Powerful health benefits of coconut water you never knew
Powerful health benefits of coconut water
Coconut water has become a very popular beverage in recent years.
Coconut water is naturally delicious and hydrating, and it also contains a number of essential elements, such as minerals that many people don’t receive enough of.
Here are 7 advantages of coconut water for health.
- Good source of several nutrients
Coconuts are a fruit according to botany and are grown in tropical climes on trees known scientifically as Cocos nucifera.
The liquid within a young, green coconut is called coconut water. It aids with the fruit’s nutrition. Some of the liquid remains in the coconut as it ages, which takes around 10 to 12 months, while the remainder turns into the solid, white meat known as coconut meat.
Though it can be found in older fruit as well, coconut water is normally extracted from young coconuts that are around 6-7 months old. About 1/2 to 1 cup of coconut water can be obtained from a typical green coconut.
94% of the water in coconut water is made up of fat. Contrast it with coconut milk, which is produced by combining grated coconut meat with water. About 50% of coconut milk is water, and it has a lot of fat.
240 ml of one cup has 60 calories.
Powerful health benefits of coconut water
- May have antioxidant properties
Free radicals are unstable chemicals created during metabolism in your cells. When under stress or injured, they produce more.
Your body experiences oxidative stress when there are too many free radicals, which can harm your cells and raise your risk of illness.
Coconut water includes antioxidants, which may help free radicals be modified so they no longer cause harm, according to animal research.
In a 2012 study, coconut water was administered to insulin-resistant rats consuming a high-fructose diet. Free radical activity, blood pressure, lipid, and insulin levels were decreased.
Another 2014 study discovered that coconut water treatment significantly reduced oxidative stress in damaged rat livers when compared to livers that did not get treatment.
A third study from 2016 showed that rats given a high-fat diet benefited from coconut water extract. The coconut water not only demonstrated “antioxidant effectiveness,” it also assisted in lowering cholesterol indicators.
The antioxidant properties of coconut water have not yet been studied in humans, despite the fact that this research on animals is intriguing. Additionally, each of the animal studies used a different dosage and set of guidelines.
Powerful health benefits of coconut water
- May help lower blood sugar for people living with diabetes
According to studies, coconut water can improve various health indicators and lower blood sugar levels in diabetic animals.
In a 2015 study, coconut water treatment helped diabetic rats maintain better blood sugar levels than the control group. The rats given coconut water also had lower hemoglobin A1c levels, which suggests improved long-term blood sugar control, according to the same study.
In a more recent study from 2021, coconut water was also proven to lower blood glucose in diabetic rats.
For these effects to be confirmed in people, more research is required.
The fact that coconut water is a good source of magnesium, which may improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, is an additional blood sugar advantage of coconut water.
In light of all of this, it’s crucial to remember that coconut water contains carbohydrates, which are converted to sugars in the body. As a result, if you have diabetes or prediabetes, see your doctor or a dietitian before incorporating it into your diet.
For these effects to be confirmed in people, more research is required.
- May help prevent kidney stones
It’s crucial to drink enough water to prevent kidney stones.
While coconut water may be even better than plain water, simple water is still a solid option, according to two small studies.
When calcium, oxalate, and other substances combine to form crystals in your urine, kidney stones are the result. Once formed, these crystals can become small stones. About 12% of the world’s population suffers from kidney stones, while certain individuals are more vulnerable than others.
In a 2013 study, coconut water prevented crystals from adhering to the kidneys and other regions of the urinary tract in rats with kidney stones. Additionally, it decreased the number of urine crystals that developed.
There has to be much more research on the advantages of coconut water in lowering the likelihood of kidney stones because one study used animals and the other was so tiny.
Powerful health benefits of coconut water
- May support heart health
Coconut water use may lower the risk of heart disease.
In an earlier experiment, conducted in 2008, rats were given a diet high in fat and cholesterol. Moreover, they gave significant amounts of coconut water to one group (4 ml per 100 grams of body weight).
ALSO SEE: How To Get A Straight A in Academic Writing II (UGRC 210)
After 45 days, the coconut water group’s cholesterol and triglyceride levels dropped in a manner resembling that of a statin prescription.
You should be aware that this was a very high dose. A 150-pound (68-kg) person ingesting 91 ounces (2.7 liters) of coconut water each day would be equal in terms of volume.
According to a 2005 study, coconut water may help people with high blood pressure lower their blood pressure, while further investigation is needed in this area.
Because of its excellent potassium concentration, coconut water may help to decrease blood pressure (500mg of potassium in 8 ounces). In persons with high blood pressure or normal blood pressure, potassium has been found to lower blood pressure.
Powerful health benefits of coconut water
ALSO READ: Serious Health Benefits Of Honey