Water, water everywhere. Coconut water that is. Not to be confused with coconut milk, this water is the mildly sweet clear liquid that’s inside young, still-green coconuts. You can’t go into a Whole Foods without spotting the tropical tetra pak in someone’s cart. But what’s so great about coconut water, really?
It’s hard to resist, given its claims of lowering blood pressure, improving skin tone, and helping with weight loss. I mean, Chrissy Teigen looks pretty darn healthy sitting on the beach sipping coconut water in those ubiquitous commercials.
So…is it really a miracle beverage? To be fair, it hasn’t been studied much, but the research that has been done suggests it may help lower blood pressure, due to its high potassium content. But lots of fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium, with tons of other nutrients thrown in for good measure—sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, edamame, watermelon and black beans, just to name a few. Also note that most coconut waters failed to meet their mineral claims when analyzed by ConsumerLab.com, an independent nutrition-product tester, casting more doubt. And what about claims of rejuvenating one’s complexion? The heat processing required for packaging can destroy many of the antioxidants found in fresh coconut water.
The bottom line: Don’t drink it expecting suddenly improved health, vibrant skin and noticeably looser jeans. But if you like the taste and the tropical vibe it conjures, then by all means – drink up.
–Densie Webb
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