut yogurt this way. Raw coconut butter is coconut flesh pureed. so it is pure pure coconut with no additive and you can use it as butter on toast and it is yum! Try it!
I live in Australia and i have just found this site ?so excited with what i have read so far very interested in the whole coconut issues
I have just had surgery i have suffered from I B S for a long time i cook drink use Coconut milk daily
What i need to know is where to buy in Aus
Cheers Sherida
What ratio of meat to water do you use 4:1?
Watch out for stuff from Thailand, they don’t have good regulations and some ingredients might not be listed on the label. I bought the Arroy-D and Natural Value and compare the milk and Arroy-D is a bit suspicious to me. It is too smooth and wonder if they homogenized the milk or add a thickener as i read in one blog that is what they do. If you look at the Natural Value milk it looks and taste more like real coconut milk. I am from Asia and i know what real coconut milk taste like. My recommendation would be Natural Value brand.
hi kim
i was very interested in your comment
about unlabelled products from thailand and that as an asian you have some awareness.
what do you think of blue dragon? the uk distributor is in lancs
i may be reacting to it…and my coeliac friend definitely does react to coconut milk but is ok with the oil. i seem to get constipated by coconut milk. Perhaps i was consuming too much…i may try re-introducing but having smaller amounts….so disappointed…it was making life worthwhile. any suggestions for alternative smoothies? is it FODMAPS is it fructose high? i’m confused….!!
Thanks Chris for all the thought you put into this article. can you poss help to unravel these more tricky issues….!! thanks x
Same issue I have had… possible symptoms of IB or colitis… I think I am ok with the stuff once it’s cooked. Some intolerances and allergies are not set off when things are cooked, as the chemistry is changed again by the heat. Ie some people who cannot have milk or banana find they can have it cooked – I’m using those for an example as I have heard of both separately. Have you noticed any difference? I realised a while ago that I used to not be able to tolerate coconut products but now do alot of coconut cream, cooked, with no immediate issue. I only realised after making a desert in which it was used in a fair quantity and wasn’t cooked. I am still testing my most recent hypothesis for myself though and wondered if anyone else had any thoughts or experience to add!
Aileenpnz
As a kiwi you could get from Australia “Honest to Goodness” coconut milk or cream. It has not additives at all and no BPA in the can.
Or….you can buy coconut milk in a carton in the refrigerated section by the milk products. BPA free. Who drinks it from a can anyways??? ewe….
The coconut milk in cartons in the refrigerated section aren’t the same type of product as the stuff in cans. Plus, the type in refrigerated cartons often contain ingredients some people are trying to avoid.
Lots of people use coconut milk in cooking, they’re not drinking it…
What ingredients are in the cartons?
What’s a female sheep got to do with coconut milk in a can?
I just thot the same thing lol!
OMG…. the homemade coconut milk from the recipe in this article is absolutely delicious. This is better than any of the commercial coconut milks I have ever tried. I also make all my own nut milks and this is also better than any of those. It is now my new favorite.
I used 1 and 3/4 cups of unsweetened shredded organic coconut with 4 cups of warm water. I added 2 dates for a little sweetness as well as a TBSP of vanilla and a tiny pinch of sea salt. YUM!
It took less than 10 min with a nut milk bag.
I brought some to work and everyone who tried it raved about it and wanted the recipe!!
I can’t imagine ever buying commercial again!!
Chris….thanks for the article and recipe!
Hi,
Thanks for the great information, there is just one point I find contradictory I wondered if you could clarify this for me…
According to Drs. Gibson & Barrett, experts in fructose malabsorption, coconut milk is is a FODMAP and should be avoided by people with digestive conditions like IBS & IBD.
According to NutritionData.com, coconut milk has very little sugar of any kind – including fructose.
Thank you in advance, Kind regards, Kim
Looking at sugars versus polyols and certain non-digestible fibers (FOS or fructooligosaccharides) may help answer your question.
http://www.formulamedical.com/fORMULA%20FOR%20LIFE/FIBER/all%20the%20different%20fibers.htm
Hello Chris, Just found your site Yest. I’m really enjoying all the great info ! I have IBS and I think fructose problems. Anyway I found I’m allergic to both coconut oil and milk , bloats and makes me get hives . That was a bummer when I first started Paleo !!
I’ve been reading your e-books and on gut problems . I thought all along I had some thing going on . I ordered your probiotic . I tried just a cheap store brand, had real bad stomach cramps with trouble breathing. I was afraid to try another one. Back then I wasn’t looking at labels as much . Could have been something in it I was allergic to, but I seen that yours has worked for people prone to have them .
I can’t have dairy , or fermented either .
