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Coconut Water: Fad or Wonder Food?

Posted by on 5 September 2010 | 0 Comments

You may have heard about the latest celebrity craze, Coconut Water. People including Madonna and Demi Moore have been photographed drinking it and are raving about its benefits, but should the rest of us rush out and buy some or is this just marketing hype? Coconut water is the liquid found in the centre of the coconut and has been marketed as natures sports drink, however there are a few problems with using it as a recovery drink. Sports drinks are especially formulated to maximise electrolyte (particularly sodium and potassium) balance, prevent dehydration and promote fast carbohydrate replenishment and recovery. Coconut water has only a third of the sodium of popular sports drinks such as Gatorade, but 10 times the amount of potassium! Sodium is the most important electrolyte when replacing sweat losses in heavy exercise, so coconut water is way out of balance. Properly formulated sports drink has a carbohydrate content of 6-8g/100ml or 6-8%. This is the scientifically proven, optimal level to provide exercising muscles with energy and to promote muscle uptake of carbohydrate during recovery. Coconut water has only 4.5% Carbohydrate in its pure unflavoured form, obviously too low for the benefits described above. Coconuts in general contain saturated fat, so another reason to take care with coconut water and coconut products such as coconut milk or cream is cholesterol management. Saturated fat is turned into cholesterol in the body, so for those with a high cholesterol be cautious with all coconut products. Unfortunately, no matter how exotic and appealing it sounds, no single food or drink can beat a healthy balanced diet and simple old water. For most of us doing 1-1½ hours of exercise at a time, water is cheap, plentiful, low calorie and therefore the perfect choice for rehydration. So if it’s a refreshing summer drink you are after, by all means give coconut water a go, but for rehydration and health, water is the best! Karen Hester Fitness Coach and Dietitician for Mind Body Motion