Is coconut water good for weight loss? Well, if you are thinking about this, then let us tell you it is one of our healthiest drinks. It has a lot of benefits and helps with external and internal problems. Moreover, it is a very refreshing drink that tastes amazing and has a lot of ability to help you achieve the weight loss goals. So, now that you know it is excellent for you, let us check out the facts that justify coconut water is fantastic for weight loss!
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Coconut Water Nutrition Facts
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How does coconut water work?
It is loaded with carbs and electrolytes like magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Due to the electrolyte present in the water, it helps to prevent dehydration. However, some sources said that the amount of electrolytes present in coconut water is not enough for rehydration.
Best time to drink coconut water
There is no fixed time to drink it. You can have coconut water in the morning, evening, or night. However, drinking it at a specific time does have some advantages. Having coconut water on an empty stomach in the morning has some additional benefits. The lauric acid present in coconut water helps to boost the immune system, lose weight, and improves metabolism.
Furthermore, pregnant women are generally suggested to consume coconut water to fight constipation, morning sickness, heartburn, and dehydration.
How is coconut water good for weight loss?
All people who want to lose weight should include coconut water in their diet. It is not only low in calories but also good for digestion.
Furthermore, it is rich in bioactive enzymes that are good for stomach health and also boost metabolism. One can have about 300 – 350 ml of coconut water every day to lose those extra pounds.
Here are four reasons how coconut water helps to lose weight:
1. Low in carbs
Whenever you go to a dietitian for weight loss, they will suggest you go for a low-carb meal for fast weight loss. Coconut water, as well as fruit, is low in carbs and will successfully help you to lose weight.
Many diet coaches have said that coconut is also a vital part of a lot of keto diets. In many keto diets, diet coaches suggest having coconut oil and coffee together to lose weight quickly.
Also, coconut water is anti-bacterial, which helps to prevent acidity and skin issues.
Furthermore, you can also add coconut oil to your diet if you want to have a healthier lifestyle. Coconut oil has omega-3 fatty acids, which is anti-inflammatory; hence it is a good substitute for the regular oil that you use.
2. Decreases cravings
Is coconut water good for weight loss and can reduce craving? – yes, it does satiate your hunger and makes a person feel full for a long time. This is due to the medium-chain triglyceride (MCTs) fats present in coconut water, which helps achieve satiety.
Also, the sugar present in coconut water boosts energy instantly, reduces cravings, and makes you feel less hungry. Thus, due to this, it also controls blood sugar levels.
Besides coconut water, you can add coconuts to your diet if you want to take advantage of this. You can add coconuts as your evening snacks or make a coconut smoothie as your morning drink.
3. Enhances metabolism
If you are thinking about how is coconut water good for weight loss, then let us tell you it helps to achieve our goal by boosting our metabolism.
Coconut water, as well as its oil, has a lot of fatty acids (medium-chain). And these fatty acids boost the metabolism than a lot of other fatty acids present in foods.
4. It helps to lose abdominal fat
Since it helps to enhance metabolism and reduce cravings, it will help to lose fate in the long term. A lot of studies stated that it helps to lose belly fat a lot faster.
Since belly fat can cause many health issues such as inflammation, heart problems, and diabetes, it is necessary to add coconut water to your diet. Having coconut water will lessen your carb intake and increase the protein intake, which will help in weight loss.
Is it good to drink coconut water every day?
You are probably already having a clear idea of how is coconut water good for weight loss and wondering if it is okay to drink every day, well let us tell you, you can consume it. There is a lot of benefits of coconut water which is why it is such as popular drink.
Here are some other benefits of coconut water:
1. Treats indigestion
It acts as a natural in-built gastroenterologist, which helps to treat acid reflux and acidity. The enzymes present in the coconut water help to treat any stomach-related problems. Having two glasses of coconut water every day can soothe your tummy.
2. Lessen the risk of heart illness
Foods that are rich in potassium protect the heart by maintaining blood pressure. Coconut water is rich in potassium even more than bananas which are known for their high potassium level. A cup of coconut water has almost double the amount of potassium as an average size banana.
In a study, it is shown that coconut water has reduced the level of triglycerides and cholesterol. Due to this, the fat present around the liver also decreases.
Furthermore, in another research, scientists have fed a group of mouse foods, and the other half were given coconut water. After a month and a half, the mouse who had coconut water has very low triglycerides and cholesterol levels, while the other group did not.
3. Boosts immune functioning
It has anti-bacterial and antiviral properties, which will enhance the body’s immune functioning. Especially in summer, our immune functioning is low, so it is crucial to have coconut water daily to boost immunity and protect the body.
