Skip to main content

7 Healthy Facts About the Benefits of Coconut Water

Coconuts grow on coconut palm trees in tropical climates. The edible part of a coconut, including the milk and coconut water, is protected and concealed within a hard fibrous shell. Coconut itself can be eaten straight or added to various dishes such as curries and even desserts.

Across the globe and far away from where coconuts are harvested, a whole fresh coconut is still considered exotic. However, coconuts are becoming easier to find and are popular because of their tasty white flesh. 

cracked coconut served on a wooden plate.
Unsplash

Although coconut is high in saturated fat, to compensate, it does contain nutrients such as manganese and selenium, and coconut is also a great source of fiber. 

Coconut milk comes from a fully ripened coconut, while coconut water is obtained from coconuts that are not fully matured and are still green on the outside. Coconut water is highly sought after because it is good for your health, even more so than coconut milk. With this in mind, here is a look at seven of the main possible health benefits of coconut water.

What is Coconut Water?

Coconut water is sometimes confused with coconut milk and even coconut oil. As already mentioned, coconut milk is obtained from a fully matured coconut, while coconut water comes from coconuts that still have a green outer shell. Coconut milk is high in fat, but this is not the case with coconut water.

Coconut water is a clear liquid that is fat and cholesterol-free, and it has more potassium than bananas! It is also great for hydration, and this is all down to the level of electrolytes it contains. Coconut water is more effective than sports drinks for rehydration, and it comes ready-made and free of additives and high sugar content.

An average glass of coconut water contains 44 calories, 10.4 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of protein, and 9.6 grams of natural sugars.

7 Benefits of Regularly Drinking Coconut Water

Coconut Water And Nut.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

1. Excellent for Hydration

The high electrolyte content of pure coconut water makes it highly beneficial for those who want to stay hydrated throughout the day, or who urgently need rehydration following a workout, illness, or being in direct contact with hot temperatures and high humidity.

The electrolytes present in coconut water include sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. These electrolyte minerals are vital to the proper functioning of the nervous system, organs, and overall body. Electrolytes are also needed so that muscles can contract adequately. Furthermore, electrolytes can help maintain the body’s pH balance between acidity and alkalinity. 

2. Promotes Healthy Skin

Coconut water contains B vitamins and other vitamins such as vitamin C; all of these benefit the health of the skin. In addition, since coconut water aids in body hydration, it also helps to keep skin hydrated and healthy, too!

If you are worried about wrinkles, then you will be happy to hear that coconut water has an anti-aging effect on the skin. The nutrients in coconut water help maintain the skin’s elasticity and increase collagen production which helps to promote healthy, glowing skin.

It is also thought that coconut water has antimicrobial properties that can make it an asset in treating skin infections and other common skin ailments like acne.

3. Tool for Weight Loss

Coconut water is naturally fat-free, low in sugars, and low in calories, making it a diet-friendly drink. It also contains enzymes that aid digestion and help to speed up metabolism. This in turn increases calorie and fat burning within the body.

Coconut water is best for weight loss when it is consumed as part of an all-around diet regime that includes healthy eating and regular exercise. It can also suppress the appetite and is best drunk on an empty stomach in the morning. This helps boost the metabolism even before any activity has been undertaken.

4. Source of Electrolytes

Coconut water as we have already discovered is an excellent source of hydration promoting electrolytes. The three significant electrolytes are sodium, potassium, and chloride. Coconut water contains two of these, making it a helpful drink if your electrolyte levels are ever compromised.

It is important to maintain a balanced level of electrolytes as levels that are too high or too low can cause illness, and you may experience the negative symptoms of dehydration. When you sweat, you lose electrolytes, and these need to be regularly replaced. Coconut water is a quick and nutritious way of replenishing them and helping you avoid many unpleasant symptoms!

5. High in Nutrients

Coconut water contains various minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants such as shikimic acid and caffeic acid. These antioxidants help to neutralize the damage that can be caused by free radicals that are produced in the cells during cell metabolism.

Coconut water is also a major source of potassium, which helps balance the cells’ fluid levels. Potassium helps muscles to contract and supports normal blood pressure levels, too.

The nutritional profile of coconut water also includes B vitamins that help maintain the normal function of the nervous system, vitamin C which helps keep skin healthy, and other minerals such as calcium. This particular mineral is vital for strong bones and bone health in general.

6. Supports Kidney Health

Research suggests that regular consumption of coconut water might even help prevent the formation of kidney stones. These stones can cause excruciating pain and disturb the kidneys’ normal functioning. They are created when minerals such as calcium and salts such as oxalates form crystals in the urine. Once these are deposited in the kidneys, symptoms can occur. 

There are four main types of kidney stones: Calcium stones, struvite stones, uric acid stones, and cystine stones. Medical conditions such as diabetes, dietary factors, and even hereditary illnesses can lead to the formation of kidney stones.

