I’ve been getting a lot of questions regarding the type of coconut milk I use. The SCD and GAPS diet prohibits any kind of gums or stabilizers. Unfortunately, storebought coconut milk–in cans or cartons–usually lists guar gum or xanthan gum on the ingredient label. Additionally, canned coconut milk often comes in BPA lined cans.
Many people make homemade coconut milk for a SCD and GAPS legal coconut milk option. I don’t have time to milk a coconut. I tried making homemade coconut milk once, but it was not something I wanted to devote time to every few days. Thankfully, Trader Joe’s came to the rescue.
This crunchy health food store with a cult following offers their own brand of canned light coconut milk (but unfortunately not a full fat variety). It contains only coconut–no gums or fillers. I have contacted the company to double check that they don’t put anything else in it. And, according to Mark’s Daily Apple, the cans do not contain BPA. The best part? It’s only a doller per can! Just be sure to call the store ahead of time and ask if they have the canned coconut milk in stock because they sell out quickly.
If you don’t have access to a Trader Joes, you can order Natural Value Coconut Milk or Natural Value Lite Coconut milk from Amazon. It is pricey, but contains no fillers or gums. Natural Value is currently switching all of its cans to BPA free.
this is such a helpful post! i just bought a case of the natural value coconut milk on amazon – total price with shipping was like 35-40 bucks! at least i’m set for the next 12 months! haha i’ll definitely hit up TJ’s next time. Crazy I didn’t check there!
I’m glad you can use this info!
Natural Value has a brand that comes in full fat as well. Though it says coconut extract, i never knew what that meant..hmm?
Thanks for telling me! I’m going to update my post.
Great information — I drink Vita D milk usually. Not sure if that is good or bad but I like it. 🙂
This fall, Trader Joe’s came out with a thick and creamy coconut milk in a can! I’ve only used one can but it works great!
Interesting! My store hasn’t started carrying it yet, but I will ask them to. Thanks for sharing!
Natural Value has started adding guar gum to their coconut milk. It’s so disappointing. I used it all the time because it was full fat and worked better for making mousses than Trader Joe’s. I hope my local TJ will start carrying the thicker milk soon.
Oh no! That is horrible! I’m going to email them right now and tell them how disappointing that is. 🙁 Thank you for telling me
The Trader Joe’s Extra Thick & Creamy coconut milk contains xanthan gum. Is that okay on the GAPS Diet?
Nope, only the Trader Joe’s Light is allowed because it contains only coconut milk and water. Xanthan gum and guar gum aren’t allowed on GAPS.
Hi Lauren , I’m new to your site .Are your recipes and your advise more in favor of Paeleo or GAPS diet? I don’t know about Paleo but understand that GAPS is “NOT a life time commitment”, acording to the author she recommends 1.5 to 2yrs for healing the gut . then slowly adding back a wider variety of HEALTHY grains and starches once you can tollerate them. is Paeleo the same or a life long deal? which is easier and /or your choice between the 2 diets? THANKS!
Do you know how much coconut milk one can have per day. I have a 15 month old and tryign to find an alternative for cow’s milk – he drinks 25oz each day. He likes this coconut milk so thinking of substituting it for the cow’s milk but not sure if a person /toddler is supposed to have that much coconutilk in a day, every day…?
Have you tried raw cow or raw goat milk? There is some great suggestions for homemade baby formula in the cookbook Nourishing Traditions.
Will Golden Star coconut milk work? It’s coconut and water, in a bpa free can. It’s very thick – like almost cold coconut oil solid with maybe a tbps or so of water per can. Will that work for these biscuits? Making spaghetti squash with spaghetti sauce tonight and thought these might be a nice addition to dinner.
Thanks!!
I guess I should specify that I will be making your Onion Herb Coconut Flour biscuits.
I live in southeast Iowa and each August we stay in Des Moines for a week or more to go to the Iowa State Fair. (I used to exhibit sheep in the Fair for 4-H until I graduated High School). That is the nearest Trader Joe’s to where I live, and I will definitely be checking in to see if they have this and anything else that I can use as I transition from a “Normal,” diet, to a Crohn’s friendly diet. I was diagnosed in 2004 after a colonoscopy (Which I’ll never have one again after reading your Post today). Thanks for all of your research and work that you put into your site/blog. LOVE it. Would be lost without it. Hope to buy your ebooks soon. 🙂
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a
famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!