8 Science-Based Health Benefits of Coconut Water

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Coconuts grow on large palm trees known scientifically as Cocos nucifera. Despite the name, the coconut is botanically considered a fruit rather than a nut.

Coconut water is the juice found in the center of a young, green coconut. It helps nourish the fruit.

As the coconut matures, some of the juice remains in liquid form while the rest ripens into the solid white flesh known as coconut meat (1Trusted Source).

Coconut water forms naturally in the fruit and contains 94% water and very little fat.

It should not be confused with coconut milk, which is made by adding water to grated coconut meat. Coconut milk contains about 50% water and is very high in coconut fat.

Coconuts take 10–12 months to fully mature. Coconut water typically comes from young coconuts about 6–7 months of age, though it's also found in mature fruit.

An average green coconut provides about 0.5–1 cups of coconut water.

One cup (240 ml) contains 46 calories, as well as (2):

• Carbs: 9 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Protein: 2 grams
• Vitamin C: 10% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 15% of the RDI
• Manganese: 17% of the RDI
• Potassium: 17% of the RDI
• Sodium: 11% of the RDI
• Calcium: 6% of the RDI

Shop for coconut water online.

SUMMARYCoconut water is found in young coconuts and a good source of fiber, vitamin C and several important minerals.

Free radicals are unstable molecules produced in your cells during metabolism. Their production increases in response to stress or injury.

When there are too many free radicals, your body enters a state of oxidative stress, which can damage your cells and increase disease risk (3Trusted Source).

Research on animals exposed to toxins has shown that coconut water contains antioxidants which modify free radicals so they no longer cause harm (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

One study found that rats with liver damage showed significant improvement in oxidative stress when treated with coconut water compared to rats that received no treatment (6Trusted Source).

In another study, rats on a high-fructose diet were treated with coconut water. Free radical activity decreased, as did blood pressure, triglycerides and insulin levels (7Trusted Source).

So far, no studies have investigated this antioxidant activity in humans.

SUMMARYCoconut water contains antioxidants that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Research has shown that coconut water can lower blood sugar levels and improve other health markers in diabetic animals (8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).

In one study, diabetic rats treated with coconut water maintained better blood sugar levels than the control group (9Trusted Source).

The same study also found that the rats given coconut water had lower levels of hemoglobin A1c, indicating good long-term blood sugar control (9Trusted Source).

Another study noticed that providing coconut water to rats with diabetes led to improvements in blood sugar levels and reductions in markers of oxidative stress (10Trusted Source).

However, controlled studies are needed to confirm these effects in humans.

Nevertheless, with its 3 grams of fiber and a digestible carb content of only 6 grams per cup (240 ml), coconut water can easily fit into a meal plan for people with diabetes.

It’s also a good source of magnesium, which may increase insulin sensitivity and decrease reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).

SUMMARYStudies on diabetic animals suggest that coconut water may improve blood sugar control. It's also a good source of magnesium, which may increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels.

Drinking enough fluids is important for kidney stone prevention.

Although plain water is a great choice, one study suggests that coconut water may be even better.

Kidney stones form when calcium, oxalate and other compounds combine to form crystals in your urine (13Trusted Source).

These can then form stones. However, some people are more susceptible to developing them than others (13Trusted Source).

In a study in rats with kidney stones, coconut water prevented crystals from sticking to the kidneys and other parts of the urinary tract. It also reduced the number of crystals formed in the urine (14Trusted Source).

Researchers believe that coconut water helped reduce free radical production that occurred in response to high oxalate levels in urine.

Keep in mind that this is the first study examining coconut water's effects on kidney stones. More research is needed in this area.

SUMMARYEarly animal research suggests that water from coconuts may prevent kidney stones by reducing crystal and stone formation.

Drinking coconut water may be helpful to reduce heart disease risk.

In one study, rats that consumed coconut water had reductions in blood cholesterol and triglycerides. They also experienced significant decreases in liver fat (15Trusted Source).

In another study, the same researchers fed rats a similar diet supplemented with the same dosage (4 ml per 100 grams of body weight) of coconut water.

After 45 days, the coconut water group had a reduction in cholesterol and triglyceride levels that rivaled the effects of a statin drug used to lower cholesterol (16Trusted Source).

Keep in mind that this was a very high dose. In human terms, it would be equivalent to a 150-pound (68-kg) person consuming 91 ounces (2.7 liters) of coconut water per day.

Nevertheless, the finding that it reduced cholesterol as effectively as a statin drug is very impressive and should be further investigated.

SUMMARYAnimal studies suggest that coconut water may have powerful cholesterol-lowering properties.

Coconut water may be great for controlling blood pressure.

In one small study in people with high blood pressure, coconut water improved systolic blood pressure (the higher number of a blood pressure reading) in 71% of participants (17Trusted Source).

Additionally, coconut water contains an impressive 600 mg of potassium in 8 ounces (240 ml). Potassium has been shown to lower blood pressure in people with high or normal blood pressure (18Trusted Source, 19