HEALTH - ~ Nutrition — in a nutshell

preventive medicine
healthy lifestyle
It's described as Nature's energiser, thirst-quencher and even life
enhancer! If that's not enough tender coconut water has many health
benefits
H uffington Post reports that tender coconut water — packed, of course
— is America's latest health craze. The marketing strategy, it says,
has been to dub the drink as "nature's sports drink" and "life
enhancer". And it has hit its mark with celebrities who have "replaced
their acai berry drinks and Kabbalah water" with cartons of coconut
water. Vita Coco and Zico are the major sellers, says the report,
adding, "as fads go… the U.S. coconut water industry went from zero
to$35 million." It then asks: But with a price tag of $2-3 for a
typical 11 fl. ounce pack (about 10 sips), is it really worth paying
top dollar for, well, top water?"
Ilaneer has climbed to similar price levels after the Thane havoc in
coastal Tamil Nadu. But sellers aren't complainingabout stocks going
waste. That is because we have always known of ilaneer's
thirst-quenching, energy-restoring abilities.
"Coconut water is full of electrolytes," says Nirmala Jesudasan,
consultant dietician, Cherian Heart Foundation. "It's helps replenish
body salts after sweating, and is good supportmaterial for nutrition.
There are records of people surviving only on coconut water for days."
Dieters must love it. "It has little sugar, little cholesterol and no
fat," she says.
Packed with potassium
What makes the drink a star isits K factor. You eat fruits and veggies
to get your potassium, while a glass of coconut water has 569 mg of
this mineral — which is almost twice the amount in a banana. Potassium
tends to regulate blood pressure by counteracting the
stimulatingeffects of sodium, of which it contains only 160mg. This in
turn helps to prevent problems like stroke, heart attack and
hangovers. Compare this to 14 fl. oz. of a standard sports drink,
which contains 52.5 mg of potassium and 192.5 mg of sodium. So we have
no quarrel with the ad blitz calling coconut water Mother Nature's
answer to dehydration.
Health on a budget.comclaims coconut water is anti-viral, anti-fungal
and anti-bacterial. "A 2008 research study showed that coconut water
contains peptides (small proteins) that can kill bacteria. It helps
relieve stomach upsets, protects against ulcer-causingbacteria H.
pylori." Its answersfor "why coconut water?" include ilaneer's ability
to dissolve kidney stones, bring stress relief (small amounts ofB
vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenicacid, B-6
and folate play a crucial role in lowering anxiety, depression and
stress), hangover relief, weight loss (naturally isotonic, increases
metabolism) and detoxification.
Chinemere Onuekwusi of Yahoo! Contributor Network believes coconut
water stops all kinds of adverse drug reactions. Its
sodium+potassium+magnesium composition makes it a good substitute for
saline-glucose, he writes. Coconut water is germ-free (pyrogen free: a
substance that causes fever). It has been found very useful for
natural oral re-hydration therapy (ORT). "It is on record that coconut
water if taken during feverishconditions reduces fever," he says. "It
is also known to calm nervous and emotional imbalances. Taking coconut
water regularly aids in flushing the liver, since it contains lauric
acid that has anti-microbial properties."
"Over-hyped", say some. You can get some of these benefits from other
fruits and vegetables, they argue. Liz Applegate, Director, Sports
Nutrition at UC-Davis isn't soldon coconut water as a post-exercise
drink. Its high-potassium-low-sodium combo isn't ideal, she said.
"When you sweat, you lose a lot more sodium than potassium." Plain
water does the job just as well, notes Samir Zakhari, Ph.D., Director,
Division of Metabolism and Health Effects, National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The kidneys preserve electrolytes when
we drink, so there's no need to replace the electrolytes with coconut
water. Also, there's no scientific evidence that coconut water has
anti-aging and kidney health properties. Nor will it cure cancer and
hypertension. "If you have a kidney problem, consult a doctor about
ilaneerintake," said Dr. Nirmala. "Andthere is no truth in the belief
that it improves skin texture."
But you really can't equate coconut water to plain water. Coconut
water contains several antioxidants and essential minerals. When you
drink it fresh from the tender coconut, you avoid the added sugar in
sports drinks or soda. It beats that fake-coloured, fake-sugar drinks
any day. Water is fine, but letting some cool coconut water dripdown
your shirt-front on a hotday is heavenly, isn't it?

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