Health Benefits of Coconut Water

Coconut water is the juice in the endosperm of young coconut.

The water is actually obtained by opening a tender, green, healthy, and undamaged coconut. Inside, it's liquid is sweet and sterile and composed of unique chemicals such as sugars, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, enzymes, amino acids, cytokine and phyto-hormones. 

Young and slightly immature coconuts harvested when they are about 5-7 months of age for the drink. Any nuts younger than five months of age tend to be bitter in taste and devoid of nutrients.

Health Benefits of Coconut Water

• Cardiovascular Health : Coconut water helps improve blood circulation, lowers high blood pressure levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues. It is also said to control your blood sugar levels.
• Reduces Blood Pressure : A disproportionate level of electrolytes can result in high blood pressure. Because coconut water contains an adequate supply of each, it can be used as a balancing mechanism.
• Kidney Stones : Due to its minerals content (Potassium and Magnesium), coconut water is beneficial to a person suffering from kidney stones. This water also acts as a diuretic as it increases the flow and production of urine. It recommend to drink coconut water every alternate day as it can reduce the size of kidney stones and even help eliminate them.
• Boosts Hydration : The ingredients in coconut water are way more effective at hydrating the human body than those of sports and energy drinks. During rigorous exercise or extended periods of physical activity, the human body loses mineral-rich fluids. Coconut water serves as an excellent replacement medium. Despite very light consistency, its water has much better composition of minerals like calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, and zinc than some of the fruits like oranges. Coconut water is a natural isotonic drink that provides many of the same benefits as formulated sports drinks, including the electrolytes calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium but in their natural form. The minerals are plant based where as sports drinks, spring water and tap water are all metallic based. 
• Improve Digestion : Due to its high concentration of fiber, it aids in the prevention of indigestion and reduces the occurrence of acid reflux. Coconut water is composed of many naturally occurring bioactive enzymes such as acid phosphatase, catalase, dehydrogenase, diastase, peroxidase, RNA-polymerases etc. These enzymes help in the digestion and metabolism.
• Vitamins : Coconut water is also a good source of B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pyridoxine, and folates. These vitamins are essential in the sense that the human body requires them from external sources to replenish. It is low in fat though rich in vitamins and the potassium level is twice the amount found in bananas.
• Compatible with Human Blood : Coconut water's chemical profile is so similar to blood plasma. As it is isotonic to human plasma, coconut water can be used in severe emergencies to quickly rehydrate the human body.
• Help to maintain Sugar Level : It is excellent drink for diabetics as it is good in nutrients required by diabetics to keep their sugar levels in control. Coconut water's helps increase HDL (good) cholesterol, reduces plaque formation, moderates sugar absorption and improves insulin sensitivity. Regular consumption of coconut water increases the metabolism rate which helps to burn sugar a lot faster.
• Weight Loss : The fat content in coconut water is extremely low. It also suppresses the appetite because of its rich nature. It's cholesterol free, fat free, low in carbohydrates and naturally occurring sugars.
• Anti Aging : Coconut water contains cytokines and lauric acid, the two important elements which are used in the process of cell growth and their regulation. It is a natural source of cytokinins, a group of plant growth hormones that help regulate cell growth, development and ageing. Rich in potassium, antioxidants and lauric acid, cytokinins are said to balance pH levels, strengthen and hydrate connective tissues and even reduce the risk of age-related diseases. Cytokinins has an anti-aging effect on human cells and tissues. When human cells are exposed to cytokinins, aging slows down considerably. Cells treated with cytokinins don't undergo the normal degenerative changes.
• Alkalizing Effect : Coconut water has an alkalizing effect on your body which can help correct the cumulative effects of acidifying foods that make up most diets today.

Coconut Milk and Coconut Water

In mature coconuts, the endosperm solidifies and thickens to form a white edible kernel. Coconut milk is obtained by grating and grinding this kernel with water and passing it through a sieve. Coconut milk is very different from coconut water as this is very high in fat content. 

