6 health benefits of consuming coconut water

Here is a list of 6 health benefits of consuming coconut water, which is based on scientific research.

Coconut water is a very refreshing health beverage that is loaded with several nutrients. Read on to know about 6 ways in which consuming coconut can benefit you in staying healthy.

High nutritional content. Coconut water contains 94% of water and very little fat. Each one cup serving of coconut water provides 46 calories, 9g of carbs, 3g of fiber, 2g of proteins, 17% of the RDI of manganese and potassium each, 15% of the RDI of magnesium, 11% of the RDI of sodium, and 10% of the RDI of vitamin C. This high electrolyte content is particularly beneficial after exercise to hydrate and replenish the loss of minerals and maintain the fluid balance.

It is high in antioxidants. Presence of a high number of free radicals can lead our body to a state of oxidative stress, which can damage precious body cells and increase the risk of several diseases. There are animal studies which report the benefit of coconut water in nullifying the free radical damage. Some rats with liver damage have also shown significant improvement when treated with coconut water. In another animal based study, rats who were fed a high fructose diet reported a decreased free radical activity, blood pressure, triglycerides, and insulin level when treated with coconut water.

Benefit diabetes. There are studies to prove the effectiveness of coconut water in maintaining and lowering blood sugar levels. Most of these studies have been performed on animals and thus more research needs to be conducted on humans. However, being a rich source of magnesium, it helps to increase insulin sensitivity and decrease blood sugar level in people with type 2 diabetes.

Prevents kidney stones. According to some studies, coconut water consumption is even a better choice than consuming plain water to prevent kidney stones. It is because coconut water prevents the calcium and oxalate crystals from sticking to the parts of urinary tract and kidneys.

Improves heart health. According to an animal study, coconut water consumption led to a reduction in triglyceride and blood cholesterol level, in a way similar to how the statin drugs work on the human body. However, the amount of coconut water consumed to get an effect similar to the drug was very high.

Reduces blood pressure. Consuming coconut water improved the systolic blood pressure, as reported in a study. This may be because of the presence of a high quantity of potassium in it. Another animal study found an anti-thrombotic activity of coconut water that helps to prevent blood clot formation.