In my opinion, it is best to make your own. I have three kids all under the age of three, so I am typically doing this late at night. I use Bob’s Red Mill unsweetened, unsulfered coconut, either the flakes or the shredded version. It works very well in the Magic Bullet with hot water added. I just use a mesh colander and press it with a spoon. It makes fabulous coconut milk.
1 cup shredded coconut, use more if using flakes
1.5 cups water
blend for 2-3 minutes
strain
put in mason jar and refrigerate
I will use a little of this milk (once chilled) with a banana and some crushed ice and a little filtered water, put it back in the Magic Bullet and mix. This is an amazing tasting banana coconut smoothie.
A couple of questions…. It was my understanding that Tetra Packs were lined with a plastic material as well – so BPA there as well? I’ve avoided them like the plaque since they came out.
What is the reason for not boiling the coconut when making coconut milk? I was thinking the ‘steamer’ feature on my digital pressure cooker [stainless steel inner pot] would release more of the good stuff. I long suspected coconut meat shreds were heat treated in some manner to eradicate any sort of creepy crawlers or bacterium, so steaming the shreds wouldn’t cause any additional problems.
Natural Value is another brand that has organic, BPA free and guar gum free coconut milk.
Hey chris i like your post
I checked out the canned coconut milk “Native Forest” mentioned in the article. It contains guar gum. I looked around and found this one: amzn.to/1zw3IXs There’s no BPA, no guar gum or carrageenan. The ingredients are “coconut extract, water”. If you believe their label, all they do is take coconut flesh, water, and puree it. So it sounds good, but I’m not sure why the label says “extract” instead of just “coconut”. Finding easily trusted food should not be this difficult…
Coconut extract, as many other extracts, is probably made by soaking coconut in alcohol. It seems to me that if you want to be sure your coconut milk is pure, make it yourself from a whole coconut. It isn’t as hard or as time-consuming as you might think!
My one time experience was excruciating. The results were almost unbelievable and incredibly delicious. Maybe I just got a harder than hard coconut but the process took me nearly 3 hours for not much milk.Maybe I will try it again but I am more likely to try the coconut flake recipe posted here.
Jeff, what is the name of the one you found that is the good one? You didn’t say. Thanks
if it’s in a can and it’s not labeled “BPA free” then the can has BPA in the plastic lining. It’s not an ingreditent, it’s not going to be listed. Even if it’s labeled “BPA free”, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have other plasticizers that are less well known as BPA and potentially equally toxic. I say it’s better to stay away from canned foods as much as possible.
What is BPB? I’ve heard if it says BPA free, it can still have BPB…. or something that is almost as bad as BPA.
Annette, why don’t you do a search on that question and then post the info here.
I am in Australia. Our “additives” are coded by number. My current coconut milk has #407 & #418
407 is clearly carageenan
but
418 is “Gellan gum.(thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent)” This is not Guar gum (which is #412), but what is it really?
And how do you like the secret codes on ingredients in this country? I have a “translator book” that I got years ago, but most people either memorize their “bad numbers” or ignore them, or – best option – eat food with NO NUMBERS at all.
According to Wikiiedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gellan_gum ), gellan gum is a product of the bacterium Sphingomonas elodea.
Chris Kresser included it in the gums discussed at http://chriskresser.com/harmful-or-harmless-guar-gum-locust-bean-gum-and-more/ , saying, “Gellan gum is similar to xanthan gum in that it is an exopolysaccharide produced by bacterial fermentation. Unfortunately, the routine animal toxicity studies conducted for new food additives aren’t available online, but we do have a human study to look at. To test the safety of gellan gum, the diets of ten volunteers were supplemented with gellan gum at approximately 30 times the level of normal dietary exposure for 23 days. (21) Gellan gum acted as a bulking agent similar to xanthan gum, but no adverse effects were reported. However, a rat study with gellan gum supplemented at 5% of the diet for 4 weeks resulted in abnormalities in intestinal microvilli, which is concerning. (22) This rat study, as well as the lack of data overall, makes me cautious, and I think those with sensitive guts should avoid it just to be on the safe side. For everyone else, I doubt the small amounts found in food will cause a problem, but it might be best to avoid it if possible.”
There’s also a bit more detail at http://www.nutrientsreview.com/carbs/soluble-fiber-gellan-gum.html: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not given gellan gum the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status, but it approves its use in foods [4]. Gellan gum has “ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) not specified” status by JECFA [5], meaning toxicity at any amount has not been reported. Excessive intake may cause abdominal bloating, excessive gas (flatulence), loose stools or diarrhea [1].
Thank you Gillian. That seems somewhat less than guar and carageenan.
