Coconut Water: What Benefits?
Coconut water has been a trendy drink for the past few years and is full of nutritional benefits. If, like me, you have become addicted to this mineral-rich drink, here are the benefits and dangers of regular consumption.
Benefits for athletes
The coconut water is a very popular drink for athletes because it is naturally rich in minerals like potassium, calcium and magnesium. In case of prolonged exertion, the body loses a lot of minerals through perspiration especially when doing sports in summer.
In this case, the cocktail of minerals naturally produced by coconuts is the equivalent of a commercial isotonic drink: an ideal beverage to rehydrate and avoid cramps!
This water also has interesting energizing properties in case of temporary fatigue. As it is naturally sweetened, it is more pleasant to drink than plain water to avoid dehydration in hot weather.
But rest assured! Coconut water remains dehydrating, low in sugar and low in calories (15.2 calories per 100 g) because it is composed of more than 95% water. It contains only 3.33g of carbohydrates per 100g.
Benefits for the digestion
Thanks to its richness in minerals and especially potassium (200 mg of potassium per 100 g), coconut water promotes good digestion, especially since this drink also contains digestive enzymes.
The minerals it contains are interesting to balance gastric acidity in case of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux.
In addition, this mineral-rich water is also known as an effective natural laxative in cases of temporary constipation. But be careful not to overuse it, at the risk of suffering from diarrhea!
Health and beauty benefits
Thanks to its potassium content, coconut water fights high blood pressure. Regular consumption reduces the risk of stroke and contributes to good cardiovascular health.
It would thus counterbalance the excess of salt in the diet and reduce the level of bad cholesterol, which are two plagues for the heart.
Because of its moisturizing properties, this beverage is sometimes credited with benefits for the skin and hair. Some apply it directly to the skin as a tonic lotion to regulate sebum production or use it as a rinse water on the hair.
For this cosmetic use, be careful not to confuse 'coconut water' (transparent liquid like water contained in young coconuts) with 'coconut oil' which is comedogenic!
Contraindications and dangers
Coconut water has few contraindications if its consumption remains reasonable and is part of a balanced and varied diet.
It can be consumed during pregnancy and can even help relieve certain digestive problems common in pregnant women such as bloating, gastroesophageal reflux and heartburn.
On the other hand, due to its high potassium content, this beverage presents a danger to people with hyperkalemia (excess potassium).
If you have hypokalemia (potassium deficiency), ask your doctor for advice before consuming this drink to avoid interaction with your treatment and the risk of overdose.
Finally, even though this drink has many health benefits, it is advisable to not consume more than one glass per day. Remember, this is a sugary drink that should be consumed within reason and is not a substitute for plain water.
Which coconut water to choose ?
This beverage is now fairly easy to find in stores. But, if you are wondering which coconut water to buy, remember that you should prefer brands without added sugar and preservatives.
Always check the composition of the product and buy drinks that contain only one ingredient: water from coconut!
If possible, choose this drink in an organic version to be sure that the coconut trees have been grown responsibly and that this product has not contributed to the deforestation of primary forests.
