You most likely see cartons of it lined up within the grocery retailer (and in your match pal’s fridge), however is coconut water good for you? What are its advantages, and with all the opposite varieties of water, is it value shelling out the additional cash?
Learn on to seek out out what you’ll want to find out about this stylish drink and the advantages it gives.
What Is Coconut Water?
“Coconut water is the liquid taken from an immature coconut,” explains Trinh Le, MPH, RDN. (A lot of the water in a younger coconut turns into coconut meat because the coconut matures.)
“It comprises water, some sugars, and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium,” she provides.
If you concentrate on reducing off the highest of a younger coconut, the meat is on the within of the husk and kinds a cup for the coconut water on the middle.
The Advantages of Coconut Water
Listed here are six methods you may profit from consuming coconut water, based on the specialists.
1. Naturally hydrating
“Coconut water generally is a nice rehydration drink for athletes and heavier exercisers to switch among the electrolytes and replenish carbohydrate shops which are utilized throughout train,” says Emily Tills, MS, RDN, CDN.
One small examine discovered that coconut water with added sodium was simply as efficient at rehydrating folks as a sports activities drink.
2. Decrease in sugar than most sports activities drink
It is a easy swap for those who’re watching your sugar consumption. Widespread sports activities drinks have 13 grams of sugar per 8-ounce serving. Coconut water has about 9 grams of sugar in the identical serving measurement, however there’s no added sugars.
3. Simple on the abdomen
When you wrestle with occasional post-workout nausea, coconut water may be a very good rehydration possibility to contemplate. One examine discovered that coconut water triggered considerably much less nausea, fullness, and abdomen upset after a exercise than sports activities drinks or plain water.
4. Coconut taste with out the fats
Not like coconut milk, coconut water doesn’t comprise fats. Coconut water is an effective way to infuse tropical taste into smoothies and shakes with out including a great deal of fats and extra energy.
The draw back? Coconut water isn’t wealthy and creamy like coconut milk.
5. Good supply of potassium
Coconut water might allow you to meet your day by day potassium wants, which Tills says many people fail to do. One cup of coconut water delivers about 600 mg potassium. It’s not a mineral to be ignored, she says, because it’s “wanted within the physique to assist with nerve pulses and sending messages from the mind all through the physique.”
Even a gentle potassium scarcity could cause fatigue and muscle weak point.
6. Simple calorie-saving swap
Coconut water “comprises much less sugar than typical fruit juice and is probably going a very good swap for those who recurrently drink juice however need to reduce down on sugars,” says Le.
She provides that though coconut water doesn’t have fats, you may nonetheless trigger a calorie surplus by consuming an excessive amount of of it. So whereas consuming it rather than higher-calorie drinks generally is a wholesome swap, you must nonetheless be aware of how a lot you’re consuming. You may as well dilute coconut water with plain water.
So for those who might use a wholesome various to water or sports activities drinks in your life, then coconut water is a good alternative.