I just wish it weren’t all number coded here. I have to carry a book around with me just to figure out what I’m eating!
Thanks again
If you have a smart phone download the app Chemical Maize and use it while grocery shopping, all our Australian codes for food and cosmetics are in it.
Where is the evidence claiming that coconut milk is high in fructose? You give a lot of statistics on fructose malabsorption and then zero on actual fructose concentration of coconut milk. I am curious to know if this is an actual issue in coconut milk or just an assumption. A high FODMAP food and a high fructose are two entirely different things.
In the paragraph right before ‘Recommendations,’ the author states explicitly that: “According to NutritionData.com, coconut milk has very little sugar of any kind – including fructose.”
hi tom
i just bought your book ..the elimination diet. am settling down to read it!
I am wondering if the problem some are having with coconut milk is not the fructose but the salicylates. Chris did not mention them at all, but coconut does the same thing other salicylates do to me – brain fog and horrible fatigue. Check the food list for salicylates. Coconut is very high. Perhaps someone would like to address this.
I am wondering if the problem some are having with coconut milk is not the fructose but the salicylates. Chris did not mention them at all, but coconut does the same thing other salicylates do to me – brain fog and horrible fatigue. Check the food list for salicylates. Coconut is very high. Perhaps someone would like to address this. Why won’t you ever let me say anything on this site?
can i mix Coconut Milk with brown rice protein powder vanilla?
I don’t know if it’s been mentioned below yet, but Native Forest does NOT have their ‘BPA Free’ label on cans anymore (as of February 2015 when I was last at Whole Foods– the closest health food store here)!
I am SO disappointed. I can make my own, but with little kids, I have limited time..
If you have a Trader Joe’s in your town, try them. They say that almost all of their cans do not contain BPA, but make sure it applies to their coconut milk. I buy the light version and the label shows no guar gum either. I like the lighter taste of that product.
Here is what TJ’s says about BPA in their canned coconut milk, as well as their other products: http://www.traderjoes.com/faqs/product-information
Hope that helps – Be well!
Lesli, it did. However there are so many exceptions that you would have to carry a print out of the statement with you for every shopping trip. Of course I buy very little canned products so I guess I could remember a yes or no on them.
They still have the Organic, Non-GMO, BPA Free Native Forest cans on Amazon
I think all this stuff is so funny. I’m sorry for those of you that have legitimate health issues. A friend of mine has celiac disease. It’s terrible. However, so many people out there are just such huge suckers and sheep. They just latch onto whatever BS trend rolls out, and follow everyone else. No one thinks for themselves anymore. No one knows how to find and read actual scientific research anymore.
Most people I know who are on organic diets, or gluten free, or non-GMO have no idea what any of that stuff means. They have not done any research on those diets, or their effects. It’s just stupid. When asked they just say something like, “it’s healthier”. Press them and you get nothing substantial, just parroted catch phrases and hype words. There’s just so much crap info out there and everyone is too easily persuaded to change significant aspects of their lives like diet.
First butter was bad. Now it’s good. “BPA is the devil!” Well, except there’s no real conclusive evidence about its harmfulness. There are as many studies exonerating it as there are condemning it. It may be bad, but this may all just be overreaction. “Organic is healthier!” Oh, but Stanford proved that organic and non organic veggies are chemically identical.
And don’t get me started on Gluten free. Jesus, all the bandwagon people that have no clue. Ladies and gentlemen, you either have celiac disease or you don’t. It occurs in 1/133 Americans. That’s 0.75% of the population. Yet somehow gluten free items did $2.6 BILLION in sales in the U.S. in 2010, and are expected to hit over $5 BILLION this year. If you think these food companies aren’t bombarding you with marketing BS just to sell you crap you don’t need, you’re crazy.
Sorry for the rant. Go back to enjoying your coconut milk.
Oh, and author, the title was EXCEPTIONALLY inappropriate given the content. Talk about trying to suck people in with a title then blowing it on content. Your title basically said that coconut was bad for us. Then your facts said it MIGHT be bad for the small group of people with IBS, some types of additives in SOME coconut milk might be bad for people with sensitivities to those additives (DUH!!!), and that BPA is bad (but only maybe, according to the presented data). What worthlessness, except for the recipe. Really though, one of your three points is actually pointing out how BPA, not coconut milk, is (maybe) bad. Then points two and three are relevant to a small portion of the population. Given the title, you should be ashamed.
