Is Coconut Water the Best Sports Drink?

Coconut water (CW) has exploded onto the scene in the United Kingdom and the United States recently. In case you do not follow the latest fashion magazines, coconut water is the juice of green coconuts found . It was presented as a natural source of electrolytes , and is full of vitamins and minerals.

The drink was popular in Southeast Asia , Brazil , India and the Caribbean , but now more and more popular in the West. Not quite fresh coconut , but as bottled or canned. This is the latest celebrity with many well- known names photographed drinking, and even invest in this sector.

The articles have not lost it , and now it's coconut water isotonic marketing natural health drink. Some even promoted as an alternative to sports drinks, but how much truth is there in the marketing hype ?

natural moisture

There is no denying that it is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamins potassium, magnesium and B , in fact, contains similar levels of electrolyte found naturally in the blood, making it a good choice for the hydration. A Malaysian study (published in the Journal of Southeast Asian tropical medicine and public health ) tested 10 men working in the heat for 90 minutes, showed that bit more hydrated and drink a modern gym, and performing slightly better than water alone.

sodium

So , coconut water and hydration can help, but a sports drink does more than just moisturize the body. In our bodies lose as sweat electrolytes , sodium chloride in particular, but also potassium and other minerals . The loss of these electrolytes hinders athletic performance and can cause cramps in the most extreme circumstances. While up to 15 times more potassium than regular sports drinks , which usually contain a fraction of the mainstream sodium found in sports drinks and sodium is lost much higher rates during intense exercise potassium .

Fuel to produce

Second, exercise longer , 40 minutes or more, the body needs to replenish their energy . In this spirit , sports drinks tend to contain relatively high levels of carbohydrates to help replenish the body. There have been a number of articles and experts say that the coconut juice (water ) is not sufficient in this respect , because of low levels of carbohydrates, but a closer examination shows that 250 ml Gatorade ( a popular sports drink ) contains a little more than 50 kcal Carbohydrates . Curiously water 250ml coconut nuts also contain about 50 Kcal of carbohydrates . Other marks may vary slightly, but it clearly shows that it contains comparative levels of carbohydrate replenishment .

Is coconut water a suitable alternative for modern sports drinks ? After reviewing the facts, we would have to conclude that contains high levels of electrolytes , carbohydrates, as well as leading sports drinks and slightly better than water and contains reasonable levels of carbohydrates. In this spirit , we should conclude that it works well as a sports drink , but low sodium levels could mean that it is unsafe to drink only for participants in the high-intensity exercise for long periods , however drunk in combination with water or a sports drink regularly and is ideal.

That said, can be expensive, sporty little more, but it is good to remember that coconut water is packed with vitamins and minerals that have health benefits of the sport. Ultimately , if you like the taste , then go for it .