The green friends of the sky are trees. Trees form a very integral part of our ecosystem. They purify the earth and hence are called the lungs of the earth. Trees are very beneficial to us, providing a lot of items for free. The coconut tree is a tree whose every single part can be utilised by humans.
The coconut tree is a part of the palm tree community Arecaceae with the scientific name Cocus nucifera. The coconut palms are usually grown in tropical coastal areas worldwide and play an integral role in the economy of India due to the various uses of its parts.
The flesh is the first and most common use of a coconut tree which is highly nutritive. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. While cracking the hard shells of the fruits, a clear, sweet and refreshing water is obtained. The flesh can also be utilized like a natural hair conditioner.
Coconut oil is very popular because of its rich, unique and attractive flavor, also replaces butter in many recipes. Coconut oil has a higher saturated fat content than regular oils., containing Lauric acid which is believed to be excellent for health as it boosts immunity and can protect against several diseases. It plays a crucial role in South Indian cooking.
The hard coconut shell of the fruit is also convenient to use as makeshift bowls to steam food and make creative craft items while the husks are used to produce strong scrubbers and durable ropes. The leaves and sticks of the tree are very useful and essential for making thatched roofs and walls. The flowers have a medicinal value and are used to make ayurvedic medicine. The wood of a coconut comes handy in a campfire.
The coconut tree is the perfect example of how trees provide us so much and how humans owe our existence to them. They are very significant for the functioning of our ecosystem so we should act smartly and cultivate more trees to profit rather than cutting them and reaping a loss.
very informative