Is Coconut Water All That It’s Cracked Up To Be?

Whether you’re in the gym, at a Bikram yoga class or simply trying to wean yourself off your diet coke addiction, coconut water is seen as the “healthy” drink that will you hydrate faster than water, melt fat and leave you looking like Miranda Kerr after a few sips... well that’s what we think anyway.

But, is this potassium rich potion as healthy as we think?

So what is coconut water? Not to be confused with coconut milk, coconut water is the clear, sweet liquid that’s found inside young green coconuts and if you’re lucky enough to live in a tropical climate you can drink the water straight from the coconut itself. However, much of what we get is pasteurized or from concentrate so many of the enzymes that help detoxify and repair the body have been removed.

But even if you can’t get your hands on the fresh stuff, the coconut water we get is still packed with electrolytes and potassium so it’s great for hydrating the body.

Ri-Ri is a big fan of coconut water

So far, so good so what’s the catch?

What lots of people don’t realise is that coconut water contains naturally occurring sugars and also contains calories so if you’re trying to lose weight, you should be mindful of how many cartons you’re drinking per day, especially if you opt for the versions with added fruit flavourings.

But, at the end of the day, if you find it hard to sip on water and are looking for a bit more flavour, a carton of coconut water will always beat a fizzy drink hands down.