Is Coconut Water Good for Rehydration?
By: Christopher Najem (Budha9) Tags: rehydration, water, rehydration, vita coco,
The Perfect Science for rehydration? Of course not….. but coconut water comes pretty close! Vita Coco brand coconut water is a winner!
We all know what a coconut is. We all know it looks like a hairy monkey face, in fact, the word coco actually means monkey face in Spanish and Portuguese. We have all tried coconut candy bars. The most important facts about coconut are what we do not know.
Lets break down what coconut water is and then we can get to the health benefits. Coconut water comes from the fruit of young coconuts. If you ever crack a baby coconut fruit, you can see that the inside contains a see through liquid rather than thick milk. This is where coconut water is born. It is naturally low in calories, low in natural sugars, and when combined with some other natural purees has a taste to die for. It possesses more potassium than two bananas and about half the sugar of orange juice and 1/3 of the acidity. Contrary to what you may think, it is a very fluid liquid that goes down just as easy as water.
Coconut water, among other things, is a natural isotonic beverage; meaning its consistent with the electrolyte balance we possess in our bodies. In fact, during the Pacific War plasma was injected right into the veins of wounded soldiers. It has been tested to boost circulation, keep your body cool, help regulate the digestive tract, and treat kidney stones.
I must admit, between $1.50-2.00 for an eleven ounce septic container, I had my doubts. However, I was lucky enough to test two different brands. I made sure I had one eleven ounce container an hour or so before my 12 mile run, and seventeen to twenty-two ounces following it. I kept this consistency for four days each with the separate products. The results were staggering. I was able to shave off ten to fifteen seconds a mile sustained over my entire run. I ran the same course for the eight days while the weather remained stable for all but the last two (temperature hit 92 and 94 respectively on those days). Usually I start cramping up around forty-five minutes into my run; but was able to sustain my endurance over the full eighty minutes with a very generous pace. The key was rehydrating. The coconut water worked best after my workout. Making sure I replaced lost fluids with the coconut water versus a sports drink was absolutely key. I can say with certainty that I will continue to drink coconut water in place of sports drinks, regular water, and gels in the future.
I was also lucky enough to test Vita Coco coconut water (vitacoco.com). Vita Coco definitely provided a sweeter taste than Zico with no added unnatural ingredients. Vita coco boasts a whopping 6 different flavors! You can mix and match original, tangerine, passion fruit, peach and mango, pineapple, and my personal favorite acai and pomegranate. The containers come in versatile eleven and seventeen ounce (resealable) septic containers. The original coconut water is also offered in a 33 ounce resealable septic containers which keep the rehyrant cool for hours. Vita coco also provides varying degrees of the free radical combatant Vitamin C. Each flavor easily contains over 150% of your daily value in an eight ounce serving! The potassium levels range from 660-740 mg for the eleven ounce varieties and the exact proportion of the other major electrolytes that make up the body’s chemistry (magnesium, phosphorous, sodium, and calcium).
All the flavors were magnificent. The passion fruit is great for thirst quenching as its tart taste is apparent. The tangerine is mildly sweet with a burst of tangerine flavor. The pineapple variety tastes just like a pina colada and really can be savored at all times. Who doesn’t like the combination of peach and mango? Vita Coco hit the nail in the coffin with just the right proportion of each puree to light up all of your taste buds! What can I say about the acai and pomegranate? This variety is by far the superior of the bunch. With a naturally sweet pomegranate taste and neutrally smooth acai flavor, Vita Coco has found a match made in Heaven! I would definitely recommend trying a mixed variety pack and from there picking and choosing your favorite flavors. I would recommend this to everybody as it is by far the best tasting coconut water while the flavors just add more life to an already natural hydrating sports drink! Moms and Dads, try packing one of these in your kids lunch box next time instead of the sugary drinks. It will keep them going throughout the day naturally without all the added junk.
The cost can range anywhere from $1.50 to 2.00 for an eleven ounce container. Again, check bulk websites, especially amazon, as specials run every month and free shipping is generally offered. I became a big believer in coconut water, especially Vita Coco, and would promote it across the country if they asked me too!
Nutritional Information
Zico: Click here
Vita Coco: Click here
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