Mythbuster Monday: Coconut Water Edition

Back to reality. Back to classes. Oh Mondays, you were never my favorite.

7 MORE WEEKS of classes. Isn’t that crazy?! I think it is.

Even though Mondays might not be my favorite, Mythbuster Mondays are certainly my favorite day on the blog! 🙂 I hope they are for you too! 

So how many of you have ever tried coconut water??

*(Raises hand)*…I have before, and let me tell you, it was so underwhelming. I really don’t understand the hype!

If you’ve read about coconut water — the liquid from an immature (green) coconut — online or in the media, you’d think it was a miracle beverage that could cure you of everything from heart disease to obesity. But hey, that’s what today is for. Time to bust a few top myths about this so-called “miracle beverage”. Is it really what it’s cracked up to be?

Myth or fact? Coconut water is an ideal post-exercise drink.

The verdict: Myth. You may have seen fitness enthusiasts or gym-goers guzzling coconut water during or after their workout because it contains electrolytes, which you lose when you sweat. Here’s the problem: unflavored coconut water is low in sugar and calories and is not a good sports drink. Sports drinks are meant to replace fluids, supply energy, and replace sodium and potassium lost through perspiration. That’s why Gatorade is so popular among athletes because it has a lot of sugar.

Myth or fact? Coconut water hydrates you better than H2O.

The verdict: Myth. While coconut water does boast electrolytes, there’s no scientific proof that it hydrates the body better than plain old water (for the average person).

Myth or fact? Coconut water has anti-aging properties.

The verdict: Myth. Being well-hydrated helps you look and feel better, but water works just as well for this. And, as to the online claim that coconut water “significantly increases plant cell proliferation without increasing the number of undesirable mutations”, there’s been no research to show that this plant-specific action makes any difference in an actual human being.

Myth or fact? Coconut water helps prevent stroke and heart attack.

The verdict: Myth. You may have seen coconut water boasted as a “heart-healthy beverage”. The potassium in coconut water helps counteract the blood pressure-boosting effects of sodium, so, technically, drinking coconut water could help prevent heart disease. However, your body doesn’t really differentiate between the potassium from coconut water, from a banana, or from a potato. Potassium is great, but coconut water is not a miracle heart disease cure.

Myth or fact? Coconut water speeds your metabolism.

The verdict: Myth. When we’re dehydrated, our metabolism slows down, so anything you drink will help keep your metabolism speeding along. Also, anything you eat or drink will give a temporary boost to your metabolism because your body has to digest the food. BUT, there’s no food that you can eat or drink that’s going to increase your metabolism permanently. If there was, well, we’d all be perfect models of health, right? Exercise increases your metabolism, but food and beverages kinda don’t. I’ve talked about this before in a previous Mythbuster Monday.

So what do you guys think? If you’ve never had coconut water before would you try it now? Keep in mind, I’m not suggesting you never drink coconut water, I’m just giving you my opinion. 🙂

To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the taste.
Give me a pina colada instead!! 😉

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!
BE WELL <3 xoxo

Today’s “March Into Happiness” thought of the day:

 March 7th:
The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything.
–Albert Einstein–

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