Although Coconut Water is not featured in any of the drinks in the book, it is so amazing in terms of its health benefits, I felt it really needed to be included in Volume One of The Alchemist's Cookbook Series!
So why is it so good for us? Coconut water is a great natural electrolyte; it also contains high amounts of potassium. It is also lower in carbohydrates as it only contains about 4.5% carbohydrates, whereas typical sports drinks can contain a 6%-8% carbohydrate concentration.
In the First World War (1914-1918), because of its high electrolyte value, Coconut Water was used instead of Plasma in Plasma transfusions due to the scarcity of blood plasma at the time. It is completely free of all bacteria another reason why it was used as it was completely “clean” of all germs.
It is also much more effective than water at rehydrating the body, so this is why it is great as an “energy” drink for athletes. A great friend of mine called Christopher Babayode, who has written a book called “Farewell Jet Lag – Cures from a Flight Attendant” told me years ago that when we fly long-haul we can get very dehydrated and therefore it is much better to drink Coconut Water on arrival rather than plain water as it rehydrates the body much quicker.
The great news is that now that the supermarkets have “jumped on board” the coconut revolution (a little tongue-in-cheek!) Coconut Water is more freely available and reasonably priced than ever before, meaning it is more affordable for people in general. Like all coconut products, it is part of the “sweet” category of foods and thus is great for balancing the spleen and stomach.
Here is some more information about its health benefits (some of which is taken from David Wolfe’s Website – a renown Raw Food expert):- Lowers Blood Pressure According to the American Heart Association, adding appropriate amounts of potassium to one’s diet can help maintain or reduce blood pressure because it lessens the effects of sodium. Daily consumption of coconut water (which also contains potassium) could therefore also reduce blood pressure. In a 2005 study, subjects who drank coconut water daily for two weeks showed a reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 71% and 29% respectively. Subjects who only drank water showed no improvement. Lowers Cholesterol & Triglycerides Tests performed on a group of rats found that coconut water helped to decrease their total cholesterol; triglyceride levels and LDL cholesterol. More specifically, it reduced the cholesterol found in their hearts. It was also found that rats that consumed coconut water recovered faster from heart attacks, and it is believed that the electrolytes (potassium; calcium and magnesium) found in the beverage may help maintain heart health. It is clear that coconut water is a great drink for anyone looking to improve their health. One can counter dehydration; high blood pressure and cholesterol with moderate consumption. Moderation is key. The high amount of potassium found in coconut water can cause significant damage to several of the body’s internal organs if too much is consumed too quickly. Balances pH levels There are a number of toxins and compounds in both the environment and foods that can make your body’s pH levels more acidic. Acidic pH level opens you up to several health problems such as
Joint pain
Excessive mucus build-up
Chemical sensitivity
Heartburn
Reduced libido
Osteoporosis
Immune deficiency
Sciatica
Weight gain
Diabetes
The really great news is that Coconut Water is an alkalising drink and so balances out the pH in our body really easily. Thus it is really great for you whether you have any of the above conditions or whether you just wish to prevent yourself from getting any of them!