Jakarta – Who does not know the benefits of young coconut water. Not only delicious flesh, the water it has also has many benefits and good content for the body.
Besides being refreshing in hot weather, coconut water can also add electrolytes and minerals to the body.
Nutrient content in coconut water
Coconut water contains nutrients such as antioxidants that can prevent damage to body cells. As a drink, the main content of coconut water is composed of electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins. In coconut water there are also gula, but this sugar content is less than that of fizzy drinks, packaged drinks, or juices fruit.
Not only that, there is also a carbohydrate content with a little protein and fat which further completes the substance nutrition in coconut water. Launching the nutritional facts contained in the Composition Data data Food In Indonesia, 100 grams (gr) of coconut water has the following nutritional composition:
· Energy: 17 Calories (Cal)
· Protein: 0.2 g
· Fat: 0.1 g
· Carbohydrate: 3.8 g
Calcium: 15 milligrams (mg)
Fosfor: 8 mg
· Iron: 0.2 mg
Sodium: 1 mg
Potassium: 149 mg
From this nutritional composition, it can be seen that coconut water contains high potassium. Compared to formulated sports drinks, the potassium content in coconut water is higher.
This amount is even higher than if you eat four bananas.
Meanwhile, the content of other minerals in coconut water consisting of calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, and zinc is better than the mineral content in oranges. In addition to those mentioned, other nutrients found in coconut water are antioxidants with great health benefits. .
Health benefits of coconut water
No wonder young coconut water is sought after by many people, because of the benefits it has. In addition to eliminating thirst and preventing dehydration, drinking young coconut water also brings health benefits such as the following:
1. Slow down aging
Apparently, coconut water has good benefits for your beauty, you know! Yes, the efficacy of coconut water for beauty is that it can make skin smoother and look younger.
The content of cytokinins, one of the growth hormones, in coconut water functions to regulate cell growth, development, and aging.
This is because the cytokinin content in coconut water has anti-aging, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-thrombotic (anti-blood clotting) effects. That’s why coconut is called a food that can delay aging.
Cytokinins can balance pH levels in the body, strengthen and hydrate connective tissue, and reduce the risk of age-related diseases.
2. Regulate blood pressure and cholesterol
Never thought, drinking coconut water is good for heart health, because it can help improve blood circulation, lower high blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
This is due to the high potassium content and low sodium in coconut water. Sodium is able to lower blood sugar levels in people who have high blood pressure.
As a result, the efficacy of coconut water has the potential to prevent the formation of blood clots. In addition, coconut water also helps increase HDL (good cholesterol).
3. Good for digestive health
Coconut water is claimed to be able to be a cure for all diseases related to digestion. Usually, coconut water is used to treat diarrhea, indigestion, constipation, intestinal worms, bladder infections, and kidney disorders.
Coconut water is useful when you have diarrhea because it can replace fluids lost from the gastrointestinal tract. In fact, the osmolarity of coconut water is greater than the WHO recommended ORS (Oral Rehydration Therapy) for the treatment of diarrhea.
This is because in coconut water there are amino acids, enzymes, minerals, and fatty acids that make it have a high osmolarity. Coconut water is also low in sodium and chloride and high in sugar and amino acids.
This is a balanced composition of fluids in drinks to prevent dehydration that may occur due to indigestion.
4. Prevent kidney stone disease
Drinking lots of water is very good for kidney health. If enough water supports kidney function, drinking coconut water is more beneficial. You need to know that kidney stones form when calcium, oxalic acid, and other components settle into crystals and are carried in the urine.
Well, a study entitled Prophylactic Effect of Coconut Water conducted on rats showed that coconut water was able to prevent crystals from sticking to the kidneys and urinary tract.
In addition, coconut water reduces the formation of crystals in the kidneys. This happens because coconut water can minimize free radicals that are formed due to high levels of oxalate in the urine. However, human studies still need to be done to test the efficacy of coconut water in preventing kidney stones.
5. Supports organ function
The nutritional content in coconut water also has benefits for the continuity of the work of the organs in the body. Evidently, coconut water is the main source of arginine, an amino acid that can help your body deal with stress when you exercise.
Basically, amino acids also help the formation of protein so that it is useful for the regeneration of cells in the body’s organs. Meanwhile, the enzyme content in coconut water also helps the digestive system and body metabolism.
The enzymes that work to support the properties of coconut water are acid phosphatase, catalase, dehydrogenase, diastase, peroxidase, RNA-polymerase, and others.
6. Repel free radicals
During the metabolic process, the body also produces harmful cells such as free radicals. The production of these cells can increase when the body is stressed or sick. When there are too many free radicals, the body will reach a state of oxidative stress that can cause damage to healthy cells.
Researchers found that the antioxidants found in coconut water are efficacious to reduce the effects of oxidative stress so that they are able to ward off harmful radicals. However, the antioxidant potential of coconut water still needs to be investigated further because there are no studies that have tested this potential in humans.
7. Replace lost body fluids
Coconut water is a natural isotonic drink that provides many of the benefits of a formulated sports drink. The electrolyte content in coconut water can replace body fluids lost during exercise.
However, to restore hydration so that the body does not lose a lot of fluids, coconut water must be drunk in large quantities. In addition, the risk of feeling nauseous, full, and stomach ache is also less if you drink coconut water than sports drinks.
Those are some of the benefits of young coconut water that can make the body fresher. Of course, the electrolyte content in it is able to replace the electrolytes that are lost during activities. Because it is made from natural ingredients, coconut water is healthier to drink than instant drinks.[]
(Fiona Renatami)
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