Coconut water - What are the benefits?

Coconut water photo. It's clear with a slight milky look to it.

      Coconut water is all natural, very high in potassium and low in calories. 

Those   things are all great, but there's more to coconut water than just that.
After weeks of researching, I've found that coconut water has benefits that aren't widely known. You've read my talking about coconut oil and some of you  have even read my actual experience with it.  Coconut oil is extremely beneficial  and can help and even "reverse" certain health problems. My particular problemand reason for first seeking out coconut oil a year ago was digestive/stomach problems, so severe that I lost a few years of my life. When I learned about coconut water, I knew I wouldn't stop at the research! I wanted to know every single detail, claim and ingredient, but I needed to try it myself. I did!

    What exactly is coconut water?

     Coconut water is the clear liquid taken from immature (green) coconuts whereas      milk comes from the "meat." The meat is edible, and the water can be consumed via     drink form. Coconut is one of the most pure liquids, second to water.

   What are the benefits/claims of coconut water?

   In any case, it's always best to know first-hand, what the benefits of anything

 are for  you personally (assuming you can consume the product without allergic reaction). That's why I needed to know just for myself. I wanted to get  up close and personal after learning what I have about coconut water.

  What you'll find in one simple online search is that coconut water is very high in potassium, so much that it actually contains more potassium than a banana, twice the amount to be exact. Potassium is an electrolyte that is said to promote kidney, heart, liver and overall cellular function. A typical serving of coconut water contains anywhere from 259-569 milligrams of potassium, depending on what type you're drinking.

   Coconut water contains potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium  and calcium, which are all electrolytes that are in our bodies. It's natural! It doesn't contain preservatives, cholesterol or fats and is low in sugar content. According to the chief of United nation’s Food and Agriculture, coconut water contains about 5mg of Natural Sugars. In most drinks, you'll find the refined sugar contents to be about 10-25mg! You'll also find that it replaces electrolytes better than a sports drink as it contains more potassium than sports drinks and bananas. Consumption of the  water can contribute to internal health, liver, heart and kidney health as well as healthier skin, hair and nails.

   Most sports drinks contain about 117 milligrams of potassium where the amount in one serving of coconut water is significantly higher.  What you probably won't find without some digging is that coconut water can do more than that for your health. What you certainly won't find by reading up on research about coconut water is the actual taste  and benefits first-hand.

  Coconut water is an antibacterial. It contains monolaurin which is an antiviral, antibacterial and antiprozoal monoglyceride that's used to kill lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, flue and other pathogenic bacteria!

  In the old days people used coconut water to "cure" headaches and more. Some refer to coconut water as life enhancer. The way some of us consume coffee/energy drinks is the way some consume coconut water. 

  While ridding myself of the nightmarish migraines I often get, coconut water is working to do more than just that. Studies have shown that drinking coconut water directly lowers blood pressure in 71% of people. [Cited from coconutwaterlife.com] 

  Coconut water is said to promote kidney health and have anti-aging effects, which I'm all for! However, there have yet to be scientific evidence to totally back this. However, it does contain antioxidants which do in fact have anti-aging effects. Evidence or not, I'm spending the small price for some coconut water each day! It's also a good replacement for fruits and vegetables.  It has no aftertaste, is refreshing unlike any other drink. Besides that, coconut water is said to hydrate even better than water!

Digestive health

 Remember me talking about benefits of coconut oil? I'm still using it occasionally. It worked miracles for IBS! Well, coconut water combine with olive oil is said to kill intestinal worms, similar to the way coconut oil will. Cleaning the body of intestinal worms means a healthier digestive system and much less pain, suffering and discomfort!

Urinary health

  Consuming  coconutwater on a regular basis could possibly reduce urinary problems, strangury, polyuria and other urinary issues. Those suffering may find relief in symptoms with regular use. It can also prevent kidney/bladder stones. My twin sister has had a lifetime of problems with kidney so she's on board now with the coconut water!

Skin

It is possible that coconut water can improve the look of skin by reducing acne, hydrating, scarring and more. If you've ever increased your water intake to improve acne breakouts and scars, you know that hydration makes an enormous difference in skin appearance. For instance, I have extremely dry skin and when I'm drinking a bottle of water a day, I won't even need moisturizer and my blemishes and scars are hardly there. Coconut water hydrates better than water and therefore your skin will show dramatic results! Mine does! Drinking a bottle of water a day and adding in the coconut water (oh, and can't forget my 24kt gold anti-aging lotion!) and mine looks fabulous!

Taste

Coconut water has a most unique taste, unlike anything. It's refreshing in a way that I've never experienced before. You know when it hits you that you're very dehydrated and the thought of water has you almost frantic, then suddenly you take a drink and it feels like a miracle was performed? Taking the first sip of coconut water of the day feels like that. 

 While you feel the need to chug an entire bottle of water once you get your dehydrated hands on it, coconut water is different. It's like an instant relief from thirst. It's so different! 

  It's somewhat milky in color without being thick at all. I would say it's about as thin as water and doesn't have a strong coconut flavor as some might expect. The coconut taste is there, but it's not as strong as if you took a drink of coconut oil. It's sweet in an un-sweet kind of way. It's sweet in a natural sense, sort of like the sweetness of milk. It's not exactly sweet or salty, but it has a hint of sweetness which I think somewhat resembles milk's natural sweetness. It's actually really good! 

Interesting fact:

Coconut water is nearly identical to our blood plasma and can be used in certain emergencies, such as during WWII when soldiers were badly wounded and needed  a transfusion, coconut water was used intravenously!

  It's also said to help hangovers! I will certainly ask family members how well they like it for that purpose. I can imagine it being a life saver after a night of drinking.

  While I'll continue to update you guys as I continue to drink the coconut water and with the benefits I see, I hope you'll also update me! Are any of you improving your health with coconut water? When I often have an upset stomach, I've started taking a small drink of the coconut water before lying down and have noticed it seems to settle things down for me. I actually did not know that was a benefit until one morning I was feeling bad and needed a drink and it just happened to be what I grabbed. While I went to bed I noticed that it felt as if it settled my stomach so I looked into it. Apparently this is common for some people to find relief in upsets. Some people who suffer from conditions that cause extreme vomitting, use coconut water to control and calm.

  As of the moment, my mom and I have both been drinking it regularly for a week or so. She loved it and is drinking it religiously for cholesterol and heart health while also walking for exercise. As you may have guessed, coconut water can help with weight loss as well as improve health. 

Resources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15892382
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10674546

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22257640

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21771462