Coconut Yum Time!
When you think of what yummy treats a coconut provides, the first few things that come to mind might include coconut milk and coconut flakes…That is if you are in North America. If you live in South America, the Caribbean, or Southeast Asia, the thought that comes to mind might instead be Coconut Water!
Coconut water???
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.
Many people get confused when trying to wrap their head around how there is coconut water and MILK sharing the small hollow of the nut. Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts, rather than that of a mature fruit. A very young coconut has very little meat, and the meat is very tender, almost a gel. As the coconuts matures, the liquid that is inside will harden alpa vriksha, fluid of life, how to remove kidney stones, holistic drink, how to removeand become a part of the white flesh of the coconut, which is used to make coconut milk. So, picking the coconut while it is unripe will ensure that the body gets all the benefits of coconut water. Plus, it is naturally fat-free and low in food energy, with a whopping 16.7 calories.
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 manner or another. One of the best benefits is that the water is a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It’s the fluid of life!
Coconuts from various parts of the world also differ in taste. For example, Indian coconuts tend to be sweet while Brazilian coconuts have a bland taste and Bangladeshi coconuts (due to the soil composition) have extremely sweet water and flesh with a very slight salty aftertaste similar to the Indian.
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.
Some of my favorite facts about the coconut water is that:
1. Coconut water is naturally sterile — Water permeates though the filtering husk!
2. Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage – The same level we have in our blood.
3. Based on a 100ml drink, Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.
4. Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg!
5. Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.
6. Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.
7. And the most amazing use of coconut water – it is used as an intravenous fluid in some developing countries where medical saline is unavailable. Yay for coconut water!
Coconut Water Remedies
Coconut Water Relieves Urinary Problems
If you consume coconut water on a regular basis it can reduce urinary problems. People who suffer from strangury, polyutra and other urinary ailments drink coconut water to relieve their symptoms.
Coconut Water Kills Intestinal Worms
Drinking coconut water with one teaspoon of olive oil for three days is said to kill intestinal worms and clear the stomach of worms, which makes for better digestion.
Coconut Water Breaks up Kidney Stones
People who have kidney problems and are plagued by kidney stones should drink coconut water in addition to taking their medication. Drinking coconut water regularly helps to break up kidney stones making them easier to push out.
Coconut Water is an Antibacterial
Coconut water contains monolaurin, an antiviral, antibacterial and antiprozoal monoglyceride that is used to kill lipid-coated viruses such as HIV, Herpes, cytomegalovirus, flu and various pathogenic bacteria.
Coconut Water Controls Vomiting
Coconut water is great at reducing vomiting. People who have typhoid, malaria, fevers or other ailments that are known to induce vomiting drink coconut water to settle the stomach. As such, coconut water is also a good thing to drink during a hangover.
All coconuts are kept closed up until ready to consume to keep the water from losing its nutrients. If you plan on buying a coconut, you can ask someone to chop the coconut open or you can open it yourself at home and drink it.
If you are interested in trying some coconut water and you are not near a tropical paradise, it also comes freshly packed and sealed in a Tetrapak, keeping its nutrients and ingredients fresh. Check out some of these brands:
ENJOY Yum Coconut water!!