Coconut milk comprises of about 50 percent fat/protein and 50 percent water whereas Coconut water is a clear, light, refreshing liquid (95 percent water) extracted from young, green coconuts that have not reached maturity.

How to Drink

• Enjoy the coconut drink without any additions.
• Iced coconut water can be a refreshing drink.
• Fresh water can be made special drink adding lemon slices, mint leaves, orange zest, etc.

Coconut water can be consumed at the start of each day to foster the balance of these electrolytes. Drink it in the morning for some extra energy or to rehydrate you after a long night's sleep

Drink it in the afternoon to get you out of a slump or after working out to replenish lost electrolytes. 

Once a coconut is cut open, the water should be consumed quickly as exposure of coconut water to air can result in loss of nutrients. The fresher the coconut water, the better. Once exposed to air and warm temperatures, it rapidly ferments and loses its nutritional value.

Why Drink Coconut Water?

CocoWater is naturally:

• Low in Carbs
• 99% Fat Free
• Low in sugars

Coconut Water contains organic compounds possessing healthy growth promoting properties that have been known to help -

• Keep the body cool and at the proper temperature.
• Orally re-hydrate your body, it is an all natural isotonic beverage.
• Carry nutrients and oxygen to cells.
• Naturally replenish your body's fluids after exercising.
• Raise your metabolism.
• Promote weight loss.
• Boost your immune system.
• Detoxify and fight viruses.
• Cleanse your digestive tract.
• Control diabetes.
• Aid your body in fighting viruses that cause the flu, herpes, and AIDS.
• Balance your PH and reduce risk of cancer.
• Treat kidney and urethral stones.
• Boost poor circulation.

Coconut Water -

The English name coconut, first mentioned in English print in 1555, comes from Spanish and Portugese word coco, which means "monkey face." Spanish and Portugese explorers found a resemblance to a monkey's face in the three round indented markings or "eyes" found at the base of the coconut. On the Nicobar Islands of the Indian Ocean, whole coconuts were used as currency for the purchase of goods until the early part of the twentieth century.

Coconuts are the fruit of the coconut palm, botanically known as cocos nucifera, with nucifera meaning "nut-bearing. " The fruit-bearing palms are native to Malaysia, Polynesia and southern Asia, and are now also prolific in South America, India , the Pacific Islands , Hawaii and Florida. The light, fibrous husk allowed it to easily drift on the oceans to other areas to propagate. In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalpa vriksha, meaning "tree which gives all that is necessary for living," since nearly all parts of the tree can be used in some m anner or another. The coconut itself has many food uses, including milk, meat, sugar and oil as well as functioning as its own dish and cup. The husk was also burned for fuel by natives, but today a seed fibre called coir is taken from the husk and used to make brushes, mats, fishnets, and rope. A very potent fermented toddy or drink is also made from the coconut palm's sap. Coconut oil, a saturated fat made from dried coconut meat, is used for commercial frying and in candies and margarines, as well as in non-edible products such as soaps and cosmetics.

Although it takes up to a year for coconuts to mature, the trees bloom up to thirteen times a year, so fruit is constantly forming yielding a continuous harvest year-round. An average harvest from one tree runs about 60 coconuts, with some trees yielding three times that amount. The coconut's name is a bit of a misnomer, since it is botanically classified as a drupe and not a nut. It is the largest seed known.

If you've ever opened a fresh coconut, you will have seen the thin, opaque almost clear coconut juice or water which has a slight almond flavor. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the coconut milk. However, the water is consumed as a drink fresh from the coconut by many, and it can also be used in recipes.

Here are some more information about Coconut Water -

"It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It's the fluid of life, so to speak." In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers.

Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas - once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.

• Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol.
• Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice - Much lower calories.
• Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk - It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk.
• Coconut water is naturally sterile - Water permeates though the filtering husk.
• Coconut water is a universal donor - Its identical to human blood plasma.
• Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood.
• Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV.

"Coconut water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue and is the next wave of energy drinks BUT natural", according to Mortin Satin, Chielf of the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization.
Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.

• Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg.
• Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.
• Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.
  Data is based on a 100ml drink