Jakarta –
Drinking coconut water helps the body stay healthy and prevents weight gain, besides being refreshing. So, detikers have nothing to lose if they like drinking coconut water.
It turns out, coconut water must be drunk at certain times to provide maximum benefits for the body. The following is the explanation, complete with the benefits and nutritional content of coconut water.
When is the Best Time to Drink Coconut Water?
Actually, coconut water can be drunk at any time and tends to be safe to drink every day. However, quoted from NDTV Food, there are best times to drink coconut water so that the benefits can be optimal.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
1. Morning on an empty stomach
Coconut water is good to drink in the morning, especially on an empty stomach. The lauric acid content can help speed up metabolism, help lose weight, and increase immunity.
Pregnant women can also benefit from drinking it in the morning, because coconut water can relieve morning sickness and heartburn which are often common symptoms of pregnancy.
2. Before and After Eating
Drinking coconut water is also good for digestion. If drunk after eating, coconut water can also speed up the digestive process and prevent flatulence after eating. For detikers who are on a diet, drinking coconut water before eating can make the body feel full, thereby preventing overeating.
3. Before or After Exercise
Coconut water is known as an electrolyte drink that is good for hydrating the body. Therefore, it is good to drink coconut water before or after exercise because it can be useful for preventing dehydration and restoring body fluids lost due to exercise.
4. Before bed
The aroma of coconut also has psychological effects that can help reduce anxiety and slow the heart rate. If taken before bed, it can help fight stress and calm the mind.
7 Benefits of Coconut Water
Drinking coconut water has health benefits. Summarized from Healthline, Medical News Today, and WebMD, here are 7 benefits of coconut water for body health:
1. Source of Nutrition
Young coconut water contains many nutrients that are good for the body. According to MedicineNet, the following is the content of 100 ml of young coconut water:
- Energy: 18 kcal
- Total carbohydrates: 4.4 grams
- Calcium: 8 mg
- Magnesium: 6 mg
- Phosphorus: 8 mg
- Potassium: 184 mg
- Sodium: 22 mg
- Vitamin C: 2.5 mg
- Fiber: 0.4 grams
2. Rich in antioxidants
Coconut meat and water contain many phenolic compounds or antioxidants which function to reduce inflammation and prevent oxidative damage to body cells.
3. Controls Blood Sugar
The natural sweet taste of coconut water can help diabetics control blood sugar. If you want a fresh drink, diabetics can choose coconut water instead of high-sugar drinks. However, people with high blood sugar should still limit their intake.
4. Healthy Kidneys
Drinking young coconut water regularly can help keep the kidneys healthy. A 2018 study with participants without kidney stones indicated that coconut water could help loosen stones or prevent the formation of stones in the kidneys.
5. Prevents Dehydration
Furthermore, coconut water contains sugar and electrolytes, so it can be used to replace fluids lost due to mild diarrhea, and prevent dehydration. Coconut water can also be a natural electrolyte drink that is good for consumption when exercising.
6. Healthy Heart
The next benefit of coconut water is that it helps the body improve metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of conditions that can increase the risk of heart disease. Characteristics of this syndrome include high blood pressure, blood sugar, triglycerides, and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
In a study on mice with metabolic syndrome caused by a high-fructose diet, drinking coconut water could increase blood pressure, blood sugar, triglycerides and insulin levels.
Drinking coconut water also increases antioxidant activity, so it can protect against oxidative damage to blood vessels, which in turn can help keep the heart healthy.
7. Improves muscle function
Young coconut water contains potassium which is an important electrolyte for muscle function. Regularly drinking coconut water can prevent and reduce muscle cramps during exercise.
From now on detikers can drink coconut water at the 4 best times to get optimal benefits. However, detikers also have no problem drinking coconut water at any time. Don’t forget to eat fruit and vegetables regularly, exercise regularly and not smoke to maintain a healthy body.
(bai/row)
