Ready for a riddle? What is as safe to drink as regular water but isn't as bland? Tick-tock, tick-tock, time is up! The answer is coconut water.
Drinking coconut water is the latest craze amongst athletes, celebrities and the hippest health conscious guys and gals (including Madonna, who loves the stuff so much she put $1.5 million into the coconut water brand Vita Coco).
While the thirst for coconut water may be relatively new in the west, people throughout Asia, the Pacific and South America have drunk coconut water for centuries. The Jamaicans drink it as a heart tonic, and in India coconut water has been prescribed for everything from hiccups to kidney stones. In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalp vriksha, meaning a tree that gives all that is necessary for living.
So what is coconut water? And does it really have the health benefits so many of its devotees claim?
What is Coconut Water?
Coconut water is the clear liquid that's inside a young, green coconut. Don't confuse it with coconut milk, which is made from mature coconut meat. Coconut water can be consumed directly from the coconut itself or you can buy it packaged from health food stores and supermarkets.
Components of Coconut Water
Coconut water is 99% fat-free and is loaded with calcium, potassium and magnesium. It's naturally low in sugar and also has zinc, selenium, iodine, sulfur, manganese, boron, molybdenum, ascorbic acid and B-group vitamins. It is almost identical to human blood plasma – so much so that during World War II injured soldiers in the Pacific received transfusions of coconut water when blood plasma supplies ran out.
Claims About Coconut Water
Coconut water is claimed to:
- Aid weight loss
- Aid circulation
- Fight viruses and bacteria
- Improve immune system
- Manage blood pressure
- Improve skin tone and elasticity
- Prevent dandruff
- Break down kidney stones
- Settle nausea and vomiting
- Kill intestinal worms
- Prevent and cure urinary tract infections
- Prevent diabetes as it controls blood sugar levels
- Contain chemopreventive agents that induce the death of cancer cells
Evidence of Coconut Water Benefits
Not much scientific research has been done on the health benefits of coconut water. However, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence about its amazing hydrating and detoxification properties, which are fundamental for health.
People swear by how good they feel after drinking a glass of coconut water thanks to its natural electrolytes. They attribute it to smooth, clear skin and shiny hair, as well as its ability to treat chronic kidney disease and bladder infections – even when conventional treatments including antibiotics haven't worked. What's more, the taste of coconut water is refreshing and unlike anything else.
However, there is more to fresh coconut water than its delectable taste. It is a healthier alternative to high-calorie beverages like artificial fruit juice and soft drinks. One cup of coconut water only contains 45 calories, compared to 136 and 96 calories in a cup of fruit juice and soft drink, respectively. Moreover, the super drink owes its delicious taste to its natural sugars. Did you know that the sugar content in coconut water is only 6 grams? Compared to other refreshing drinks that contain up to 26g of artificial sweeteners in a small 245g cup, this amount is nothing.
Sports Drinks vs Coconut Water
If, like many people, you're replacing sports drinks with coconut water after exercising, be aware that the electrolyte component in sports drinks is specifically designed to replace lost potassium, carbohydrate and sodium. Although coconut water's potassium levels are higher, it does not have enough carbohydrates or sodium. Most nutritionists and dieticians, including Aloysa Hourigan, senior nutritionist with Nutrition Australia, don't recommend coconut water as a sports drink replacement. "Although it does provide electrolytes and a little bit of carbohydrate, a sports drink is specifically formulated for athletes and the electrolytes and carbohydrates are at the right level," she told The Sunday Telegraph.
Despite the fact that coconut water is not the perfect alternative to an energy drink, it's a natural, refreshing beverage that won't harm your body and may even help it rejuvenate itself.
Originally published on May 30, 2018
