Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Coconut milk is primarily used in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, as part of dietary strategies for digestive comfort, including relief from gas and bloating. However, the direct use of coconut milk specifically to treat gas and bloating is not strongly supported by robust traditional documentation or formal herbal medicine texts. Instead, its use tends to be more anecdotal, arising from its general inclusion in gentle, easy-to-digest foods recommended during digestive upset. Coconut milk is often included in bland diets for those with sensitive stomachs, as it is lactose-free and less likely to cause bloating compared to dairy in lactose-intolerant individuals. From a scientific perspective, there is minimal direct research on coconut milk as a treatment for gas or bloating. Coconut milk contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are easier to digest than long-chain fats, and it is free from lactose and casein, common triggers for digestive discomfort. Some individuals may experience relief from bloating when substituting coconut milk for dairy, but this benefit relates to the avoidance of problematic components in dairy, rather than any active anti-bloating property of coconut milk itself. Overall, while coconut milk is traditionally used as a gentle, non-irritating food, strong evidence for its specific effectiveness against gas and bloating is lacking.

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