Have you ever heard of coconut water? We all know drinking water is beneficial for a healthy body. Marketing schemes have developed numerous drinks in order to add more nutrients, give a better taste, and even change the color of water. After all these alterations, can we still call it water? One type of water that does not need modification in order taste good and be good for your health is coconut water. The nutritional value of coconut water comes from inside an unripe green coconut. As a coconut ages it becomes browner on the outside and water inside seeps through incorporating into the white meat of the coconut which hardens.

Coconut water has many health benefits. First it contains electrolytes like calcium, magnesium, chloride, potassium and is naturally low in sodium and sugar. This keeps the body well hydrated especially after a strenuous workout, turning athletes to coconut water for quenching their thirst. It is interesting to know that coconut water has the similar composition of human blood plasma making it an isotonic beverage especially good for circulation. At one time in developing countries, physicians used coconut water (IV coconut) in blood transfusions in order to save lives. Now that is one powerful drink!

Coconut water is especially rich in potassium. Potassium in our body acts as a diuretic allowing our bodies to get rid of excess fluid which is important in maintaining normal blood pressure. People who have high pressure blood pressure often have low potassium and high sodium in their body. Drinking coconut water which is high in potassium and low in sodium is ideal for individuals battling hypertension and can possibly prevent stroke according to the Food Drug Administration (FDA).

Aside from minerals, coconut water contains lauric acid which is a medium chain fatty acid that the body converts into monolaurin. Monolaurin acts to boost immune response to infections caused by bacteria and viruses. Many viruses contain a lipid capsule and monolaurin particularly can break this capsule preventing viruses from infecting cells in our body. Lauric acid is found also in breast milk which has been proven to keep babies healthy from illnesses. Coconut water has been used for diseases like cholera, influenza, and dysentery where dehydration occurs.

Another substance found in coconut water is cytokinins. Cytokinins are regulators of the cell replication in the body which influence the aging process of our cells. Coconut water contains a high source of cytokinins which has lead research in using it as treatment for age spots and wrinkles. Therefore coconut water has anti-aging effects on our body.

Among other things, the exotic drink is also to know to be valuable in treating urinary problems, controlling diabetes, promoting healthy digestion, relieving constipation, and nourishing skin.

Although summer is coming to an end, grabbing a glass of coconut water will not only be healthy choice but it will bring back summer all year around.