Young green coconuts contain a liquid that has become something of a health phenomenon over the last few years. Fueled by celebrity endorsements, pure coconut water has become one of the hottest-selling health products to hit the market. There is in fact good reason for its popularity, since it is rich in nutrients and is better than most sports drinks for human hydration.
Although it's a relative newcomer to US and European markets, it has been a street-food staple in tropical countries for many decades. Street hawkers sell freshly cut coconuts ready for their customers to drink out of with a straw. The electrolyte-rich water makes for a perfect re-hydrator in humid conditions.
Its popularity in the West has been driven by its unique nutritional characteristics. It is high in a range of minerals (particularly potassium) and the B-complex group of vitamins and has been shown to have a beneficial effect of blood pressure. It can also settle an upset stomach and is in high demand by dieters. This is due to it being low in fat and carbohydrates and its satiety-promoting richness and high fiber content.
Some are enthusiastic about its effects on skin health. It has been used topically for many years in Latin America as an antidote to oiliness and acne. Its excellent hydrating properties can give skin a healthy glow and the cytokinin compounds it contains have been shown to have anti-aging properties.
With regard to consuming this wonder drink, certainly the best way is from a fresh, ripe coconut. This is the ideal, but is of course an inconvenient business for people who don't live where coconuts are grown. They are certainly available, but take up a lot of space and have to be bored to get at the liquid inside them.
So this leaves the pre-packaged products available in stores. It's important to know that not all products of this kind are created equal. Some of them may not have a particularly good nutritional profile due to being highly processed. They may have preservatives and other additives and will not be as nutritious as a pure, unprocessed product.
Some are re-constituted with water from a heat-treated syrup base. Others are pasteurized at very high temperature. Needless to say, any fresh product that has been heat-treated will have lost a significant amount of its nutrients. If all you need is a quick thirst-quencher, then this kind of product will be OK. If however you want a drink that is as natural and nutritious as possible, then obviously products of this nature should be avoided.
It's worth mentioning too that some mass-produced products are made using cheap, mature coconut water. This water will have lost much of its natural sweetness and have become acidic. The manufacturers mask the acidity using sugar or artificial sweeteners. Again, consumers who want the best product possible should avoid these sub-standard offerings.
Although it's a relative newcomer to US and European markets, it has been a street-food staple in tropical countries for many decades. Street hawkers sell freshly cut coconuts ready for their customers to drink out of with a straw. The electrolyte-rich water makes for a perfect re-hydrator in humid conditions.
Its popularity in the West has been driven by its unique nutritional characteristics. It is high in a range of minerals (particularly potassium) and the B-complex group of vitamins and has been shown to have a beneficial effect of blood pressure. It can also settle an upset stomach and is in high demand by dieters. This is due to it being low in fat and carbohydrates and its satiety-promoting richness and high fiber content.
Some are enthusiastic about its effects on skin health. It has been used topically for many years in Latin America as an antidote to oiliness and acne. Its excellent hydrating properties can give skin a healthy glow and the cytokinin compounds it contains have been shown to have anti-aging properties.
With regard to consuming this wonder drink, certainly the best way is from a fresh, ripe coconut. This is the ideal, but is of course an inconvenient business for people who don't live where coconuts are grown. They are certainly available, but take up a lot of space and have to be bored to get at the liquid inside them.
So this leaves the pre-packaged products available in stores. It's important to know that not all products of this kind are created equal. Some of them may not have a particularly good nutritional profile due to being highly processed. They may have preservatives and other additives and will not be as nutritious as a pure, unprocessed product.
Some are re-constituted with water from a heat-treated syrup base. Others are pasteurized at very high temperature. Needless to say, any fresh product that has been heat-treated will have lost a significant amount of its nutrients. If all you need is a quick thirst-quencher, then this kind of product will be OK. If however you want a drink that is as natural and nutritious as possible, then obviously products of this nature should be avoided.
It's worth mentioning too that some mass-produced products are made using cheap, mature coconut water. This water will have lost much of its natural sweetness and have become acidic. The manufacturers mask the acidity using sugar or artificial sweeteners. Again, consumers who want the best product possible should avoid these sub-standard offerings.
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