Crack the code-conut : coconut water vs water

July 13, 2016

I was walking down the supermarket aisle recently and realized how coconut water was flying off the shelves. And so I decided to do some research to find out if there were recent discoveries that I didn’t know about and benefits that I may have been missing out.

Coconut water is not a novel drink but it certainly has re-emerged as an “alternative drink”, even though most have not asked about what it should be replacing. If you want to talk about repackaging, coconut water is definitely one of them. It not only comes in ‘just picked’ (natural) state, manufacturers have them flavoured with chocolate, vanilla, coffee and even almond. Innovative marketing jargon have caused us to reconsider this drink. “Raw, fresh, pure, kissed by the sun, grown amongst elephants and snaking rivers, grown in touch delta soils” are terms that marketers use to set apart their coconut water from the rest.

So why does some pay $5.90 for 330ml when there are varieties costing $1.75 for 500ml? Purity ie. not from concentrates, no additives and preservatives added, and taste (artificial taste and sourness is a demerit) are qualities consumers look out for when they evaluate their choice of coconut water.

Coconut water’s benefits have since been popularized to be the following:

As an ideal post-exercise drink – athletes are said to prefer natural coconut water to commercial sports drinks for re-hydration because of its rich electrolyte content. Also, athletes may feel less full as compared to water when they consume in large amounts during rigorous or prolonged exercise.

If you are exercising on a recreational basis, it really doesn’t matter what you choose to re-hydrate yourself with – coconut water, plain water or sports drink. This is because most of us do not exercise on such a high level of intensity that we need more than plain water for re-hydration.
On the other hand, if you are a professional athlete, coconut water is not going to be adequate either. As it is low in carbohydrates and sodium, the body needs more than that when it is in intensive or endurance exercise mode. In such cases, what the body needs is carbohydrates that are easily absorbed for a quick source of energy, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium to be replaced, and all these cannot be fulfilled by just coconut water. Therefore, coconut water is NOT more nutrient-restoring than plain water. To add, make sure you don’t lose track of those calories in there.

Basic hydration – is simple better in this weather?
Coconut water is cholesterol and fat-free, high in potassium, low in calories and has much less sugar than fruits juices, sodas and sports drinks. Being all that, coconut water has not been proven to be more efficacious in re-hydrating the body than simple water.
In other words, coconut water is a good alternative to soda but it should never replace water. Water should always be your main drink.

How is it for pregnant mothers? Some may like its taste and feel their nausea relieved. Some like it because it doesn’t make them feel as full as when drinking the same amount of water. Just make sure it’s fresh when you drink it and water still should be the main drink.

For other myths associated with consumption of coconut water, you can bust them yourself. With its nutrient content uncovered, studies cannot find a causal relationship between high potassium and anti-aging properties, hair-thickening effects on fetal’s scalp and promoting fairer skin in babies.