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

Aloe Vera in A Capsule -- The Beginning of Curing My IBS

  Hello all of my beautiful loves. I started taking aloe vera capsules less than a month ago. I started out only taking one capsule a day just to be safe. I've still only been taking one a day, but just now upped it to 2. I am totally shocked by these things. I've already mentioned the health problems I've had (endometriosis since I was a teen that was accompanied by IBS.) Y'all have probably seen me talking about the recent things I've been trying to finally rid myself of this crap. I've had little success, but always felt like it was getting somewhat better in the beginning only to end up even sicker.

  I decided to give the aloe a try and after reading all the info on Nature's Factory products, I was 100% sure this was exactly what I needed. So, I decided I wasn't just going to be ok anymore, I wanted to be great. I just couldn't setttle anymore for the attacks I was having to be lessened or reduced or not as often. I told myself whatever it takes. Then, I prayed and prayed and prayed and listened to Creflo Dollar as usual. For those of you who aren't aware, he's a preacher. I watch him every morning and it just so happened that the very first morning I started the aloe, he was on preaching about recieving your healing. He went on to talk about how Jesus died on the cross to not only save us from our sins and from hell, but he said that through that, we were given healing too. Most don't know that. He said "you just have to learn how to take your healing, recieve it!" That is exactly what I did that morning when I took the aloe.

  I don't have the IBS anymore. I won't have it again and I won't have those nasty symptoms again! I am done 100%. I've only been taking the aloe vera capsules for a little over 3 weeks and I've felt like a totally new person. I noticed huge changes and still have been seeing more changes. I was truly shocked when it came time for my usual attacks this month & had none at all. I expected this to be a longer process, but it's gone! I couldn't believe how it was just gone. I don't have to worry anymore. I actually know what it's like to be normal now & it's really different from what I'm used to! I have never had such enormous changes like this. I could just cry! I can't be more grateful for the aloe. I don't have to live that little life anymore. I can be normal now! It's the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. I really can't believe how fast it happened.

  If you don't know about aloe vera pills, you can read more about them and the benefits from Nature's Factory. I don't do well with explaining the complicated stuff, but I'll do what I can. I've actually heard people say that aloe vera has "cured" their diseases, shrunk their tumors, cured their colitis, IBS, etc. It is truly a miracle. It can help prevent any disease and will certainly make an enormous difference in any disease. I'd say even the healthiest person in the world could benefit in some way from them.

            ALOE VERA CAPSULES ARE AMAZING FOR:

 1. IBS (True. Mine is gone!)
 2. Rhuemetoid arthritis - my cousins little boy suffers from this and it's been a true miserable disaster for them. His doctors have him on so many meds & have said not to expect him to live a very long life. I was ecstatic when I read that aloe will help this. She is going to work the aloe into his daily life & I really believe most of his suffering will be reduced. I just can't wait until he starts taking them & sees results!
3. Colitis as well as ANY digestive disorders or diseases.
4. Cancer - I've read so many good things from cancer survivors taking aloe!
5. Urinary Tract infections - my twin was just in the hospital with bad UTI's. She's had awful kidney problems our entire life. She's just starting on aloe & already feeling much better!
6. Yeast infections.
7. Vaginosis
8. Acne/anti-aging
9. Clears up your skin like a miracle! I had 2 people tell me I looked 16 lately! Lol. Maybe from the aloe? Either way, I'm 21 so to hear that I look 16 sounds great! Looking 16 when I'm 21 could be very beneficial for when I'm 60. Maybe then, I'll look 55! Lol
10. Heart burn, acid reflux, etc.
This is only a tiny list of the things aloe can help. There are thousands more. Needless to say, no matter what a person's health is, they can certainly benefit enormously by taking aloe.

  I am now a serious, hard core aloe girl! I've been talking about it everywhere I go. I'm hoping to be able to continue taking them for the rest of my life. They're too good. Also, remember a few days ago when I posted about my horrifying hair removal burns and bruises? Well, thank God for aloe. I'd been taking it for a few weeks when the severe burns happened and it's been less than 5 days ago and my scabs are totally gone and it looks like there will be no scarring! That's a real miracle! I'm so glad I started taking them when I did. If I hadn't been, I highly doubt my burns would be anywhere close to healed right now.

  I can't say enough good things about aloe vera. I wish I could go on and on! Also, I got some Miracle Aid from Nature's Factory which is amazing for sun burns, chapped, dry skin, bug bites, burns, etc. My entire family had burns this week. My parents were sun burned from vacation and I'd burned my crotch during hair removal & the youngest had a nasty splinter she got at school today & it was looking very inflamed & I was pretty sure it was getting infected. I had to break the skin to dig it out & immediately put the aloe gel on it & now the skin's already healing where it was broke & it doesn't hurt and the redness is gone!

  To me, aloe vera is the best thing in the world! If I had to choose between food for a week or aloe capsules, I'd easily pick the aloe! I can't imagine how different I'll feel after another few months of taking them.

 IMPORTANT NOTE: Be very careful when purchasing aloe vera as 90% of the companies actually are so watered down and diluted that it's can hardly even be considered aloe vera. Do not waste your money unless you have all the facts and information about the company's aloe vera. Nature's Factory provided me with a thick supply of their information, stats, and everything. I fully trust that company and love that they are honest & can provide you with their real, honest info. I've never tried aloe from any other company so I cannot say the others are as good or are even legit. I prefer sticking with Nature's Factory since I already know they are. I don't want to risk wasting so much money on a company  who could very possibly be lying. Just always, always, always make sure that it's the real deal. Ask the company to provide you with info. Don't ever just fork over your money for something like this. Also, I read that one person had been taking aloe for months & gave it up because of no results except for gaining 6 pounds. Apparently, he'd been purchasing a rip-off aloe & it contained so much crap that he gained weight! Nature's Factory's aloe vera will NOT cause weight gain or any side effects at all.

  I can't say a single bad thing about Nature's Factory and their aloe products. I love the capsules more than anything and I have the 90 capsule bottle and have only been taking one a day for a little over 3 weeks & I've already been saving to purchase a bottle. I definitely do not want to give it up. It's truly the best thing I've ever came across. Nothing measures up & I've used just about every natural and non-natural type of cures & stuff to help my problems & never experienced any help and actually even got very sick after taking a certain type of wheatgrass which was sure to be a "cure." The only con about aloe products is the price. Whew! The capsules are a whopping $38.00 (or around that, but discounted when you buy in bulk) that's the only thing I'm not liking about aloe. That's not to say that they aren't well worth every penny and then some, but I am not sure that I will have an extra $38 every month. I'm going to definitely do my best to keep taking them and am hoping and praying I'm able to spend that each month. Yes, it's that good! I actually told the BF today that I would happily spend $100 a bottle if I had to & if I was able to. I'd pay every penny I make for the rest of my life & it would be worth it even just for the 3 weeks worth of benefits I've already gotten. To get rid of all that suffering I was doing is very worth the money.