Image courtesy Pixabay/kaigraphick
During the summer months each one of us has some favorite ways to remain cool. What are your favorite beverages for staying hydrated – water, herbal ice tea, freshly made juice?
There’s another drink with a number of interesting benefits you might want to check out.
Today, I’m talking about coconut water.
You’ve probably noticed that a lot of supermarkets sell coconut water these days. It became more popular when advertisers recruited celebrities and elite athletes to promote it.
In Sanskrit coconuts (the Latin name is Cocos nucifera) are called “kalpavriksha” which stands for “the all giving tree.”
Tender coconut water, copra, coconut oil, raw kernel, coconut cake, coconut toddy (palm wine), coconut shell and wood based products, coconut leaves, coir pith are some of the products created from different parts of coconut tree. Each offers a variety of uses.
Coconut water, coconut milk, coconut meat and coconut oil are all used in our diet. It’s important not to confuse these.
Young green coconuts usually have clear liquid inside of them. When they mature, coconut “meat” replaces the liquid. Typically the water from younger coconuts is more nutrient rich than those of mature ones.
Coconut water has long historical roots – it has been used in tropical countries over the centuries.
There 4 specific research-based indications related to coconut water you might want to remember.
1. Rehydration
Coconut water is an excellent source of minerals, as a result it has been used orally and intravenously as a rehydration solution. Coconut water was looked at for use after exercise or even more specifically for exercise-induced dehydration. Researchers have also compared coconut water with regular water finding that coconut water restores blood volume better and has more pleasant and refreshing taste (other parameters were similar).
2. Hypertension
If blood pressure control is an important issue for you or your loved ones, I recommend checking out this coconut water study. In 70% of patients, blood pressure went down by almost ⅓ after drinking coconut water for 2 weeks.
3. Heart protection
Another interesting research looked at use of coconut water in patients with increased risk for a heart attack. This animal trial suggests that coconut water might protect from developing heart muscle damage associated with heart attack.
4. Lipid metabolism
This final area of research evaluates beneficial effects of coconut water in animals fed with cholesterol-high diet. This research suggests that coconut water helps to process fats. Another animal study suggested that lipid lowering with coconut water could be similar to a conventional cholesterol-lowering medication.
In my explorations I came across a web site housing links to many research articles related to coconut products – and not surprisingly it’s called CoconutResearch.org.
If you’re curious about different brands of coconut water, check out this review of the products on the market.
Questions: What are your favorite brands of coconut water? What’s the main reason you purchase (or will consider purchasing) this beverage?