The best beverage for after-exercise hydration of the body is not sports drinks but coconut water.Drinking coconut water not only provides nutrition but also helps you avoid sugary drinks. If you become habituated to drinking coconut water, you will probably find it difficult to consume sugary drinks again.Many people also drink fresh juice in the morning, and although these fresh juices are natural and healthy, most of the nutrients have been destroyed if it is processed. It is better to either drink freshly made homemade juices or eat the entire fruit instead of its juice, as then you benefit from the fiber.Nowadays, many items are served in cartons, and this is true for coconut water. There are different companies stating the health benefits of this liquid and promoting its sale. This tropical drink comprises a nutty flavor and has natural sugars that can replenish the body. Fresh coconut is brought from tropical lands while the coconuts are still young and green and the water taken straightaway. Once they ripen, the coconut water inside the shells reduces significantly as it turns into coconut meat.Coconut water is refreshing and drinking it can lift your spirits and give you energy to face your day and get on with school, work, or exercise.It’s also good to drink when you’re relaxing. Sitting on a tropical beach and drinking coconut water while viewing the sea and basking in the sun seems like an ideal vacation to many people. Now, although you cannot regularly travel to such destinations because of monetary and time constraints, the relaxing effects can be felt even at home if you sit back and sip the tasty electrolyte-, vitamin C-and mineral-rich coconut water early in the morning, before starting your day, or at night, after coming home from a tiring day at the office.Read on to know more about how coconut water is one of the best sports drinks, and also check out facts on types of coconuts, and whether coconuts are fruits.Nutrition Facts About Coconut WaterFresh coconut water includes both electrolytes and sugar, which makes this drink some doctors’ favorite beverage for most illnesses that leave the body weak, such as recovering from dengue, low blood pressure, excessive fever, and so on. Fresh coconut water is found inside green coconuts, and people either cut it open to install straws and drink directly from the coconut or they might pour the liquid into a glass.Since there is less sugar in coconut water than other sugary drinks, likes a sports drink, its consumption can still give you a sweet fix while replenishing the body and also helps to repair muscles, while providing enough electrolytes to maintain energy even after a session of intense exercise.The benefit of reducing sugar levels in your body, however, can be undone if you decide to drink several glasses of coconut water. The nutty flavor makes it difficult to resist just one, however!Along with less sugar and calories, this clear liquid has more potassium and reduced levels of sodium, especially when it is compared to the expensive well-known brands of sports drink sold for consumption after exercise. Unlike coconut milk, drinking coconut water can help you regain strength and maintain hydration on hot summer days. This tropical fruit contains several kinds of natural minerals. And, as it provides the required liquid nutrition needed for both children as well as adults, it is basically a drink suitable for all age groups.Drinking coconut water is very different from the coconut milk used to cook food. A single glass of green coconut water contains essential nutrients such as magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, carbohydrates, and even sugar.Coconut water is an excellent source of vitamin C, with 24mg per one-cup serving. That’s 32% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for women and 27% for men, based on a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet. Coconut water also contains the B vitamin thiamin (about 8% of RDA).Drinking coconut water as a sports drink is best for the muscles and bones, irrespective of whether there is some injury or not, or whether you’ve even been exercising. Even though the nutty flavor and saline taste differ depending on the kind of soil or beach, the nutrient content seems to be similar in all young coconuts.Benefits Of CoconutsCoconuts have certain antioxidant properties. These help in increasing your metabolism and are of increasing benefit when there is stress or injury in the muscles.It also reduces blood sugar levels, which makes the drink beneficial for those suffering from diabetes. Diabetic people have certain levels of specific sugar requirements which are well met by this plain water. As a diabetic person cannot consume sports drink because of the high sugar content, this tropical drink is recommended instead , especially as it boasts greater health benefits with less side effects when taken in moderation.Fluctuating blood pressure also can be controlled with the regular consumption of coconut water, as blood pressure is kept lower and maintained at healthy levels. For people with high blood pressure, drinking coconut water along with taking regularly prescribed medications ensure that there are no fluctuations and that stability of the system is maintained. Coconut water may even boost the power of the medication and necessitate a lower dosage of it.The presence of cytokinins within coconut water has been proven to be of great importance for anti-aging and anti-clotting effects. These have important health benefits in the long run as one approaches the doors of later adulthood. This clear liquid easily flows into the gastrointestinal tract and helps replenish the lost fluids in