The Numerous Benefits of the Electrolyte Coconut Water
It has become a reoccurring decimal in urban cultures around the world, that from time to time, a product/invention, an item or even a natural resource/phenomena becomes “a thing”. Thus, a product or even something you might have known and not given too much attention could suddenly begin to receive a lot of attention as the next big thing.
These days, we find this occurring more often in matters relating to health and healthy living. Often, some previously unknown qualities in some fruit, leaf or tree is suddenly discovered and presented as the solution to some health challenges.
While these revelations are a welcome development, it is important to bring them under critical scrutiny so as to ensure that their claims are true. One of such products, and one which we will put under some scrutiny in this article is coconut water.
What is Coconut Water?
The coconut itself is botanically classified as a fruit, it grows on palm trees and its inside consists of what is called the coconut meat and the water. Both the meat and water are edible and quite tasty. You can read more about it here.
In recent times, research has shown that this fruit possesses many nutritional and health benefits. This has made it one of the trending super beverages that people look for which in turn has made it more commercially viable as a product.
In the marketing of some of these products, there are usually some misinformation about their properties and benefits, which the health food industry seizes on to make huge profits. To ensure that we are not falling for mere marketing hype, let’s look at some of the real qualities and benefits of this product.
It Has Low Calorie Content: It has a low carbohydrate and sugar content, thus, a cup of coconut water on the average contains only about 45 calories. This therefore makes it an even better option than other higher calorie drinks.
It helps your Weight Loss Attempts: If you are currently on a weight loss program, then the coconut water is very well recommended for you. This is because it has very low fat content and thus can be consumed in large quantities without fear of any adverse effects on weight loss attempts.
It Helps Improve Skin Condition: It is a natural skin moisturizer with the ability to clear up your skin conditions and to even your skin tone. This is why it is present in a lot of skin care products in the market.
Helps with Hangover and Purging: It can provide some relieve when you are suffering the after effects of over drinking. It also helps to balance out your bowels and your general internal body system especially if you are experiencing bouts of frequent vomiting, stooling etc.
Aids Digestion: It is highly recommended for those that encounter challenges with their body metabolism or with digesting food. This is because, coconut water is very rich in fiber and thus helps with indigestion.
Compatibility with The Human Blood: The term for this is isotonic which means that it has the same osmotic pressure as some other solution, which in this case is the human blood. Because of this, it can be administered intravenously to rehydrate an individual in an emergency where there is no other available option.
Electrolytes
Having looked at all of the above benefits, there is one more very important one that we will now look at. We are referring to its electrolyte content which also helps to facilitate the aforementioned benefits. Electrolytes are chemicals that become conduits for electricity when they are mixed with water. In the body, they are responsible for the regulation of the nerve and the body muscle functions among other functions.
Primarily, the body muscles and neurons which are commonly called the electric tissues of the body, rely on the availability and the movement of these electrolytes in the body to function. You can read more about it at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153188.php#imbalance.
Generally, fruits and vegetables are great sources of electrolytes which is why a diet which consists of fruits and vegetables is highly recommended.
That said, these electrolytes are found in great quantities in the coconut water. Some of the minerals that can be found in it include the following:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium and
- Sodium
How Should it be Taken?
Having established that it is very nutritious and beneficial to the body, the question now is, how much of it should be consumed on a daily basis?
There is no rule or prescription as to how it should be taken; after all it is a fruit. However, wisdom demands that basic caution be applied in its consumption because, as it is said, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
Furthermore, experts advise that it is necessary to start and maintain an active or exercise filled lifestyle if you are a heavy consumer. This is why it comes highly recommended for athletes as it helps with rehydration better than the average energy drinks.
Also, aside from its natural form, it is available as beverages and as sports drinks some of which are commercially available. This is why sports men and women are encouraged to drink Greater Than Electrolyte Drink which is one of the good sports drinks out there.
Conclusion
It can be seen that beyond quenching your thirst and enjoying a fruit drink, coconut drinks are very nutritious and help in keeping you in good health. It is especially necessary after intense workouts or exercises.
Living a healthy life in all its fullness should be a target every human sets for themselves. Having that drink that helps you on your quest for full health is therefore an added advantage that shouldn’t be ignored.