I don't know if it's just me and those targeted ads popping up on my social media feeds but, coconut milk seems to be a hot topic right now! Although raw coconut milk is low in calcium, it does have a number of other health benefits. As coconut milk = coconut meat + coconut water, it doesn't have the same benefits as dairy milk.Raw coconut milk includes:

• Antimicrobial properties which boost your immune system.

• Antioxidants which reduce inflammation in your body. In the long term, can reduce your risk of disease including heart disease and diabetes.

• Saturated fatty acids (Medium-Chain Triglycerides) which, according to some studies, are converted straight into energy - making it a great source of fuel for working-out and calorie burning. MCT's are also known to reduce joint and muscle pains too by lowering inflammation.

• High in Iron which helps energy production in your body by transporting oxygen to your tissues.

• High in Copper which not only keeps your immune system strong but is also responsible for your skin's elasticity and preventing wrinkles.

As mentioned above, one of the drawbacks to raw coconut milk is that it doesn't contain a lot of calcium in comparison to dairy milk. This is why I like Vita Coco's coconut milk - it has added calcium, magnesium and vitamin A as well as being free from added sugar, gluten-free, soy-free and of course, dairy-free!Having heard about the health benefits and versatility of coconut milk, I thought I'd test out a few different drinks with Vita Coco's new coconut milk. Not going to lie, I loved some of my freestyle recipes! So, here are 3 ways you can create tasty drinks using coconut milk!

The Banana Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

Coconut Milk

Frozen Banana

Oats

Honey (Optional)

Nutella (Optional)

Method:

Simply add all of your ingredients to your smoothie maker and blend for 1 minute! I did eyeball the ingredients to taste - I added honey to balance out the strong banana flavour and to add some sweetness but whether you add honey and Nutella is completely up to you. I don't like my smoothies to be too thin so I start off with less coconut milk at the start and gradually add more to get the right consistency.

Benefits:

This smoothie is great for breakfast as it quick to make, it fills you up and it tastes delicious! It's a great way to get your essential vitamins in at the start of the day which will help you stay alert throughout the morning. It's also perfect for when you're on the go - you can't really do that with your usual bowl of oats!

The Post-Workout Protein Smoothie

Ingredients:

Coconut Milk

Strawberries

Blueberries

Protein Powder (Berry Flavour)

Oats (Optional)

Chia Seeds (Optional)

Method:

I blended all the ingredients together and topped off my smoothie with some oats. Chia seeds would work great too! You can drink this smoothie even if you haven't done a workout for that extra boost of protein or you can skip the protein altogether. Frozen berries are also a great option, however, I used fresh berries for this smoothie.

Benefits:

A post-workout smoothie, in my opinion, is so much more exciting than the average protein shake! You're able to get your protein in as well as the benefits from the berries and coconut milk to restore and maintain your energy levels as well as repair and build your muscles. Adding berries to a post-workout smoothie instantly makes it refreshing - perfect after a tiring gym session!

The 'Night-In' Bailey's Beverage

Ingredients:

Coconut Milk

Ice

Baileys

Method:

First, add the ice...Then add some coconut milk...And top off with some Bailey's!

Benefits:

Okay, so this one doesn't really have any health benefits but as I usually have Bailey's on the rocks, I thought I'd try it with a little coconut milk and see if it changed anything! I didn't add too much as I didn't want to dilute they Bailey's too much. The Vita Coco coconut milk doesn't have a strong coconutty flavour so it really complimented the cream in the Baileys without taking away any of the original flavours. If you don't drink alcohol then an alcohol-free alternative would be to use coconut milk in your hot chocolate or with Nutella.Those are some of the drinks I've tried so far using coconut milk and I look forward to incorporating more coconut milk into my diet! So far, my favourite has to be the breakfast smoothie! Have you tried any other recipes using coconut milk? Comment down below to let me know!

Kavita K xo

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