HEALTH BENEFIT OF COCONUT WATER
Health benefits of coconut water
coconut, the edible fruit of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), a tree in the palm family (Arecaceae). Coconut may have originated in Indo-Malaysia and is one of the most important tropical crops. The flesh of the coconut is rich in fat and can be dried or eaten fresh or made into coconut milk or coconut oil. The liquid from the coconut, called coconut water, is used in beverages.
Coconut water can be used for overall health:
Young coconut flesh has a gelatinous consistency, hence the name tender coconut. Soft coconut water is rich in vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it may have the following potential effects on human health.
1. Coconut water can be used for high blood pressure
Results from several studies show that tender coconut water can help lower systolic blood pressure. when consumed regularly, can reduce systolic blood pressure but not diastolic blood pressure. Therefore, more studies are needed to determine the effects of tender coconut water on human health. Conditions like high blood pressure are serious and should be properly diagnosed and treated by doctors. So be sure to follow your doctor’s advice.
2. Coconut water can be used for blood cholesterol
Many studies have shown that coconut water can help lower blood lipid levels. This effect can be understood as a reduction of LDL (low density lipoprotein), triglycerides and HDL (high density lipoprotein). However, these effects have been observed in animal models. More research should be done in humans to understand their true benefits to human health.
3. Coconut water can be used for pain and inflammation
In animal studies, it has been found that coconut water can reduce inflammation (the body’s reaction to external agents) and pain. This may be due to the presence of high nutrients in coconut water. It is thought that this activity of coconut water may be due to its ability to participate in the combination (prostaglandin) for pain and inflammation. However, these works need to be supported by further research.
4. Coconut water can be used for stomach
Coconut water contains many vitamins, minerals and active nutrients. It can help reduce the age of illness. This can be helpful for people with diarrhea and other stomach ailments where there is a loss of water and important salts such as sodium. Soft coconut water can help replenish those lost salts and hydrate. The presence of certain enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase can also make it useful. More scientific research is needed to prove these claims.
5. Coconut water can be used for Oxidative stress
The results of various studies conducted on animals show that mild cold water can have a positive effect on the body’s cells and help them fight oxidative stress. It has been found that at the molecular level, tender coconut water can protect mitochondria from free radical damage. This seems to be in line with the findings of another study which claims that tender coconut water can help improve antioxidant levels and reduce oxidative stress in experimental mice. Therefore, it can help reduce oxidative stress. However, more research is needed to prove these claims as solid facts.
6. Potential uses of tender coconut water for the heart
In an animal study, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of tender coconut water on heart attack (myocardial infarction). It has been found that tender coconut water may be able to help against the changes that can lead to heart attacks. Other studies have also shown that tender coconut water can contribute to behaviors that improve heart health. However, these events have not been demonstrated in humans. Additionally, heart disease must be properly diagnosed and treated by a medical professional. Therefore, make sure to consult a qualified doctor and do not use coconut water alone to treat yourself.
7. Other uses for coconut water
Coconut water can be used for many health benefits including:
- It can be useful for urinary tract infections
- It can work as a good mouth watering drink
- It can help with colds
- It can be useful for rashes caused by chicken pox, measles and heatstroke
- It can have a diuretic effect (helps in the formation and passage of urine).
- It can be useful for kidney stones
- It can help kill worms1
Although there are studies that show that coconut water can be used in various conditions, they are not enough and more studies are needed to show the full health benefits of coconut water.
