In my last article, I was writing about how to use coconut milk, which are the most common types of coconut milk and a few interesting recipes. Today, I am going to write about how to use coconut water. Remember, you must not confuse the two of them. So, what is coconut water?
“Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young green coconuts (fruits of the coconut palm). In early development, it serves as a suspension for the endosperm of the coconut during the nuclear phase of development. As growth continues, the endosperm matures into its cellular phase and deposits into the rind of the coconut meat.” (Wikipedia)
Considered a health craze, coconut water is a nutritious (vitamins, antioxidants) and a naturally refreshing drink, low in calories, very hydrating, cholesterol-free which contains a whole lot of potassium (more than 4 bananas). It has a sweet, nutty taste and is naturally fat-free: an important aspect when comparing it with coconut milk, which is high in fats.
An ounce of coconut water contains the following:
- 5.45 calories
- 1.3 g sugar
- 61 mg potassium
- 5.45 mg sodium
- antioxidants
- cytokinins
- copper
- vitamins
Given the fact that it already contains a bit of sugar, when buying coconut water, try and find those with no added sugar and other additives and preservatives. Plain coconut water is a great choice for both adults and children as long as you keep it plain. It’s a drink that keeps you well hydrated.
Coconut Water Health Benefits
Now, let’s see which are the coconut water health benefits and why it is considered good for our health. I have prepared for you a list of reasons why coconut water is a good choice when talking about drinking something.
#1 Keeps you hydrated
How to use coconut water? You just drink it. During training and workouts, the human body loses a lot of fluids rich in minerals. That’s a reason why coconut water is used by athletes. It replaces water in an excellent way due to its high content of potassium and a little bit of natural sugar, unlike other sports drinks that contain a whole lot of sugar and not nearly enough potassium.
The coconut water natural ingredients are a lot more effective than any other drink and boosts hydration in no time. This is the first important lesson about coconut water: it hydrates you.
#2 Rich in nutrients
Coconut water contains five essential nutrients, highly important to the human body. Besides potassium and sodium, which I already mentioned, coconut water also contains calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. So, if you’re suffering from some kind of deficit (obviously we’re talking about these five nutrients), maybe you should try some coconut water before going to the pharmacy? It might help.
#3 Helps with weight problems
Because of its low content in fats and the fact that it is hydrating, coconut water can be consumed in generous quantities. It suppresses the appetite due to its richness.
#4 Aids digestion
How to use coconut water when talking about digestion? It is considered that this liquid can be a source of relief. It prevents indigestion and reduces the occurrence of acid reflux. This happens because of its high concentration of fibers.
#5 Reduces blood pressure
A high blood pressure can be the result of an unequal level of electrolytes in the body. Seeing how it contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and phosphorus, copper, coconut water might represent a source of balance. In some cases, doctors recommend starting the day with a glass of coconut water.
#6 Helps with skin problems
Skin problems such as acne or blemishes do appear from time to time. Luckily, we have all sorts of natural ingredients to fight against these skin problems. Coconut water has the ability to clear up the skin and also moisturize it. You might want to try lotions, creams or shampoos that contain coconut extract and see if there are any favourable results regarding this problem.
#7 Compatible with human blood
An interesting fact regarding how to use coconut water: it can be administered intravenously in order to quickly rehydrate somebody, in the case of an emergency.
#8 Contains antioxidants and cytokinins
This means that coconut water can help prevent the damage caused to our body by free radicals. To neutralize this damage, we have to consume plenty of antioxidants in our diet. Cytokinins help with the process of aging: they prevent this process, plus, they slow down the development of cancerous cells.
Coconut Water And Companies
We often wonder where to get the healthiest products. We’ve come to a time where you can’t just buy anything from a store and hope for the best. My answer here is pretty simple: YOU either have to grow them yourself or you get them straight from mother nature, somehow. The best form of coconut water comes from coconut trees. It’s not in handy, I know, but that’s the price we have to pay in order to eat as healthy as possible. Unfortunately.
