Coconut water is naturally refreshing and quite beneficial for your overall health. It has a sweet, nutty taste and provides you with sugar and electrolytes that your body can digest easily. Keep in mind that coconut water is different from high-fat coconut milk, as it is a clear liquid and is low in calories. You can enjoy many benefits by including coconut water in your diet.

Benefits of Coconut Water

Many people love coconut water for its taste, but they do not know that it offers a number of health benefits as well. Here are some reasons to include it in your diet.

1. It Improves Skin Quality

Coconut water is often used in shampoos, facial creams, and conditioners because of its healing and moisturizing properties. Topical application of coconut water can help remove acne and other blemishes on your skin. It has the ability to moisturize your skin and tone it at the same time. You can also include it in your diet to help repair your skin from the inside.

2. It Keeps Your Body Hydrated

You can certainly increase your intake of water to keep your body hydrated, but nothing works better than coconut water mainly because it contains several essential minerals. Your body loses mineral-rich fluids when you sweat a lot during physically intensive tasks. Coconut water can replenish your reserves of minerals because a glass of coconut water contains about 5mg of natural sugar and 294mg of potassium. It also contains 25mg of sodium, which is still less than what you find in energy and sports drinks.

3. It Lowers Blood Pressure

An imbalance in the levels of electrolytes can lead to an increase in blood pressure. Coconut water can provide you with all-important essential minerals to help maintain a balance in electrolyte levels. This in turn reduces blood pressure and protects you from serious complications, one of the best benefits of coconut water.

4. It Relieves Hangovers

If you are looking for a good remedy for hangover, look no further than coconut water. A hangover is the result of your body becoming dehydrated after alcohol sucks water out of your system. By replenishing the electrolytes, coconut water boosts hydration and improves your condition. It also contains antioxidants that help prevent oxidative damage caused by alcohol. Moreover, it plays a role in lowering acid in your stomach. To get good results, make a smoothie by blending 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 cups of unsweetened coconut water, 2 cups of ripe mangoes, a mint springs, and half cup of ice. Enjoy it to relieve hangovers.

5. It Boosts Weight Loss

If you are trying to lose weight, be sure to include coconut water in your diet. It contains fewer calories and is very light on your stomach. Not only does it help keep you hydrated after your strenuous workout sessions, it also improves digestion by providing you with bioactive enzymes. There is some evidence suggesting that coconut water also boosts fat metabolism. It contains potassium that helps balance out sodium and prevents water retention. Simply drink an 8-ounce glass of coconut water 3-4 times a week to boost weight loss.

6. It Balances pH Levels

Toxic load, stress, and a diet high in acid-forming foods can increase pH levels in the body and result in low energy and other complications. An imbalance in pH levels can affect the way your body absorbs vitamins and minerals. High pH levels can also lead to rheumatoid arthritis, stressed liver function, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and immune deficiency.

7. It Acts as a Diuretic

One of many benefits of coconut water is that it acts as a mild diuretic and cleanses your body by promoting urine production. Regular intake of coconut water may help lower your risk of developing urinary tract infections. It contains potassium that is responsible for alkalizing urine and preventing kidney stones. Take a cup of coconut water and add a pinch of sea salt to it. Drink it twice a day to clear bacterial infections.

8. It Regulates Blood Glucose Levels

The presence of amino acids and dietary fiber makes coconut water a great choice for diabetics. It helps regulate blood sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity at the same time. Regular intake also supports healthy weight, improves blood circulation, and reduces symptoms like numbness in feet. It also helps protect diabetics from a condition called atherosclerosis.

9. It Is Better Than Sports Drinks

Many people think that they should go for sports drink to prevent dehydration, but the truth is that coconut water is a better option. It has less sodium, fewer calories, and more potassium as compared to sports drinks. You only get 5.45 calories from an ounce of coconut water along with 61mg of potassium, 1.3g of sugar, and 5.45mg of sodium. On the other hand, the same serving of Gatorade provides you with 1.75g of sugar, 6.25 calories, 13.75mg of sodium, and 3.75mg of potassium. As compared to most sports drink, coconut water has less sugar. While coconut water is one great way of hydrating yourself, you should avoid overdoing it because an 11-ounce container provides you with 60 calories.

Caution

There are many benefits of coconut water, but you need to keep a few things in mind when including it in your diet. For instance:

• You may want to avoid coconut water if you have nut allergies.
• You may want to stop taking it if it causes stomach upset or bloating.
• You should stop drinking coconut water at least a couple of weeks before a scheduled surgery because it may affect your blood pressure.
• You may want to avoid coconut water in case you have kidney dysfunction. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you start drinking coconut water on a regular basis.