individuals suffering from diarrhea, making it less necessary to visit the hospital. Electrolytes present in the clear liquid provide assistance in replenishing lost liquids and preventing dehydration.Nutrients present in coconut water also assist in better and faster digestion, making it easier to keep your weight stable and helping to reduce the chances of becoming obese.The body is not always fit enough to replenish its own nutrients and fluids, and coconut water assists in this regard as well. The health benefits of drinking coconut water can also be seen in individuals who are suffering from kidney stones. These kidney stones, if not flushed out, can be disabling, and cause pain and distress. The compounds present in coconut water prevent the stone-causing components from sticking to the kidneys. For individuals who have already developed kidney stones, coconut water helps to flush these stones out faster, and regular consumption is also likely to ensure that such distress does not occur again.By reducing cholesterol levels and blood pressure, this clear liquid assists in the maintenance of good heart health as well. Good heart health contributes to a healthy life. Despite its benefits, it cannot be seen as a regular replacement for water. Even if the budget allows for the regular and continuous consumption of water from these green coconuts, the amount of sugar intake will increase, and as such the health benefits will reduce dramatically. So it is best to keep consumption to one cup a day.The health benefits of these young coconuts with low calories, appropriate levels of sodium and potassium still outweigh the use of sports drinks and other sugary beverages. About 0.02 oz (0.7 g) of protein is present in each coconut water beverage. Each cup of coconut water contains sodium, iodine, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and electrolytes, all of which should not be taken in excess.Coconut Water PreparationsCoconut water is obtained in two ways. The natural way is by picking them from palm trees in tropical areas, which is not always possible! The young green coconuts have plenty of coconut water within them. The other way is to process the natural coconut water by passing the green coconuts through various machines and then adding preservatives.It is best to use natural coconut water and not the flavored versions created in these factories as they have more added chemicals and reduce the health benefits of low calories, and vitamins, minerals and electrolytes.The best way to prepare a glass of coconut water is to find a green coconut and then cut it from one side. The coconut can then be inverted, to pour the water into a glass or cup. Alternatively, a bowl can also be used to transfer the liquid if you are unsure about the quantity of water inside and want to avoid any spills.In addition, coconut water can also be added to cocktails and other beverages, which increases the taste while still ensuring the health benefits.Apart from this, coconut milk is also sometimes referred to as coconut water. This can be made in manufacturing industries as well as at home. The process is relatively simple. Grated coconut is taken and then strained. The constituents are then boiled in water and strained again to take out what is called coconut milk. The difference between regular coconut water and the coconut milk version of coconut water is the nutrition levels. The home-processed coconut milk is much higher in calories and has lower nutrition than is present in fresh green coconuts.Amazing Facts About Coconut WaterInterestingly, coconut water has greater and better levels of nutrients, such as magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and other enzymes, than most of the fruit juices that are available, such as orange, apple, and lychee.There are several varieties available, and you can buy both natural coconuts as well as the processed packs. Among natural coconuts are green coconut, orange, and yellow coconuts. These varieties are usually available only in coastal regions and only the green coconuts are brought and marketed across other regions of the country. Then, among processed coconut waters, there are non-sweetened versions, sweetened coconut water, and coconut water with different added flavors.An interesting fact is that although coconuts come from tropical climates and spend their initial years in hot humid weather conditions, it is always recommended that we store them in the refrigerator, as it helps to preserve the clear liquid. This is true for the coconut fruit from which we directly take out water and also cartons from the supermarket. (And, incidentally, coconuts are fruits, or drupes, to be precise. However, they can also be classified as nuts!)Another fact about this liquid rich in minerals and vitamins is that it is great for the morning after drinking too much alcohol. The benefits are increased multifold if the liquid is taken on an empty stomach in the morning.It is interesting to know that when this coconut water is subjected to heat for an extended duration of time until it is boiled, a brownish substance is formed as a result of the reaction caused by heating the vitamins and minerals present in this liquid. Coconut water is not a magic potion that can help you to lose weight, although the electrolytes and all the nutrients present in it assist to increase your metabolic rate, leading to that little extra push needed to finally lose weight. It also can replace unhealthy choices. Weight loss, however, is not possible by simply drinking coconut water, as some exercising is also important as well.
The best beverage for after-exercise hydration of the body is not sports drinks but coconut water.
