>... coconut juice is like a natural laxative...
Somehow, I doubt this, unless he was allergic, or the nuts he found were very old. Hollywood has a lot of trouble getting ANYTHING straight... Coconut is often used for TREATING intestinal disorders.
Coconuts (and the liquid inside) go through different stages as they mature. They are usually picked young for the clear water (which is sterile, by the way), a barely-sweet refreshing drink. At this stage, the meat can be shredded and squeezed to make coconut milk, that is rich in iron, potassium, phosphorus, protein, sodium, magnesium, sulphur and vitamins, as well as saturated fats (it's almost impossible to get this cream from the coconuts sold in American & European markets). Coconuts for these uses must be picked from the tree. They should be full-sized but the husk must still be green, with no hint of yellow. They will contain up to a quart of water (which you will NOT hear sloshing when you shake it).
When it's mature, the husk is yellow or turning brown, and it falls from the tree. The meat is firm and there is still some water left in this older coconut.
The budding flower sprays can be tapped for their sap.
Both the flowers and the nuts can be found growing all year round, and can apparently be in different stages of maturity at the same time.
And that's just the fruit. The trunk, fronds, frond stems, dried nut fibers, wrapper, heart, husk and shells can be made into rope, soap, lotions, wine, textiles, baskets, cups and bowls, medicines and building materials.
The coconut is even more versatile than cattails, which is saying something.
Sue
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