A man from Kasaragod, India, claims he’s been eating only coconuts for 28 years to treat reflux disease.
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Balakrishnan Palayi, 62, has gastroesophageal reflux disease, a condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, irritating its lining. Oddity Central explained that his medical condition caused him to lose mobility, so he began eating coconut as a holistic treatment. Despite trying various diets, Palayi claims coconuts and coconut water have helped him regain strength.
When he was 35, he was diagnosed with GERD after noticing that the food would be pushed back from his stomach into his esophagus when he ate. For the past 24 years, the former coach’s family has been growing coconuts in their backyard to supplement his diet. He also exercises daily, works on the family farm, and has no serious medical conditions.
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The outlet also reported Palayi’s diet was first documented in 2019 in an interview with New India Express, but he’s earned fame due to his unique diet. His wife, Gouri, said the process of following his diet was “painful,” but she got used to it over time. “For the past 26 years, he has been having the same thing. Coconut water three times a day and grated vegetables for lunch. Initially, it was painful for me. But now I am used to it,” she explained to the outlet. During his interview with fitness influencer Shenaz, it was explained that coconut has several benefits since it contains minerals such as “calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.”
Palayi Balakrishnan, a 61-year-old coach who has been running on coconut water for 25 years, is the most sought-after athletics coach from #Kasaragod.
READ: https://t.co/q369JdSNCy pic.twitter.com/vHcrZ7UQ4w— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) September 4, 2019
Dr. Tushar Tayal, a senior consultant at the Internal Medicine unit at Narayana Superspecialty Hospital, said coconuts are low in carbs and a great substitute for “carb-rich” snacks.
“Some of the benefits of a coconut-only diet are that it is low in carbs, so it is the best substitute for carb-rich snacks. It contains minerals and nutrients such as potassium, sodium, manganese, vitamin B, copper, and iron. Manganese is also beneficial for our bone health,”
However, he emphasized that an individual cannot solely survive on the fruit alone.
“Particularly, if someone drank all the coconut water from each coconut, unless you only ate/drank about half a coconut in a day. Otherwise, you would face a heart attack induced by the high potassium levels in coconut water,”
He recommended oatmeal. brown rice and other grains are another diets to hp those with GERD. Additionally, root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets can help.
Mayo Clinic‘s Dr. Hensud also suggested that less is more when it comes to consuming coconuts.
“I’d say the less, the better. On the other hand, if you eat a small amount occasionally, it probably isn’t going to have a big negative effect on health. But for people who are consuming it to try and improve their health, I’d say that probably isn’t a good idea.”