The Wondernut

By: Kate M. Serrano

I grew up in a place where coconut trees are more bountiful than apples and oranges and I cannot help but marvel at how this plant is so useful from head to toe. There’s an endless list of products and by-products derived from its various parts hence the nickname “Tree of Life.” In the Philippines, the coconut industry provides livelihood to one-third of the country's population. So here are the many uses of this versatile plant.

Coconut meat. From the meat we obtain coco flour, desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut chips, candies, fertilizer and animal feeds. Coco chips, which are wrinkled coconut meat, are very popular in Hawaii. The dried meat, called copra, contains over 60% oil. This oil is used in making soap, cooking fat, margarine, cosmetics, lubricants, and many other products. Coconut flour can be used as a wheat extender in baking without affecting appearance or acceptability.

Coconut milk. This is used to make Virgin Coconut Oil which helps prevent and treat minor ailments. Coconut milk is a good protein source. Whole coco milk contains about 22% oil, which accounts for its laxative property.

Coconut oil. Probably the most known use of the tree, coconut oil is not only used for culinary purposes but also for beauty and wellness. Coconut oil is used for frying, with soya bean oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil as its main competitors. Coconut oil also retards aging by counteracting the heart, colon, pancreatic and liver tumor inducers. In the detergent industry, an important use of the coconut oil was discovered in a May 1951 study where it was found to be an effective sanitizer. Other products from coconut oil are soap, lard, coco chemicals, crude oil, pomade, shampoo, margarine and butter. It’s also used as hairdressing and as massage oil.

Coconut juice. This is a nutritious refreshing drink especially for those with renal disorders. Coconut juice is highly alkaline. For preventive medication, water from one mature coconut consumed daily, could guarantee the avoidance of stone formations in the kidney. To those who already have it, coconut water therapy is proven to be an inexpensive and effective cure. It is also for fighting tooth decay and gum disease, taming menopause symptoms, improving cholesterol levels and boosting the immune system.

Coconut husk. Mats, brushes, fishing nets, cordage and packaging material for plant, and in some countries the coconut husk is used as floor polisher because of the abundance of its fiber. Coir yarn, coir rope, bags, rugs, mannequin wig, brush, coir flex, and fishnets are other products that can be obtained from coco husk.

Coconut shell. For ladles and cups, souvenirs, household products, accessories, handicrafts and decorative objects. It’s also a potting medium for forest tree saplings in Thailand. The most important benefit of the coconut shell is activated carbon produced from its charcoal. It is utilized in air purification systems such as cooker hoods, air conditioning, industrial gas purification and industrial and gas masks.

Coconut leaves. Young leaves and shoots may be eaten as salad. The leaves of the tree are used as roofing thatch and temporary sheds and to make hats, baskets, brooms and fans. The ribs of the leaves are used for spears, arrows, and torches.

Coconut sap. A sweetish fluid from the bud of the coconut tree’s inflorescence called toddy is fermented into an alcoholic beverage or into vinegar. After being left for five days then distilled, coconut toddy produces an alcoholic spirit known locally in the Philippines as lambanog which is more or less 98% proof.

Coconut trunk. In Hawaii, the trunk is used for canoes, drums, posts, rafters, and fences. The trunk is also a great source of hardy and durable wood used to make benches, tables, carvings, picture frames, tables, tool boxes, and construction materials. Paper pulp can also be extracted from the coconut trunk and other woody parts of the tree.

Coconut roots. A frayed piece of coconut root can be used as a toothbrush. The roots are also used as a mouthwash and in some countries medicine, beverages and dyestuff are obtained from the coconut roots.

These are just a few off the known benefits from the wonder tree. It’s amazing how varied the uses are. Now may be a good time to start sipping my coco juice. I don’t want to be missing the coconut’s miracle health benefits.

Higher Hopes for Better Water

By: Jessica Robertson

The number of techniques for assuring water quality is surprisingly high. However, without detailed testing within a laboratory, few techniques are capable of testing all the important parameters of what really constitutes quality water, but portable water quality tests give more accurate information on what the current state of the water may be.  Given the limitations of the portable tests, any particular test could pass water as drinkable when, based on incomplete information, certain pollutants could be present. This situation makes water quality a major issue for poorer communities who cannot afford laboratory analysis, or those who utilize a natural resource for their water supply.

             Using an existing technology known as UV-Vis spectrometry, which is often used in water testing, a team of researchers from North Carolina State University has created a set of algorithms that combines several testing parameters to increase the amount of and quality of information in each water test. Since UV-Vis spectrometry works by measuring the wavelength of light absorbed by the water, the technology capitalizes on its ability to collect data often, getting a reading as often as every 15 seconds, and over an extended time period. These are definite advantages over traditional water sampling, where a sample of water must be collected and analyzed in a lab setting. Typically, UV-Vis technology only measures a few key information points about water quality, but with the algorithms the researchers are using, the data is comparable to what could be done within a lab setting.

            Since the technique increases frequency of testing without eliminating accuracy, natural resource managers and those without laboratory access will be more assured that their sources are suitable for use, that treatments are appropriate, and that the population is not put at risk.  

Save Water ! But How?

By: Jessica Robertson

The vast majority of the water on our planet is not suitable for human consumption. Droughts plague a huge portion of the earth each year. Numerous countries share water with at least one other country, pushing nations closer to conflict as scarcity increases. For these reasons and more, most citizens of earth know that water conservation is important, but a recent survey showed that most of us don’t know how to save water.

The most efficient way to reduce personal water consumption, according to experts, is to improve efficiency in water-consuming household items, like toilets, washing machines and dishwashers. According to the survey conducted by a researcher at Indiana University, for most of us, the first changes we think of to reduce water waste include taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing our teeth, and making sure the sink doesn't drip. These small changes make a difference, truly; however, to make the biggest difference, the biggest issues must be addressed. Toilets use the highest volume of water daily overall, meaning, for example, if an old toilet is replaced with a water-efficient model, gallons upon gallons of precious water would be conserved.

Education and awareness are key in conservation efforts. The survey found that the majority of people underestimate gallons of water used in a particular activity by, on average, more than half. Educating populations on ways to save water and which activities use what volume of water could improve conservation efforts dramatically. Production of products such as coffee, rice, cheese, beer, and sugar requires an alarming amount of potable water, making efforts to improve efficiency in manufacturing crucial. While changes to this extent cannot be made on the individual or household level, awareness of the vast amount of water being consumed, even indirectly, serves as a great motivator in our quest to save water for tomorrow and the next generation.