As many of you may have noticed, coconut water has become a major trend in the food world.  Coconut water is the new “it” drink—now available in a number of fruity flavors like pineapple, mango, pomegranate and peach-mango, as well as indulgent flavors like chocolate and vanilla.  Coconut water is everywhere—sold in grocery stores, health-food stores, and even Target.  People across America have fallen in love with coconut water, and I’m proud to say I’m one of them.

I usually don’t get wrapped up in the brouhaha of food trends, but coconut water is one culinary vogue to which I happily subscribe.

But why?  What is so great about coconut water that has so many of us going coco-nuts for it?

For starters, it’s full of electrolytes that do the body wonders before, during and after a workout.  If you’ve ever been on a competitive sports team and had an all-day tournament, or just had an intense workout on your own, you’ve probably experienced that point when water no longer gets the job done in the refueling department.  That’s where many of us turn to Gatorade and other sports drinks, which have electrolytes to replenish those lost during extended physical activity.

Coconut water is a natural conduit of these essential electrolytes, which is precisely why I drink it after every workout.  Among these electrolytes are zinc, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium.  Coconut water supplies a healthy dose of potassium—up to 50 percent more than one whole banana per serving.  Potassium is king when it comes to proper functioning of cells, tissues and organs, and is important for healthy heart functioning and skeletal/smooth muscle contraction.  Potassium prevents cramping during a workout, which is why many of us reach for bananas to get a boost of it.

I first heard about the trend this summer from my mom (I swear moms know everything).  She was the nurse at a renowned performing arts camp in Massachusetts, led by accomplished professional actors, singers, and dancers.  Many of the dancers said they drink coconut water all the time to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes, and prefer it to Gatorade and other sports drinks advertised for having essential electrolytes that water does not.

I certainly found this fascinating but I didn’t realize the popularity of coconut water would manifest itself outside the dancer community until a month ago, when my college roommate came back from the grocery store with nine bottles of it.  I wondered why coconut water would appeal to people other than the professional dancers my mom had told me about, so my friend kindly offered me a sip to quench my culinary curiosity to understand what was so great about it.

After one sip I acquired an instant infatuation with the stuff.  Yep, I went coo-coo for coconut water.

To be sure, coconut water is not a new product.  In fact, it’s been on grocery store shelves for years—in cans.  Canned coconut water can be found in the ethnic foods aisle and sells for less than a dollar each. This is why I was a bit skeptical of the whole coconut water fad at first, since I figured the coconut water marketed and sold in pretty bottles was identical to the canned coconut water that costs less than a dollar. 

Turns out I was wrong.  I did some research on different coconut waters and interestingly enough, canned coconut waters are usually packed and processed differently than bottled coconut waters—which completely alters the flavor profile and damages many nutritional properties.

Best Brands

As far as brands, I recommend Zico—I’ve tried the chocolate, pineapple and mango flavors.  The chocolate is rich and creamy, though it does have more sugar than the plain, pineapple and mango flavors (and calories—110 per bottle).  The pineapple tastes fresher and more natural than the mango, and both have 60 calories per bottle.

Coconut Water vs. Coconut Milk

All of the above describes coconut water, which should not be confused with coconut milk.  Coconut milk is thicker, richer and creamier, and has way more fat than coconut water.  This is because coconut water is made from young coconuts before they develop the white meat in mature coconuts (which contains the fat and cholesterol). Coconut milk is commonly used in Thai curry sauces to balance out the heat of the chilies.

Uses for Coconut Water

I think coconut water tastes fabulous straight up, but it would also be a delicious addition to a nutritious fruit smoothie.  Coconut water also serves as a fresh mixer in cocktails, especially the flavored ones.  Speaking of cocktails, did you know coconut water can also serve as a hangover remedy?  After a night of drinking, a generous swig of coconut water before bed can prevent headaches in the morning.

I know I’m a little late in joining the coconut water fan club, but better late than never, right?  Coconut water is all the rage, and despite my usual indifference toward food trends, I must say I’m a true fan of this refreshing elixir.  It’s healthy, hydrating, and just plain delicious.  It has fewer artificial ingredients than most sports drinks and is made from things good ol’ Mother Nature intended for us to put in our bodies.  I love, love, love coconut water, and hopefully you, too will go coco-nuts for it.

 

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