Top 5 Health Benefits of Coconut Water
Coconut water, also popularly given the name “Mother Nature’s sports drink” by the commercial marketplace, has recently come up as a very high-demanding beverage. Its popularity owes to its high nutritional properties including no fat and cholesterol, natural sugars, many important electrolytes, and the most important, utmost hydration.
Now, while we know coconut water is an all-rounder in serving all your body needs and playing a vital role in overall health, the question of whether it can be consumed every day or not is still in the works.
This article rundowns the benefits of coconut water and clears your dilemma of whether you should consume it daily or not. Let’s read on
Benefits of coconut water
Here are the key advantages of drinking coconut water:
1. Excellent source of hydration
Coconut water is one of the most hydrating beverages out there. It contains many important electrolytes and helps in maintaining fluid balance.
With low carbs and calories, natural coconut water which you can find anywhere near you easily, instantly provides you with all the energy and freshness.
Coconut water is also a great substitute for plain water and serves as one of the best electrolyte drinks to go for without a second thought.
Avoid branded and commercial coconut water packed in bottles as these contain artificial flavours and preservatives.
Read: Coconut Water Hydration: Is It Better Than Water?
2. Prevents kidney stones
To prevent kidney stones an optimum amount of fluid intake is quite necessary. Coconut water has been known to nullify the stones and prevent the problem from worsening.
Coconut water may help prevent kidney stones by lowering the production of crystals and stones, according to preliminary studies. However, further research, particularly in humans, is required.
3. Aids in improving heart health
One of the efficient benefits of drinking coconut water daily is associated with a reduction in the incidence of heart risks.
According to a 2005 study, coconut water may be helpful in decreasing blood pressure in people, although further research is needed in this area.
4. Post-workout recovery drink
A great choice for a post-workout recovery drink, coconut water is best suited for sportspersons to restore hydration and replenish lost electrolytes during exercise and workouts.
Several studies have revealed that coconut water may be more useful than water for rehydration after exercise because it contains electrolytes like potassium and magnesium.
It also helps in faster recovery after your workout session and prevents muscle fatigue. Coconut water considerably plays a very important role in maintaining fluid balance too.
5. Contains antioxidant properties
Coconut water is a powerhouse of many antioxidants which prevents free radical damage and thus protects the body against oxidative stress.
The effects of coconut water extract on rats fed a high-fat diet were highlighted in a study published in 2016. Coconut water not only helped lower cholesterol levels but also had “antioxidant potency.”
There are many similar types of research done on animals and all of them have shown a positive outcome in terms of providing antioxidant benefits.
However, human studies on this parameter are next to none. But referring to the innate nutritional properties coconut has, antioxidants do bring health benefits.
know more about the best antioxidant drinks other than coconut water!
How and When to Drink Coconut Water
Well, it’s not a hard and fast rule to consume coconut water at a fixed time. It gives no harm whatever time you choose to consume it, be it a day, noon or night.
But to make a fair choice, mornings are known to be the best to consume coconut water as it has lauric acid which helps in boosting immunity and eventually kick-start your day with a good metabolism.
You can also drink coconut water before and after a workout to stay hydrated, or before bed to cure a hangover.
Add on: How To Overcome An Alcohol Hangover?
As we have already discussed, fresh green coconuts are the best sources of unfiltered, raw, refreshing coconut water as compared to commercially sold packed ones.
Even if you wish to go for the marketed brands, make sure you go through the nutrient list as many of these come with added preservatives harmful to your health.
Is it Good to Drink Coconut Water Daily?
Yes, it is good to drink coconut water daily. It is a great source of all the macro and micronutrients required by the body to aid in various functional processes.
Being a light and refreshing option over many other artificially made beverages in the market, coconut water turns out to be a natural and thus, a safer option. Even athletes and sportspersons swear by it as a pre-workout drink.
However, there are a few things which you need to keep in mind. Firstly, daily intake is fine but excessive intake is not. It is recommended to drink no more than 2-3 cups of coconut water in a day.
Also, coconut water is high in potassium, and consuming a lot of it might induce a spike in potassium levels in the blood, which can lead to renal difficulties.
Coconut water contains about 4 times the potassium content present in a banana.
During and after surgery, coconut water may interfere with blood pressure regulation. At least two weeks before a scheduled surgery, it is advised to stop using coconut water.
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