Your favorite trendy beverage is packed with (legitimate) health benefits.

The benefits of coconut water are as plentiful as you’d assume.

To better understand coconut water nutrition, we turned to an expert.

Kaleigh McMordie, RD, is a Texas-based registered dietitian, recipe developer, and food photographer.

What Is Coconut Water?

you could consume it directly from fresh, cut-open coconuts or find packaged coconut water in stores.

Coconut Water Nutrition

Coconut water is super hydrating and is full of vitamins and minerals.

Health Benefits of Coconut Water

There are tons of health benefits of coconut water.

Here are some of the reasons why you should drink more of it.

Some store-bought coconut waters, for example, have as much as about 470 milligrams of potassium per cup.

Potassium is necessary for everything from nerve signals and muscle contractions to maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.

Magnesium plays a critical role in nerve function and muscle contraction, as well as heart rhythm.

It also helps to strengthen the bones.

Hydrates

Hydration is one of coconut water’s most celebrated attributes and for good reason.

Therefore, coconut water’s natural sweetness makes it a refreshing alternative to sugary drinks.

Boosts Heart Health

Coconut water is full of potassium.

The chain reaction means that drinking coconut water can ultimately help prevent heart disease.

Both potassium and magnesium play pivotal parts in muscle functioning.

For example, potassium helps to regulate the electrical signals in your muscles and nerves.

This is necessary for muscle contractions.

Magnesium also aids in protein synthesis and muscle repair.

Enhances Skin

Coconut is often used in skincare products that intend to soothe and hydrate the skin.

Tips for Enjoying Coconut Water

There are tons of ways to enjoy coconut water.

you might drink it fresh from the coconut itself, or you might drink packaged coconut water.

Or you could get creative with how get your coconut water.

It’s especially good to replenish you after a workout or on a hot day.

Healthy kidneys regulate the blood’s potassium levels, but impaired kidneys struggle.

Likewise, it’s important to be mindful of any medications that may interact with coconut water.

This includes any medications used to lower blood pressure, since coconut water may lower blood pressure even further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Coconut water is healthy to drink in moderation.

Dilute coconut water with filtered water or alternate between coconut water and other sources of hydration, like tea.

Coconut water contains about 2.61 grams of sugar.

The types of sugars in coconut water are naturalglucose, fructose, and sucrose.

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