4 Ways Coconut Water Can Aid Weight Loss
Jan 01, 2019
Coconut water is something that is extremely delicious and refreshing. If you are a lover of fresh coconut juice, you know how nice this sweet-tasting liquid is.
Besides its amazing taste and despite its sweet flavour, coconut water is the best sweet liquid substitute when you are trying to lose weight.
Coconut Water in Weight Loss
Coconut water is a great substitute for other beverages in your diet when you are aiming to shed pounds. The drink is rich in nutrients and low in calories. This can be a great substitute for your ordinary sports drinks. The amounts of fibre found within the drink help you feel full for longer. Taking only 2-3 cups daily is sufficient in giving its beneficial effects. More is not recommended because of its high potassium content.
Coconut water also has good amounts of zinc, vitamin C, vitamin B, calcium, and iron. Those who do not have the habit of drinking fresh water might benefit in their weight loss program by substituting their tasty drinks with coconut water. Here are the main benefits of coconut water that makes it a perfect beverage for you.
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Low Calories
If you are already counting the calories coming from other caloric foods that you just can't avoid, coconut water will not push your calorie intake over the edge. It is so low in calories that each cup contains only 44 to 46 calories. This low-calorie index does not cut the benefits of the nutrients inside the drink.
If you compare this calorie intake by orange juice, a single cup of orange juice has around 117 calories. This makes coconut water a perfect substitute for that half cup of orange or fruit juice. Drinking coconut water can help in achieving a caloric deficit. This is when you burn more than you take in and is the main condition for losing weight.
Fiber Content
Fiber is a great way to suppress appetite when the body is simply used to consuming a certain amount of calories every day. A cup of coconut water has around 2.6 grams of fiber that is infused inside the water from the nut. Besides having no calories, coconut water can help you curb your appetite for a longer period of time.
According to research, those that consume more fiber can make a significant improvement in their weight-loss program. When purchasing coconut water that is expected to give you this appetite-curbing effect, check that the coconut water is not rid of its fiber during the packaging process. This should be easily seen on the package.
Low Fat Content
Because coconut is so commonly used to make coconut oil, some people may assume that coconut water is high in fat. Coconut water is, luckily, almost fat-free. The single cup of coconut water has only 0.50 grams of fat inside of it. To get an adequate understanding of how low this fat content is, a single cup of chocolate milkshake has 8 grams of fat inside of it.
If you want to go even further with the low-fat content in your coconut drink, look for coconut water drinks that do not have any fat at all. If you love this drink and want to consume more of it, you can safely indulge in it as much as you please when purchasing a fat-free version of coconut water.
Substitue for Sports Drinks
If you are engaged in a lot of physical activity, you will need to replace lost electrolytes after a strenuous workout. This is why people turn to sports beverages to recover quicker after a workout. If you want a drink that has the benefits of a sports drink without the downsides of them, coconut water is a natural alternative that can replace lost salts and electrolytes.
In studies, coconut water proved to be just as effective as sports drinks in rehydrating the water lost from exercise. In fact, coconut water proved to have even more benefits for those involved in sports than commercial sports drinks. Unlike some sports drinks, coconut water did not give a feeling of nausea or fullness and has no adverse side effects. This makes it safer to drink by everyone.
The only thing to remember is that that that are into very demanding strains or athletes will require water beside coconut water to rehydrate themselves properly. When drinking after exercise, stick to the guidelines given for rehydration, and make sure that you drink plenty of salts and fluids to compensate all that was lost.
Warning About Drinking Coconut Water
While coconut water is a safe and healthy drink, there is a limit to how much can be taken due to its potassium content. Too much potassium in your diet can be dangerous for those that suffer from kidney disorders. Excess potassium can cause hyperkalemia that causes muscle weakness, numbness, and nausea. This can even progress to heart problems if left untreated. Stick to a maximum of 2-3 cups of coconut water per day for safety.
How to Take Coconut Water
Coconut water can be drunk straight from the coconut or from a can or bottle. If you are drinking coconut water from a container, make sure that the brand you purchase does not contain any sweeteners or sugar. This will add more calories to your drink than you initially planned to have.
You can spice up your coconut drink by adding some lemon water or honey for more sweetness. If you want, you can still drink your fruit juices but dilute them with some coconut water to cut down on the calorie content. If you want to have some delicious ice popsicles for the summer, you can freeze coconut water in the freezer. For salad dressing lovers, a healthy coconut salad dressing can be prepared by mixing lemon juice, olive oil, coconut water, salt, and pepper.
Have you tried drinking coconut water, and do you like the taste? Do you think it is a good beverage substitute during a diet? Let us know - and make sure to pass it on to your friends and family!
Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!