Coconut Water Benefits
After a hard workout, you're usually thirsty. You stop at the convenience store and buy a sports drink or a big bottle of water, because you know it's important to get rehydrated fast. But there's another beverage out there that's generating a lot of buzz--coconut water.
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Identification
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Coconut water is obtained from young coconuts, and you shouldn't confuse it with coconut milk. The water is slightly cloudy, sweet and has a delicate taste. Coconut water is so similar in composition to human blood plasma that during World War II it was sometimes used in blood transfusions.
Features
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To help rehydrate and recover after a workout, sports drinks contain the things that your body typically uses during the workout: sugars, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, and of course, water. Coconut water naturally contains these same things, but it contains more potassium and less sodium and sugar than sports drinks. The sugars in coconut water are natural and unaltered, and there are no colorings or flavorings added.
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Study Findings
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A study conducted by the Department of Physiology at the School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, tested the benefits of coconut water against carbohydrate-electrolyte beverages (CEB), or sports drinks, and plain water (PW), and concluded that coconut water "caused less nausea, fullness and no stomach upset and was also easier to consume in a larger amount compared with CEB and PW ingestion. In conclusion, ingestion of fresh young coconut water, a natural refreshing beverage, could be used for whole body rehydration after exercise."
Other Uses
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Some people also believe coconut water can strengthen the immune system, help with urinary and kidney problems, and increase the metabolism, which may help you to lose weight. Further testing is needed to determine if there is evidence to support these uses.
Considerations
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Because coconut water contains less sodium than sports drinks, if you sweat very heavily during a workout, there is a chance coconut water won't sufficiently replace the sodium you lose. In this situation, perhaps sports drinks, with their higher sodium levels, might be a better choice for you.
Where to Find It
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In places like Malaysia, India and Hawaii where coconuts are grown, the water is consumed directly from the coconut. If you don't live in one of those locations, you may be able to find coconut water at your local health food store. As interest in the benefits of coconut water increases, so does its availability. It is quite possible that you will soon be able to find it in your local supermarket, if it's not there already.
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