Coconut (‘Kalpavriksha’-‘Tree of Life’): A Prologue

Palms, belonging to the family Arecaceae, are a renowned and diverse plant family encompassing about 2600 recognized species worldwide. Historically, palms have offered a wide array of benefits to humanity and have played a vital role in promoting biodiversity, particularly in tropical regions. Their significance extends to being ecological keystone species, as they provide crucial support to various organisms reliant on their fruits, roots, and flowers for sustenance. Among the economically significant palms of nutritional importance are coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), and other palms of neotropics. This chapter delves into the remarkable nutritional characteristics of palms in general, with a special focus on coconut. It also discusses the traditional product range of coconut and explores emerging trends in the valorization and development of novel food products with enhanced nutritional value for human consumption. Also, recent research priorities or human nutritional approaches adopted in other related economically important palms are discussed to provide a holistic view of palm-based human nutrition.