Coconut Water …..is it all that!

Coconut water has been the rage for several years now and is on its way to becoming a 35 million per year industry.  However, is Coconut water really all it’s cracked up to be?  Is it really as healthy as touted and does it offer all the medical based benefits that have been claimed?

Well the truth is yes and no.  Coconut water has been used for more than 4000 years as a natural source of nutrition, wellness, beauty and hydration.  It is the only natural substance that can be safely injected into the human bloodstream.  Coconut water was used intravenously in the South Pacific during WWII.  Coconut water in its natural state is a very healthy drink that provides large amounts of potassium, its main ingredient, as well as natural fiber, calcium and magnesium.  That said Coconut water, in its natural state, is healthy and does replenish electrolytes and helps hydrate the body. 

There are numerous claims that Coconut water helps regulate blood pressure and diabetes, improves kidney function, raises your metabolism, promotes weight loss, boosts your immune system and poor circulation, fights viruses, reduces your risk of cancer and cleanses your digestive tract.  In truth there is very little scientific evidence to support these claims according to Liz Applegate, Director of Sports Nutrition at UC Davis and among many dieticians.  Gatorade in effect is specially formulated for athletes and recovery and is now made with sucrose and dextrose.

Coconut water is typically sold in bottles or box cartons.  Let’s be real clear here. When you buy Coconut water from other than the original coconut it has been processed to a certain extent.  Some brands are processed more than others.  The process of pasteurization (something done to all brands of packaged coco water) is much less heat intense than the process of concentrating (removing the water from) coconut water, which is a very heat intense process.  If the Coconut water brand you buy comes from concentrate you have just added an extra processing step.

This is important to me because I steer clear of processed ingestibles whenever possible.  I prefer to ingest fresh or minimally processed foods, but that is my own personal choice.  The more you process a food the farther the food strays from its original natural state.  I'd rather buy my fruits and vegetables from my local farmers than even  from Whole Foods.  I drink fresh squeezed juices over concentrate every time.  Less processing is simply a shopping mantra of mine as I know way more than I should about today’s “Food Industry!”

The truth is most people do not work out hard enough or long enough to really have a need to replenish that much potassium or that many electrolytes.  For most people who are average fitness enthusiasts and who workout moderately for an hour to an hour and a half a day drinking plenty of water is sufficient.  That is as long as your diet is clean and full of full of lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

In conclusion, if your diet is deficient in fresh fruits and vegetables?  If you like the taste of coconut water and you’re willing to pay the hefty price for more potassium and electrolytes.  Drink up……Power to you.  Enjoy your coconut water.  If, however, you  are like me and you eat a healthy diet, workout daily, but moderately and drink plenty of water I don’t think you will miss or need Coconut water.

Your Healthy Product Guru – where you always get the truth!