4. Useful after a long workout
Coconut water has a lot of electrolytes such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. If someone does a high-intensity workout session, having a drink that is high in electrolytes will help to restore the energy.
Also, it helps to hydrate the body, maintain fluid balance and muscle function.
Furthermore, two studies have shown that coconut water works better to restore hydration after a workout than sports drinks high in electrolytes.
Many people who do intense workouts have also said that coconut water after a workout makes them less sick and reduces discomfort in the belly.
However, some other studies have shown that coconut water can cause stomach upset and bloating.
5. Anti-ageing benefits
Coconut water works terrific for the skin and will make your skin look glowing and radiant. Cytokinins, an anti-aging element present in coconut, give you this benefit.
Moreover, it also hydrates the skin and makes it firmer.
You can drink coconut water as well as apply coconut water topically on your face as well.
6. Help with hangover
Hangovers can be awful as most people get a headache the following day. Coconut water is an amazing natural item that helps to cure the morning hangover.
This is because coconut water has electrolytes and antioxidants, which help to treat hangovers.
So, next time before you go out for a drinking session, make sure you stock up on coconut water in the fridge.
7. Healthy hair
Coconut water helps make the hair soft and shiny and gets rid of lice and dandruff. It penetrates the hair shaft to moisturize and hydrate it.
You can either drink coconut water or use it as a pre/post hair wash treatment. If you want to get rid of lice or dandruff, then it is better to use coconut water as your hair treatment.
8. Maintains bone health
The bones are mainly made up of calcium. However, other than calcium, we also need other nutrients like magnesium to maintain the health and density of the bone.
Coconut water has an abundant quantity of calcium that is extremely good for the bones. The magnesium present in coconut water also helps to build bone strength.
9. Good for the eye and brain health
It is an excellent product which is good for the eyesight and brain health. Our body needs a significant quantity of vitamin B1 (thiamine), which helps to enhances brain health and eyesight.
Furthermore, vitamin B1 strengthens the eye muscles and also helps improve our night vision.
A glass of coconut water has about 0.7 mg of vitamin B1, and our daily requirement is 1.4 mg. Hence you need to have two glasses of coconut water to maintain your eye and brain health.
Disadvantages of coconut water
In general, coconut water does not have any disadvantages, and most of the population can have it. However, like every other safe food item, there are some exceptions that you need to know of. Here are the following disadvantages:
1. Kidney problem
If someone has renal failure, then they need to be more cautious while consuming coconut water. People who have suffered from kidney failure cannot remove the extra potassium from the body, and coconut water is loaded with potassium. So, it is not advisable for people who suffer from kidney problems.
2. Lowers blood pressure
For people who have high blood pressure, coconut water might be dangerous. If you are on medication, avoid coconut water, as it can make your blood pressure extremely low.
3. Contains diuretic properties
It has diuretic elements that mean it will make you urinate more than usual. Hence it is important to drink in moderation.
It is best not to consume coconut water daily if someone has suffered from these illnesses.
How to use coconut water for weight gain?
We have talked about is coconut water good for weight loss; now, let’s talk about does it help to gain weight. People love anything related to coconut; it can be coconut water, coconut milk, or coconut oil. Everyone from food bloggers to influencers talks good things about coconut as an ingredient.
Coconut water is considered a healthy drink to consume. It is packed with zinc, B vitamins, iodine, sodium, potassium, manganese, selenium, etc.
You can buy a green coconut or purchase a coconut water carton. However, coconut water cartons might have additional things such as preservatives which you might want to ignore. So it is best to go for green coconut.
The most common questions people asked about it is coconut water good for weight loss, can it cure a hangover, does it provide healthy skin – well, yes, it does have a lot of benefits.
The taste of coconut water is sweet; hence it is an appealing choice due to the flavor. Furthermore, it is low in calories as well as in fat. Thus it is a fantastic alternative to the other energy drinks available in the market.
Can coconut water make us gain weight?
Coconut water can make a person gain weight if they do not drink it in moderation. It does contain calories even though it is very low.
250 ml of coconut water has 58 calories. Thus, you can drink a glass or two of coconut water every day without any hesitation but not more than that.
Furthermore, all the nutrients found in coconut water are also found in different drinks. Hence it is not the only option you have.
However, coconut water is absolutely a great item to add to your regular diet. If you want to replace coconut water, you can go for fresh fruit juice or vegetable smoothies.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how is coconut water good for weight loss, you can choose coconut water to add to your daily routine. Many doctors and experts suggest coconut water drink every day as it has numerous amounts of benefits.
Moreover, there is almost no side effect of coconut water. Hence you can have it without any worry.