Just kick back, relax and sip on the healthy nutrients of coconut water. You can rank it among the world’s best energy drinks. Best part is that it is all natural. Yes! No added sugar!
From where can you get this drink?
Simple! Take a fresh, green, immature coconut, 5 months old would be good enough and make a hole in it. Extract all the water in a container and pour it in a glass. Take a sip and enjoy the refreshing drink!
A single nut can give you 200 ml to 1000 ml of the water. Do not take very immature coconuts as their water will have a bitter taste and would not contain many nutrients, 5 to 7 months old coconut has a sweet taste.
Coconut water is rich in potassium; the potassium contents are higher in it than artificially made energy drinks. There are 118 g of chlorides and 5mg of sugars. A single cut of this refreshing drink only gives you 50 calories. This miracle drink contains a large number of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and cytokine. Good news is that coconut has more nutritional power than milk.
It contains carbohydrates, fats, proteins, riboflavin, thiamine, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. All of these nutrients contain some healing properties. This is how they can help:
Cure Dehydration
The combination of some powerful vitamins and minerals are beneficial for replacing the lost nutrients and body fluid in diarrhea. The drink is ideal for conditions like dehydration, because it contains rich amount of electrolytes. It is also effective for dehydration caused by cholera, dysentery and stomach flu.
Universal donor
Did you know that coconut water was once used as “universal donor”? It is believed that coconut water resembles human blood plasma. In the Pacific War, Coconut IV’s were used for emergency plasma transfusions to the save lives of thousands of people.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine published a study that suggested, “Coconut water can be successfully used as a short term intravenous hydration fluid for hydration and resuscitation of critically ill patients in the remote regions of the world where medical resources are not available.”
Boosts Energy
Coconut water is an ideal sports drink because it provides tremendous amount of energy. Unlike other artificially made energy drinks, you get high amounts of potassium, chlorides and calcium plus other vitamins and minerals and low contents of sodium and sugars from coconut water. Moreover, it contains fewer amounts of calories so you can use it for rehydrating yourself after a strenuous work out.
Effective for Weight Loss
As mentioned above the drink is contains low amount of calories.
1cup= 50 calories
It is ideal for people who are trying to lose weight. Firstly, because it is a low fat drink and secondly, it is packed with powerful nutrients that gives you a feeling of fullness and reduces cravings for food.
Beneficial for Skin
Coconut water contains cytokinins, an age defying component that regulates the growth and division of the cell. Cytokinins along with the power of lauric acid, balance ph levels, strengthen the connective tissues and minimize the aging of the cells of the skin.
Just apply some coconut water on your skin at night before going to bed and get rid of dark spots, wrinkles, eczema, acne and stretch marks. Your skin will get clear within 2 to 3 weeks.
Promotes Heart Health
The high contents of potassium and magnesium present in coconut water are beneficial for reducing high blood pressure and also reduce the risk of strokes. Usually high blood pressure is caused by the low potassium levels, by drinking coconut water regularly this deficiency can be cured.
Some preliminary researches also suggest that by consuming coconut water cholesterol levels can be reduced. It also increases HDL (good cholesterol) which promotes cardiovascular health.
Good for diabetics
Coconut is a food that ranks low on the Glycemic Index. Therefore, people with diabetes can consume it without any fear. Moreover, there are some nutrients found in coconut that can actually help lower blood sugar.
Anti-viral
Next time you catch a cold, treat yourself with coconut water. It contains anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties that can effectively cure flu, herpes and other viral diseases.
Reduces Kidney Stones
The potassium and magnesium contents present in coconut water can prevent the risk of kidney stones.
Side effects
Good news! Coconut water does not have any side effects. However, people with severe nut allergies should avoid using it. It is also safe for kids and pregnant women.
Important!
Once you cut open a coconut, consume its water right away because exposure to the air can make it lose some essential nutrients. You can also find coconut water in bottled form but it will contain low amount of nutrients and more preservatives. Or you can buy fresh coconuts from Asian food stores. You can keep an unopened coconut for 5 to 10 days at room temperature.
Do not confuse coconut water with coconut milk. Coconut milk is obtained by grinding the meat of the mature coconut which is then passed through a sieve to obtain the white liquid. A cup of coconut milk contains 550 calories and contains high contents of fats.
So beat the summer heat with the revitalizing coconut water!
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