It is thought that regular consumption of coconut water can help prevent the formation of stones by reducing the number of crystals in urine. Coconut water could also possibly prevent crystals from sticking to the kidneys and other parts of the urinary tract.

7. Healthy Alternative to Sugary Drinks

The problem with hydrating sports drinks is that they are often loaded with sugar, preservatives, and other additives. Some even combine glucose syrup with artificial sweeteners. Then there are added stimulants, such as caffeine, to contend with.

Coconut water in its natural state contains no chemical additives, and it is sweet enough on its own, so there is no need to add any sweeteners or other artificial ingredients to the water. It also contains vitamins and minerals that are needed by the body daily to keep it healthy, and these are often missing in sugary drinks.

How Can You Incorporate Coconut Water Into Your Diet?

Selective focus of fresh coconut water juice drink in glass with green young coconuts.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are many branded forms of coconut water on the market. The ones that are best are those that are additive-free and unsweetened. Make sure the coconut water you buy is not from concentrate. 

There are brands that ethically source the water and are often also certified as organic. Some coconut waters come with pulp, while others are pure water, so it can be similar to picking your perfect orange juice.

Coconut water and fruit juices such as pineapple and orange juice combine well and help to keep things healthy, especially if the fruit juice is pure and unsweetened. Coconut lemonade is also popular and great to drink on a hot summer afternoon!

Is Coconut Water For You?

Coconut water in its pure form is a healthy alternative to sugary drinks, such as sports hydration formulas. It contains no additives and is packed with nutrients and electrolytes that help prevent dehydration. Other positives include the fact that coconut water is fat-free and low in sugar and calories.

Coconut water is an excellent beverage for those who are on a weight loss program because it can help suppress the appetite and speed up metabolism. Other possible health benefits attributed to coconut water include the prevention of kidney stones and the promotion of healthy, glowing skin, so try some for yourself today!

Editors' Recommendations

Christine VanDoren
Christine is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with an undergraduate degree from Missouri State University. Her…
10 Benefits of Yoga to Help You Calm Your Mind and Body
Man doing yoga.

Yoga isn’t necessarily every guy’s go-to form of exercise, and if you’re used to playing competitive sports, running races, lifting heavy weights in the gym, or participating in some other form of high-intensity training, yoga may not induce the same heart-pumping, vigorous workout you’ve come to associate with fitness. However, while yoga may look too slow and easy to seem worthwhile, there are actually quite a few benefits to this ancient exercise modality.
Moreover, adding yoga to your workout routine can provide a very different training stimulus and balance out the other types of exercise you do, helping you become a more injury-resilient, well-rounded athlete. So, root around in your closet to unearth your forgotten yoga mat, or lay down a big towel, and get ready to learn about the benefits of yoga and how to get started with yoga today.

Benefits of Yoga

Read more
What Are the Benefits of Taking a Vitamin D Supplement?
A closeup of a vitamin D capsule.

It’s not always easy or feasible to consume a well-balanced and varied diet. Between juggling a busy schedule with minimal time for healthy food preparation, food allergies and intolerances, dietary preferences, and cultural eating habits, many of us fall short of meeting the nutritional recommendations for several key vitamins and minerals. Even if you cook at home and try to eat a healthy diet, you may be deficient in certain micronutrients because some essential vitamins and minerals are only found in a few food sources or are only present in low concentrations.
Vitamin D is a prime example of a vital nutrient that is not found in many common foods in the standard American diet, nor is it necessarily well absorbed when consumed in food sources. Rather, exposure of the skin to sunlight is the primary means by which the body’s vitamin D levels are increased, as exposure to UVB rays stimulates the production of vitamin D.
However, as the hours of daylight dwindle in the winter and the sun becomes less intense, it becomes increasingly difficult to meet your vitamin D needs. Because vitamin D plays several key physiological roles, it may be advisable to take a vitamin D supplement. Keep reading for our helpful primer on the functions and benefits of vitamin D, foods high in vitamin D, and whether vitamin D supplementation may be useful.

What Is Vitamin D?

Read more
Maximize your cardio workout with these easy tips and tricks
Cardio is usually not fun, bit these tips might help
Man running outside

If your goal is putting on muscle mass, chances are you're heading right to the weights when you enter the gym. After a tough resistance workout, chances are you're not feeling too motivated to head over to the cardio deck. If cardio is not your favorite part of your workout – you're not alone. Even though cardio can be monotonous and time may seem to move, especially slowly during cardio, cardiovascular workouts are a must for maintaining a healthy body weight and warding off chronic disease.

Cardio isn't usually fun, but these tips and tricks might make your cardio workouts a bit more pleasurable. With our tips and tricks, you might even find yourself enjoying cardio (crazy, we know).

Read more