It's time to get hydrated.
Are you team coconut water? "I've never tried it" is
also an acceptable answer—no judgment here!
Coconut water, it turns out, does have a lot of health benefits in
addition to becoming a great addition to smoothies and, yes, even cocktails. So
coconut water may just become one of your new favourite beverages this year,
with benefits ranging from lowering blood pressure to helping you get out of
bed after a night of drinking.
Here are five things that may occur if you start drinking coconut
water regularly.
1. It may improve blood glucose levels.
Suppose you have prediabetes or are at high risk of developing
type 2 diabetes. In that case, it may be beneficial to drink coconut water
daily—in addition to reducing your carb intake and incorporating more
vegetables and lean protein into your diet. Several studies have shown coconut
water to help lower blood glucose (sugar) levels in diabetic animals.
Human studies would, of course, be required to verify these
findings. It is, however, a good source of magnesium, which may help improve
insulin sensitivity and, as a result, lower blood glucose levels.
2. It can prevent kidney stones.
Kidney stones can be quite painful and are often a result of not
drinking enough fluids. Small stones can form when your urine contains too much
calcium, oxalate, and uric acid (along with other compounds). When these
substances get together, they crystalize, and if you don't drink enough fluids
to prevent the crystals from adhering together, they can turn into stones.
However, researchers from one study (that involved rats with
kidney stones) found that coconut water may help with reducing free radical
production that can occur when urine has high levels of oxalate.
3. It may help you recover from a hangover.
After a night of large glasses of wine, whiskey, beer—whatever
your drink of choice is—you're going to want to make it a point to drink water
and hydrate so you can flush those toxins out. It turns out coconut water may
help expedite that recovery process even more than regular water. It's heavy in
electrolytes and minerals, especially potassium, which can help your body rehydrate
and replenish the nutrients it needs to heal.
4. It can help lower blood pressure levels.
Coconut water can help people who have hypertension or are at risk
of having high blood pressure. According to one study, drinking coconut water
reduced systolic blood pressure (the higher number on the blood pressure
reading) in 71% of participants with high blood pressure.
5. It could boost recovery post-workout.
Coconut water can help replenish your body after a long workout,
much like it can help restore vital minerals and electrolytes after drinking
alcohol. We're looking at you long-distance runners and soccer players who just
played back-to-back games.
Rich in potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium coconut water is an excellent way to hydrate after exercising for over an hour. Two studies even suggest that it may be more effective at restoring hydration post-working out than most sports beverages.