A lot of companies ruin coconut water by adding some form of concentrate or sweeteners or what they call “natural flavours”, by heating fresh coconuts so that the result is a syrup and then, by adding water to it. Through heating, coconuts deal with severe amounts of nutrient loss. Everything is ruined. This is their version of a healthy “coconut water”.
Another problem is the coconuts you choose to drink water from. It’s best you drink from young, green coconuts, straight from the coconut tree: that is the water filled with nutrients and that is the water worth drinking. When these coconuts begin to age, the water seeps into the meat and it becomes less nutritious. Mature coconuts are mostly used for coconut oil and coconut milk. Also, if a young, green coconut is left on the ground for a few days, its water starts to loose its nutrients. You can shake a coconut to see how much water it has in it: if it doesn’t have much, then it’s not a fresh coconut.
So, we should keep these in mind when thinking of buying or when searching to buy some version of “healthy” coconut water from the stores. Just as there are plenty of brands that are not encouraged to trust when buying coconut milk, there are also some that are pretty okay. Always check for those brands that use raw and organic coconuts.
How To Use Coconut Water
When it comes to how to use coconut water, it’s pretty simple: you can drink it, you can cook with it and you can use it as a beauty ingredient. Besides drinking it, the most obvious one is to use it in the kitchen. Coconut water can be used as a great ingredient when making smoothies or shakes or cocktails. But also, it can be used for breakfast in your oatmeal and other grains, in different breakfast bread. It can be the base of a light soup or it can be used to steam vegetables and chicken.
In the beauty department, the first thing you learned about coconut water is that it hydrates just as well as water. Therefore, it is great to hydrate skin. It is good to drink it, to keep yourself and your skin hydrated from the inside, but you can also apply it on your skin.
Skin Care
Coconut water is great for oily skin since it is lightweight, so it can be used in face masks. A simple face mask with great results is when you combine natural ingredients.
- 2 tablespoons of coconut water
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
- (1 teaspoon of honey)
Apply it on your face and wait for about 20 minutes or more and then rinse with water. How to use coconut water shouldn’t be a problem here, it’s quite easy.
By taking care of ourselves, we can delay and slow down the signs of aging. Coconut water is the perfect ingredient that can help with the process of slowing down since it contains cytokines (they promote cell growth). Therefore, the skin repairs faster and the damage is reduced.
Many women have problems with pigmentation. Coconut water is a natural solution for this issue because it reduces blemishes and helps with tan and pigmentation. A cool mask for pigmentation is this one:
- 2 tablespoons of coconut water
- 1 tablespoon fuller’s earth
Combine these two until your result is a thin paste and apply on your face or body or both. After 15-20 minutes, rinse with water.
Another great way to abuse coconut water for its beauty benefits is that it prevents skin infections and treats acne, as I already mentioned. If you simply apply coconut water on the infected area, it can heal the infection and reduce the symptoms. As you might have guessed, it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Good to keep in mind.
Hair Care
How to use coconut water for your hair? I read that coconut water also helps by stimulating hair growth due to its high concentration of nutrients, especially potassium, which is an essential element hair growth. The “recipe” is simple: just massage coconut water into your scalp and hair regularly. You can wait for about 30 minutes and then wash your hair with shampoo.
Coconut water also provides a boost of shine to your hair if after you shampoo it your rinse your hair with a mixture of water and coconut water. This should be your final rinse. It is said to give your hair shine, boost, and bounce.
There your have it: how to use coconut water in the most efficient ways so that you and your body benefit to the fullest. You’ve learned how to use coconut oil, how to use coconut milk and now, how to use coconut water. I am really interested to continue to benefit from coconuts in the best way that I can find. I halve already started with coconut oil and then integrated some coconut milk in my shakes. I am looking forward to find next some fresh and organic coconut water.
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Feature image: pixabay.com
