Who does not love to have cool refreshing tender coconut water in a blistering summer like this? Not only is it freely available on all road sides but you are also assured of a natural beverage sans all the artificial colour, flavour and preservatives found in canned juices.
The benefits of tender coconut water, however, do not end at that. You will be surprised to know that this simple, light-tasting fluid is a life-saver in many medical
situations. Read on.
Meeta Khurana, nutritionist, Fitnesspoint gym and wellness centre, informs, “Coconut water is packed with all the electrolytes that a human body needs. These include potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and calcium. Therefore, it is extremely useful in situations like diarrhoea, typhoid, malaria, nausea etc. where the body has lost fluids and become dehydrated.”
Interestingly, due to its optimum salt-sugar balance, coconut water has often been used as a substitute for plasma (liquid holding blood cells) itself. During World War II, Japanese medics gave transfusions of coconut water to injured soldiers when they ran out of plasma.
Meeta says, “Among the other nutrients, coconut water is extremely rich in potassium – much more than potassium-heavy banana. This mineral is crucial for the functioning of all cells, tissues, organs and systems in the body. More so, potassium prevents and helps dissolve kidney stones too. So people dealing with a problem of kidney stones must have
coconut water daily.”
Research has shown that coconut water is a natural immune booster. It contains high levels of Lauric acid - the main constituent of breast milk – which has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. So it can be safely administered to anyone suffering from flu or herpes both of which are caused by types of viruses.
However, you need not have coconut water only when you are ill. Meeta says that coconut water is the best beverage available if you are trying to lose weight or reduce your sugar cravings, “Coconut water has only 10 to 13 grams of sugar per serving as compared to even fruit juices which have at least 30 to 35 grams of sugar.”
“More so, coconut water contains three grams of fiber per serving, more than many other fruit juices, which slows the absorption of sugars in food and keeps your blood sugar level under check. It goes without saying that it is a God-gift for diabetics too.”
