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Wednesday 30 July 2014

A Brief Overview Of The Facts Behind Pure Coconut Water

By Annabelle Holman


The sweet, tasty liquid that is found in green, young coconuts has taken health-conscious consumers by storm in recent years. Celebrity endorsements have helped to make pure coconut water one of the biggest buzz products to hit the shelves of supermarkets and health food stores. There is a sound basis for this popularity since the natural, unprocessed product has some genuine health benefits.

Although it's a relative newcomer to US and European markets, it has been a street-food staple in tropical countries for many decades. Street hawkers sell freshly cut coconuts ready for their customers to drink out of with a straw. The electrolyte-rich water makes for a perfect re-hydrator in humid conditions.

It has gained popularity in developed countries mainly because of its impressive nutritional profile. It is high in potassium and contains a range of minerals and b-complex vitamins. It can also be a useful aid to weight loss since it is low in fat and its rich nature can suppress appetite.

Some are enthusiastic about its effects on skin health. It has been used topically for many years in Latin America as an antidote to oiliness and acne. Its excellent hydrating properties can give skin a healthy glow and the cytokinin compounds it contains have been shown to have anti-aging properties.

With regard to consuming this wonder drink, certainly the best way is from a fresh, ripe coconut. This is the ideal, but is of course an inconvenient business for people who don't live where coconuts are grown. They are certainly available, but take up a lot of space and have to be bored to get at the liquid inside them.

So this leaves the pre-packaged products available in stores. It's important to know that not all products of this kind are created equal. Some of them may not have a particularly good nutritional profile due to being highly processed. They may have preservatives and other additives and will not be as nutritious as a pure, unprocessed product.

Some are made using a heat-treated syrup that is mixed with water. Others are de-natured by very high-temperature heat-treatment. Naturally, fresh products that are processed in this way will suffer a considerable loss of their nutritional value. If all one needs is a quick way to quench thirst, then these types of product may be OK. Consumers who want a natural, nutrient-dense drink however, will do better to seek out a superior product.

It's worth mentioning too that some mass-produced products are made using cheap, mature coconut water. This water will have lost much of its natural sweetness and have become acidic. The manufacturers mask the acidity using sugar or artificial sweeteners. Again, consumers who want the best product possible should avoid these sub-standard offerings.




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