I see it this way: Eat ONLY Fresh Veggies & Fresh Fruit and get your protein from grass fed farms, limit or get rid of coffee, soda, and other beverages that stress your adrenal glands, and you’ll be surprised how awesome you feel! If you haven’t seen the movie that came out last year called, “Fed Up”, I highly encourage you to do so! It was an eye opener to me. We are all allowing ourselves to be controlled on a global
basis By the food industry and its practices. I think preparing your own coconut milk is fine, just be careful about where you get your coconut flakes. I do believe Bob Mills is the best choice here. The point is eat the way our bodies were intended to eat…natural, life sustaining foods. Eating this way WILL lower your grocery bill! Don’t feed into the food industries lies!
I agree Yo Mammie & Mary, there is a lot of rubbish talked about diets etc, with almost no reference to real research in the subject, as with your comment Mary, that we should “get our protein from grass fed farms”!! I presume you are referring to meat, which is not necessary as vegans can get adequate protein from many vegetables, like sweet potato (20% protein) etc. For the full research on wholefood plant based diets please read the book “The China Study” published in 2004 by Benbella, written by Prof T. Colin Campbell Ph.D. (with his son) describing his more than 30 years in nutrition research especially in China at the request of the Chinese Govt., with over 700 supporting scientific references. Also go to the website of Dr John McDougall MD for supporting scientific information and tasty recipes. The information in these peoples research is truly life changing, and not reliant on gimmicky diets like Paleo (whose developer states he based it on the evolution of the Cave dwelling hunter gatherers lifestyle, but fails to reveal that the hunter gatherers only lived for about 30-35years!! etc. Anyway check the references above for yourself, it just could save your life!
Having read this post and a large number of the comments, it’s quite depressing! Trying to eat healthfully can be challenging. I just returned from a shopping trip looking for the illusive coconut milk , either canned or in tatra packs without BPA or guar gum to carrageenan… I nearly quit after a very reputable health food market could not provide one option. I was pleased to eventually find that a No Frills store carries “Real Thai” brand coconut milk in a tetra pack that is 85% coconut extract and water! It does exist….
We get the Silk coconut milk. It has nothing of concern added to it and is good-tasting. It comes in a wax container and lasts for a few weeks.
I use the Silk Brand as well, as it’s the only store bought option I have at the moment, but it does contain Carrageenan, which is something that is really not a good thing, just fyi 🙂
I used to buy Silk’s Coconut Milk until I noticed ‘guar gum’ & ‘carrageenan.’ I’d been having painful flare-ups in my joints & didn’t know why. Now, I do. Guar gum is highly inflammatory & I’ve never tolerated it. I was so glad to find coconut milk, I didn’t realize the Silk brand contained additives. I’ll be making my own with fresh coconut sold by vendors.
Silk Anything in the cartoon….garbage. I called the company to check out their ingredients and
they wouldn’t tell me. Natural flavors?? Right…
Most likely it’s a Trade Secret a.k.a we really don’t want you to know. The woman I talked to said she would get back to me. NOT!
I buy the SO brand in the tetra pak when in a pinch. Some organic ingredients, contains No carrageenan but contains guar gum and some other gum ingredient. Plus all kinds of vitamin mineral/vitamin enrichment and of course they are in a form that is not very absorbable.
It really would not be depressing if we get back to basics. By that I mean making from scratch all the things we buy ready made. I make my own mayonnaise, salad dressing and a lot more. I just make the from scratch thing a priority and other activities move down in importance. You think it’s important for your little kids to play sports (just an example)? I think it is detrimental as they are supposed to be learning how to navigate the world on there own with guidance from their parents not be ruled by some coach. It really is more important that they know WHERE their food comes from besides a grocery store. Those activities are what’s important.
Thanks for sharing.
I find this article completely biased. It is a great article as far as canned coconut milk ,but the hype on the headline is completely uncalled for .I buy organic boxed coconut milk at whole foods. Please make the distinction .You are a respectable writer and honesty goes a long way too.
Thank you for saying that…the headline of the article is misleading based on what follows. There are many other food items that are also packed in BPA lined cans & containers. There are also quite a few foods that should be avoided for the health conditions listed in the article…the headline should have been more in line with the article & not stated in such a way to make it seems as though coconut milk is the lone culprit.
I am a blogger and do not think that the title was misleading in any way. Yes it was a bit dramatic but you have to come up with titles that are true yet get the readers to read. I do not feel that Chris villainized coconut milk at all. In fact he even gives a recipe to make your own. I think we in current times are way too dependent on convenience and companies to provide our food needs. For heavens sake, make your own and stop depending on big food to do it for you. Then, there would not have been a need for this article but I personally glad he wrote it.
And there was no mention of organic So Delicous Coconut Milk. It’s in a carton, and very good. The creamer is different though as it has a seaweed ingredient for thickness, that causes me terrible gastro distress. But I’m a coconut milk believer.