Lean On Life Supports New Research That Reveals Coconut Water’s Popularity
TORONTO, ON (PRWEB) October 19, 2013 -- Lean On Life, a leading healthy lifestyle website with the latest on weight loss, nutrition, and fitness is supporting research revealing the effectiveness of coconut water and its actual health benefits.
As Lean On Life reports (http://www.leanonlife.com/coconut-water-really-help-athletes/), with celebrities like Rihanna promoting the popular coconut water brand Vita Coco, variations of coconut water have been filling shelves across America. Even in the UK, it's actually the fastest growing category of non-alcoholic beverages and the popularity of coconut water is rapidly spreading across Europe. With its ever-increasing demand, coconuts are being supplied by the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
People are jumping aboard the coconut water band wagon, lured by marketers promising that the refreshing, sweet, and nutty-tasting substance will hydrate their bodies and help fight conditions ranging from hangovers to cancer to kidney stones.
Coconut water has been sipped on for ages by locals in countries like Brazil and India, where palm trees are plentiful. But scientists also have something to say when it comes to coconut water and its supposed energy drink properties.
Coconut water has more potassium than 4 bananas and is packed with naturally occurring electrolytes. Coconut water is also fat- and cholesterol-free. However, scientific reports have not yet supported the hype that coconut water helps protect against certain medical conditions; more research is needed to support or disprove these claims.
According to many experts, coconut water does indeed hydrate better than plain water. But most people's workout sessions aren't long enough or vigorous enough to make coconut water essential. Nutritionist, Monica Reinagel, says that most energy drink searchers don't actually require an electrolyte-filled post workout drink. The only post workout drink that they need in order to rehydrate, she asserts, is old fashioned water. She adds that athletes and serious fitness enthusiasts require sodium in the ideal post workout drink, and that coconut water is relatively low in sodium.
According to sports nutritionist, Nancy Clark, “Whether you choose a sports drink, coconut water, or plain water, they all work to keep your body hydrated. The challenge is when you exercise strenuously for more than three hours in the heat and lose lots of body fluids; you need easily-absorbed carbs for quick energy and to replace lost electrolytes like sodium and potassium." In these situations, although lower in sodium, potassium-rich coconut water does make a good choice.
But like everything else, coconut water is best in moderation. According to registered dietician Lillian Cheung, a one ounce container of coconut water has 60 calories. It's a post-workout drink that's a much better alternative to sweet and sugary energy drinks. While water remains the number one choice for hydration post-workout, those who choose to drink coconut water should opt for plain varieties rather than brands with added sugar or juice for flavor.
Lean On Life is a healthy lifestyle website that provides expert-driven knowledge from doctors, nutritionists, fitness trainers and life coaches. The site takes a hands-on approach to making weight-loss, healthy eating and fitness a simple achievable lifestyle change.
Health Editor, Lean On Life, http://www.leanonlife.com/, +1 905-851-9966 231, [email protected]
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