Coconut Water - The Fluid of Life

 

 

 

 

Coconut water is the liquid found in coconuts before they mature (about 9 months old). It has a natural balance of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium making it mother nature’s electrolyte  drink.

It is low in fat and calories and contains no cholesterol.

Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg)and even more than a banana.

"It’s a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It’s the fluid of life, so to speak." In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma trasfusions to wounded soldiers.

Coconut water is actually more hydrating to the body then water. Professional atheletes are now replacing there conventional sports drinks and drinking coconut water before and after their sport to keep there body hydrated and replace electrolytes..

 

Health Benefits

  • Coconuts are anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-microbial.
  • The lauric acid in coconuts is also used to heal digestive tract disorders such as Leaky Gut Syndrome.
  • Helps to prevent intestinal gas, aids in removing toxins and increases the digestive tract’s ability to absorb nutrients.
  • Improve Crohn’s, IBS, and other digestive disorders
  • Increase metabolism and promotes healthy thyroid function
  • Boost your daily energy
  • Rejuvenate your skin and prevent wrinkles
  • Coconut balances acid levels and flushes toxins out.
  • Relieves burning sensations and hot flushes and "restores emotional stability in menopausal women".
  •  Remedies liver problems, hepatitis or inflammation.
  • Since it regulates the functioning of the intestine, coconut water promotes smoother and healthier looking skin. It can also be used directly on the face, for skin hydration.
  • Great for re-hydration and as a health and beauty aide in tropical regions around the world for centuries.
  •  Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties
  • Cures Malnourishment
  • Effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral Stones
  • Natural drink for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances
  • More hydrating to the body then water which helps the body maint it’s natural fluid levels
  • Relieve spasms and stomach pain
  • Natural diuretic
  • Presence of saline and albumen makes it an excellent drink in cholera cases
  • Can be injected intravenously in emergency cases
  • Helps in carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells
  • Eliminates swelling in hands and feet
  • Normalizes the intestinal function and raise metabolism
  • Heals damage induced by antibiotics and toxins in the digestive tract
  • Boosts poor circulation
  • More nutritious than whole milk because it does contain less fat and no cholesterol.
  • It contains lauric acid which is present in human mother’s milk making it a better alternative to processed baby milk.

 

How to choose a good young coconut

Fresh coconuts for drinking should be young and green, and are generally still attached to the tree. While there are various preferences for the taste of coconut water, generally a green coconut with some age spots tastes good. Coconuts from various parts of the world also differ in taste. For example, Indian coconuts tend to be salty and Brazilian coconuts have a sweeter water and flesh.

The coconut itself is a natural water filter that takes almost 9 months to filter each litre of water. The water travels through many fibers being purified where it is stored away Sterile in the nut itself. When coconut water is exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment. So it is best consumed as soon as you open the young coconut.

A young coconut has different properties than a mature coconut and has not fully reached its maturity. Young coconut meat is softer and more like gelatin and contains approximately 1-2 cups of coconut water (not to be confused with coconut milk) in each young coconut.

The meat of the young coconut meat can blended into the iced coconut for a refreshing creamy drink or you can add berries to make a smoothie.

 

Where can I Find Coconuts?

Unfortunately, most supermarkets do not carry fresh coconuts. However, they are widely available in ethnic grocery stores, such as Asian or Latino markets, farmers’ markets and health food stores or you can Buy Packaged Coconut Water Online

 

Below: 1. A news story about packaged coconut water. Tastes nowhere near as good as the water fresh from a young coconut. 2. How to open a young coconut.

 

 

How to open a young coconut