Is coconut water really good for you?

The health benefits of coconut water

Coconut water, scientifically known as Cocos nucifera L., is a popular beverage enjoyed by many. Besides its refreshing properties, it also offers numerous health benefits.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam, former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, young coconut water contains many nutritional values, including 95% water, the rest being sugar and some micronutrients such as potassium, iron, calcium, phosphorus... This is a nutritious drink that helps the body increase resistance, prevent kidney stones, regulate blood pressure and is good for digestion.

Coconut water is good for health, but you shouldn't drink too much of it (Illustrative image: Istock).

An average young coconut contains 240ml, providing 57 kcal of energy to the body. Coconut water provides B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, and calcium—all essential vitamins, fiber, and minerals for the body.

Coconut water is considered a sports electrolyte drink because of its role in providing minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc.).

A study conducted on healthy male volunteers after exercise used specialized electrolyte drinks, coconut water, and plain water. The results showed significantly higher plasma glucose concentrations in those who drank coconut water and carbohydrate electrolyte drinks compared to those who drank plain water.

Coconut water is significantly sweeter, less likely to cause nausea, provides a feeling of fullness, and doesn't cause stomach pain. It's also easier to consume in larger quantities compared to specialized electrolyte drinks and plain water.

A clinical trial in India showed that coconut water significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients. This is a promising effect of coconut water that is being studied by many authors worldwide .

According to the Clinical Nutrition Center, K Hospital (Hanoi), coconut water has a positive effect on cholesterol metabolism. Many studies conducted on mice have shown that both young and ripe coconut water are beneficial for serum and tissue lipid parameters.

Several animal studies have shown that coconut water significantly reduces hyperglycemia and noticeably improves the severity of diabetic cataracts.

However, further studies and human trials are needed to demonstrate the mechanism and effectiveness of coconut water in treating diabetes.

What should you keep in mind when drinking coconut water?

According to Traditional Medicine Practitioner Phung Tuan Giang, Chairman of the Vietnam Institute for Research and Development of Traditional Medicine, coconut water has a sweet and refreshing taste, is neutral in nature; it affects the spleen, kidneys, and stomach; and its effects include relieving heat, quenching thirst, promoting urination, detoxifying, and stopping bleeding. Coconut flesh has a sweet taste, is neutral in nature; it affects the spleen, kidneys, and stomach; and its effects include nourishing qi, lubricating the intestines, and promoting urination.

Coconut water is used to treat sunstroke, heatstroke, fever with thirst, vomiting due to dehydration, edema, scanty urination, boils, itching sores, dermatitis, eczema, and weakness.

"Although coconut water is a nutritious drink that provides minerals, electrolytes, and boosts immunity, it shouldn't be consumed in excessive amounts. A person can drink about 300-500ml per day (1-2 coconuts)," said Dr. Giang.

Drinking too much coconut water can cause bloating or discomfort in some people. Excessive consumption can lead to dangerously high potassium levels in the blood, potentially causing kidney and cardiovascular problems. Most urologists recommend drinking coconut water intermittently throughout the day.

Additionally, it's important to note that coconut water should not be consumed if it has been left out for more than 20 minutes. The rate of bacterial growth in coconut water is relatively fast, approximately within 20 minutes.

No matter how good coconut water is, it should only be consumed in moderation and should be combined with other drinks such as mineral water, fruit juices, etc.

Source: Dan Tri Newspaper

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/nuoc-dua-co-thuc-su-tot-a161606.html