Coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm and is used for its water, milk, oil well as for its tasty meat. It can be eaten as food or used as medicine. Coconut is taken by mouth for bladder stones, diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight loss. In foods, coconut is used in various preparations. Coconut is a large, nut-like fruit that grows high in trees. Coconuts have very hard shells and sweet, white flesh inside. The word comes from coco, "grinning face," in Portuguese, which may refer to the three face-like holes in a coconut shell.