Coconut Flour - a sweet, gluten-free high protein alternative to wheat based flour

Coconut Flour Baking - The Coconut Company

If you enjoy baking but you are looking for an alternative to wheat flour, then coconut flour could be a great replacement ingredient.

What Is Coconut Flour?

Coconut flour is a low carbohydrate popular substitute to traditional flour, alongside being gluten free, coconut flour also adds an impressive nutritional value to your cooking, providing a great source of fibre and protein to your diet.

Coconut flour is made from the dried and ground coconut meat. The coconut milk is squeezed from the coconut meat which is then dried at a low temperature, and ground into a flour suitable for use in baking a number of different dishes including pies and cakes. The Coconut Company’s coconut flour is sourced from Sri Lanka. We work with a well established farm that has been producing coconut flour for many years. They produce a finely ground flour, that has been fully ‘defatted’, making the flour very absorbent and high in fibre. It has a light and airy texture and a beautiful mild coconut aroma. You can find more details about our coconut products here.

Wheat & Gluten Free Tolerance

Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley and rye, and if you suffer from a gluten intolerance then traditional breads and baked goods are probably off limits to you as part of your regular diet.

Using coconut flour when you bake will enable you to make bread, biscuits and cakes which would have normally been off menu, without having to endure the serious side effects that come from having a wheat intolerance, such as Celiac disease, wheat allergies or gluten sensitivity.

People who suffer from an Intolerance to gluten often experience side effects such as gas, cramps and gut issues.

Using coconut flour provides a wheat and gluten free alternative so you don’t have to miss out on your favourite flour-based recipes.

High in Fibre

Organic coconut flour contains a higher level of fibre than traditional wheat flour and as such is more filling and a popular choice for those who are trying to lose weight, or improve their gut microbiome.

With circa 36g of fibre per 100g, coconut flour has far more indigestible carbohydrates than traditional whole grain or white flour.

The fibre found in coconut flour helps you to feel full, helps in keeping your daily constitution regular while promoting colon health. Some suggest it does this by pulling in harmful bacteria and carcinogens to free up intestinal space. Others suggest it’s a good way of increasing your intestinal flora, or microbiome diversity.

Allowing for the release and absorption of nutrients, and healthy gut microbiomes, from which beneficial bacteria can flourish to help keep your gut healthy.

Healthy Fats and Higher Protein

Compared to wheat flour, coconut flour contains a higher level of protein, with a 100g serving of coconut flour containing as much as 23g of protein, compared to just circa 10g in typical wheat flour.

Protein promotes cell repair and growth, so using coconut flour as an alternative to wheat contributes more to your daily protein intake.

Coconut flour also contains specific fats which are mostly saturated called medium chain triglycerides, some studies suggest that these fats digest easily and provide a quick energy boost and may contain anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.

Helps Blood Sugar?

Fibre rich foods like coconut flour have a low glycaemic index and as such can help regulate your blood sugar levels. Using coconut flour as an alternate to wheat may possibly lower the glycaemic index of your food by slowing down the release of sugar into the bloodstream.

Promotes Heart Health?

The high fibre contained in coconut flour may be effective at lowering cholesterol. Increasing your fibre intake, through the consumption of vegetables and high fibre foods is a great way to improve your overall diet and reduce your chances of getting high cholesterol.

Coconut flour also contains Lauric acid. Its suggested that Lauric acid is absorbed from the intestines and metabolised for energy from the liver, and as such the fatty acid may not contribute to transporting cholesterol.

Rich in Trace Minerals

Certain grain products such as wheat and soy can be mass harvested on depleted soils of industrial farms and may be subject to genetic modification.

Coconuts offer a source of refreshing, naturally occurring trace minerals such as potassium. Coconut trees are generally found growing in mineral rich soils and are naturally fertilised.

Cooking with Coconut Flour

Coconut Flour can add a lovely sweetness to your baking and it great for cakes, but it’s not to be substituted one for one with traditional wheat-based flours. Coconut flour soaks up a lot of moisture and when using it, remember to add more liquid, in the form of water, milk or eggs. This will ‘lighten’ your cooking and ensure the end product isn’t too heavy. Another good option is to blend it with other gluten-free flours, like rice or almond flour. It can typically constitute 25% of the flour blend with good results.

Coconut Flour and Traditional Medicine.

In many tropical culture’s coconuts are thought to provide both nutritious and medicinal qualities. Often referred to as the ‘Tree of Life’ the coconut palm is used for many different purposes aside from eating.

Coconut flour had been traced to both Tahiti and Polynesian cultures, where coconuts are plentiful, and these cultures are thought to be the first to use coconut flour as part of their diet.

Traditional Thai medicine uses coconuts to treat basic health concerns such as flu, sore throats and fevers.

Incorporating coconut flour into your diet can help you to benefit from the many suggested health related boosts associated with the humble coconut.

As we become more educated in the effects of mass-produced foods, and the ever-increasing awareness of genetically modified foods and their possible negative effects on our health.

The Coconut Company prides itself on the care we take to make sure our organic coconut flour ticks all the right boxes when it comes to natural vegan ingredients to enhance your diet. Check out our coconut flour recipe here for banana bread.