Coconut water is made from the clear liquid inside green coconuts, and it contains electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals. As such, coconut water can help to boost hydration.
It can be easy to confuse coconut water with coconut milk. However, coconut milk consists of the water and the flesh of mature coconuts, while coconut water is mostly water. As such, it can help prevent or treat dehydration.
In tropical regions, coconut water has long been a part of diets and healthcare practices. Some practitioners of traditional Ayurvedic medicine, for example, use coconut water to support digestion, urination, and semen production.
Coconut water contains natural electrolytes. For example, 1 cup has
Coconut water may be a natural alternative to sports drinks such as Gatorade. While coconut water often has more potassium than the average sports drink, it tends to have less sodium, the main electrolyte lost in sweat.
In addition, it has fewer carbohydrates than many sports drinks. This means that it might not provide enough of an energy boost during a strenuous or long workout, but it can help with rehydration afterward.
One cup of coconut water contains about
Anyone who finds plain water unappetizing may find that drinking coconut water throughout the day can help improves their hydration.
Staying hydrated may help:
- boost energy levels
- support digestion
- improve cognition
- reduce joint pain
- manage weight
- prevent kidney stones
- regulate body temperature
- reduce the occurrence of headaches
- improve heart health
One cup of coconut water contains about
Potassium helps keep fluid and electrolyte levels balanced, especially during exercise. And because there is more potassium than sodium in coconut water, the potassium may help balance out the sodium’s effects on blood pressure — and it may even help lower blood pressure.
Calcium supports the strength of bones and teeth, and it helps muscles contract and work properly. One cup of coconut water contains about
Magnesium helps move calcium and potassium into the muscles, and it also helps with energy production and organ function. One cup of coconut water has about 60 mg of magnesium, which is around
However, coconut water is not a concentrated source of calcium or magnesium, so the body needs to absorb these nutrients from other sources, as well.
Coconut water may help promote heart health. The potassium present in coconut water may
However, although coconut water can play a role in a heart healthy diet, a person should still follow dietary recommendations from their doctor. This can include ensuring a person receives sufficient nutrients from a variety of food and drink.
Coconut water contains antioxidants, which can help neutralize oxidative stress and free radicals.
However, more research is still necessary to explore the potential benefit of antioxidant activity from coconut water in humans.
Drinking unsweetened coconut water instead of sugary beverages may help a person with diabetes control their blood sugar levels. However, unsweetened coconut water contains natural sugars, so a person may need to limit their intake.
Drinking coconut water regularly may help promote kidney health. According to a 2018 study in participants without kidney stones, coconut water helped them lose more citrate, potassium, and chloride during urination, indicating that coconut water might help loosen stones or prevent them from forming.
In a
However, it is important to note that those living with kidney disease or kidney failure should limit their potassium intake.
Drinking coconut water or applying it to the skin may have a moisturizing effect. A 2022 rat study suggests that consuming coconut water may help to slow signs of aging, such as skin dryness and wrinkles. However, more research on human skin in still necessary.
A person can typically drink coconut water during pregnancy, as long as it has been refrigerated and has not expired.
The electrolytes in coconut water could help replenish those lost during morning sickness, and the nutrients in it may benefit the developing fetus.
Anyone who has doubts about drinking coconut water during pregnancy should discuss them with a healthcare professional, who can provide specific guidance.
Pure coconut water contains
If a person prefers coconut water to plain water, incorporating more coconut water in the diet could boost hydration, and this, too, can help with weight loss.
Coconut water is a natural source of electrolytes and nutrients, and it can represent a healthy, flavorful way to stay hydrated. Among other benefits, it may support heart and kidney health.