Why drink coconut water?
There has been a coconut water craze lately! Why is everyone drinking coconut water now? Coconut water is one of the best things to add to your lifestyle. It has amazing health benefits that you didn’t even know came from just drinking coconut water. I’ll share with you what I have learned from Dr. Mercola’s research on coconut water.
Coconut water is rich in natural vitamins (especially the B vitamins), minerals, and trace elements (including zinc, selenium, iodine, sulfur and manganese). Vitamins are necessary for the enzymatic reactions your cells need in order to function.
Coconut water is full of amino acids, organic acids, enzymes, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. There is a rich source of electrolytes and natural salts, especially potassium and magnesium. Coconut water is light, low-calorie and nearly fat-free, as well as low in sugar but pleasantly sweet. It contains about a fifth of the sugar of other fruit juices, like apple or grape juice, as well as containing a little fiber to moderate absorption. Lastly, coconut water is rich cytokinis, or plant hormones, which have anti-aging, anti-cancer and anti-thrombolytic effects in humans.
Let’s take a deeper look on how coconut water is a great electrolyte replacement.
Fresh coconut water is one of the richest natural sources of electrolytes and can be used to prevent dehydration from strenuous exercise, vomiting, or diarrhea. You lose electrolytes (especially sodium and potassium) when you sweat, which must be replenished with food and water intake. Because coconut water naturally contains so many electrolytes, it’s been called “Nature’s Gatorade.”
Coconut water has five electrolytes your body needs:
1. Potassium: The most important positive ion inside your cells; potassium regulates heartbeat and muscle function. Coconut water contains 295mg, which is 15 times the amount in the average sports drink.
2. Sodium: The most important positive ion in fluid outside your cells, and also the one most depleted with exercise, as you lose sodium through sweat and urine.
3. Magnesium: Important for maintaining the electrical potential of your cells, proper muscle function and preventing calcium overload.
4. Phosphorus: Plays important roles in bone health, but also in transferring energy throughout your body, helping your muscles contract, and regulating nerve function (partners with calcium)
5. Calcium: Important for bone health (partners with phosphorous)
So think twice before consuming a sports drink. Sports drinks are loaded with artificial flavors, refined sugar and other chemicals that are not good for your health. Grab a glass of coconut water or fresh, pure water instead.
Here is a summary of the amazing health benefits from coconut water:
1. Rehydration (water & electrolytes)
2. Increased exercise performance
3. Anti-inflammatory- reduces swelling in hands and feet
4. Cardio-protective (rich in potassium and magnesium)- helps regulates blood pressure, improves circulation, reduces plaque formation
5. Prevents abnormal blood clotting
6. Aids in kidney function- preventing and dissolving kidney stones, UTI remedy
7. Helps balance blood glucose and insulin levels
8. Digestive tonic (rich in enzymes)- feeds friendly gut flora
9. Diarrhea and constipation remedy
10. Anti-aging properties
11. Enhances skin health (elasticity, age spots, wrinkles) improves wound healing
12. Enhances eye health (cataract, glaucoma)
13. Support and immune function; antimicrobial (contains monolaurin)
14. Helps prevent osteoporosis
15. Anti-cancer properties
So if you’re feeling tired, constipated or want younger and clearer skin, drink some coconut water.
When you are purchasing your coconut, don’t buy coconut water that has sugar! It will defeat its purpose of providing the necessary nutrients.
Please remember, consume responsibly and in moderation.
Source: Dr. Mercola