THIS ALTERNATIVE TO SOY SAUCE GIVES YOUR MEALS A MUCH-NEEDED HEALTH KICK
By Melissa Smith, CNP
These days, you’re rarely hard-pressed to find some sort of coconut product on any store’s shelf: over the past five years, coconut products have taken the world by storm. However, while we all know about the coconut ingredients in our skin creams, shampoos, and packaged foods, we rarely hear about coconut aminos. That’s pretty unfortunate—this delicious alternative to soy sauce is extremely beneficial when included in your diet.
Harvested from the sap of the coconut tree, coconut aminos—or amino acids—add both delicious flavour and beneficial nutrients to your meals. Here’s why you should give them a shot.
- THEY’RE BODY BUILDERS
There are 20 different amino acids that make up the proteins in our body. Nine of those amino acids are essential, meaning that our bodies cannot make them and so we must get them from food. The rest are conditionally essential, meaning that genetics, illness, or age may affect our ability to make them. As such, we must consume them. Coconut aminos have all nine essential amino acids and five conditionally essential amino acids, helping to keep the body strong.
- THEY’RE A SWEETER SOLUTION TO SUGAR
High GI foods can wreak havoc on blood sugar regulation and insulin control. As such, it’s important to follow a low glycemic diet to prevent health issues like hypoglycemia and diabetes. Coconut aminos are naturally sweet but are low on the GI scale, helping to keep your sweet tooth happy and your blood sugar regulated.
- THEY’RE FREE OF CERTAIN ALLERGENS
Traditional store-bought brands of soy sauce contain both gluten and soy. In our increasingly health-conscious world, many avoid both gluten, which can irritate the gut lining, and soy, which contains naturally occurring estrogens that can cause hormonal imbalances. Coconut aminos are both gluten- and soy-free, but taste quite similar to soy sauce—some say they are even more delicious.
4.THEY’RE PH BALANCED
The body’s pH level refers to how acidic or alkaline we are. For good health, we need to be more alkaline than acidic. Diets that are high in refined and packaged foods, as well as sugar and commercially produced meats, tend to create acidity, leading to illness and disease. A diet high in organically produced fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and legumes, as well as grass fed animal products, helps the body to maintain a healthy alkaline level. Coconut aminos have a neutral pH that helps to balance the body and make it alkaline.
- THEY’RE LOW IN SODIUM
Soy sauce contains high levels of sodium, which can lead to cardiovascular conditions. Keeping sodium levels in check is key to prevention. Rather than waiting for a condition to occur, start reducing your sodium levels now. A great way to do this? Toss the soy sauce and switch to coconut aminos—they’re much lower in sodium.
REMEMBER: you can use coconut aminos in any recipe that calls for soy sauce. Avoid heating it as much as possible—adding it at the end of any recipe keeps its healthy nutrients and enzymes intact. It can be found in most health food stores, as well as alongside the condiments in many grocery stores.
So, what are you waiting for? Time to get cooking with coconut aminos! VM
