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Drinking plenty of fluids and hydrating your body is so important, especially after exercise in this blistering heat. When you drink fluids, you restore the water lost during workout. Although plain water may be the best choice for hydrating yourself, sometimes your body needs something more, like minerals, electrolytes and other nutrients.
There are many sports and energy drinks available today that can replenish your body with fluids and electrolytes, but most of them also contain added sugars to improve taste. One of the best drinks that’s not just natural but also contains a ton of nutrients and minerals is coconut water. It may be the perfect alternative to plain water if you’re looking for a refreshing, nutrient-rich and delicious drink.
Let’s look at some of the health benefits of coconut water
The liquid from a young coconut is 94% water. But it also contains a good amount of nutrients that can re-energise your body and replenish minerals and electrolytes. Coconut water nutrition includes natural sugars, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, all of which are required by the body. If you’re looking for a tasty, naturally sweet and healthy drink, then coconut water may be your best option.
Coconut water also contains antioxidants that can modify the free radicals in your body. Free radicals are produced in the body after injury or stress, and too many of these unstable molecules can cause oxidative stress and lead to diseases. The antioxidants in coconut water react with these free radicals and thus prevent diseases.
Our body needs electrolytes like potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium for muscle function and fluid balance. During prolonged exercise, our body loses water and electrolytes and it is important to replenish them.
Drinking water can restore the water, but you also need to restore the lost electrolytes. And hence coconut water may be the perfect post-workout drink as it contains enough water as well as electrolytes to replenish and re-energise your body.
Read more: Post Workout Meal | What to Eat After Exercise
People with diabetes are advised to drink coconut water because it has been known to reduce blood sugar levels. Coconut water contains magnesium, which can increase insulin sensitivity, allowing the cells to absorb sugar in the blood. This in turn can lower blood sugars in blood in diabetic patients.
Read more: 10 Home Remedies to Immediately Lower Blood Sugar
It is common knowledge that kidney stones can be prevented if one drinks plenty of water to flush out the kidneys and ureters. But new studies have shown that one of the benefits of drinking coconut water is the prevention of kidney stones.
Kidney stones are formed when calcium and oxalates clump together to form crystals in your urine. These crystals can combine to form stones that get lodged in the ureter or kidney, leading to the painful condition known as kidney stones. Early research indicates that coconut water increases urination of potassium, chloride and citrate, thus preventing kidney stone formation.
To conclude, coconut water is the perfect drink that’s naturally sweet but doesn’t contain an unacceptable amount of sugar, has enough electrolytes and is also delicious to drink. It is one of the best hydrating summer foods and can be an excellent post-workout drink.
For more such tips on nutrient-rich healthy foods, download the FITPASS app. Besides the ability to find a great gym near you, you can also avail the FITFEAST membership and get a personal nutritionist assigned to you who can curate the best diet plan for your fitness needs.
