Health Benefits of Drinking Buko Juice or Coconut Water

By Jennifer Novabos
Health Benefits of Drinking Buko Juice or Coconut Water

Coconut water comes from young green coconuts and is packed with electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids and enzymes for optimum health. It is a low-calorie drink that makes it a better option than sports or energy drinks. It also contains more potassium than banana.

This article provides a list of the surprising benefits of coconut water / buko juice for the body you may or may not know yet.

1. REHYDRATION

Coconut water is an effective thirst quencher after workout or sun exposure. It is excellent in supplying electrolytes to the body and helping it recover from dehydration. Buko Juice (Coconut Water) is also the answer to fluid loss from diarrhea, vomiting, or excessive sweating. It contains five essential electrolytes, which are calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. Coconut water is a tasty alternative to water because of the sweetness from its natural sugar. Sports and energy drinks are high in sugar, that’s why coconut water makes a better and healthier option every time.

2. PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS

Drinking coconut water is an ideal habit to aid in weight loss. It is low in calories and free of fat and cholesterol. It is easy on the stomach but gives you a full feeling after enjoying the drink. Every 250g serving of coconut water contains only 46 calories.

It is also rich potassium, richer than bananas in fact. Potassium regulates excess sodium which can cause water retention and adding to water weight. Drinking coconut water can flush this excess water out of the body.

3. PROMOTES URINARY HEALTH

Coconut water can aid in the prevention of kidney stones formation. Its rich potassium content promotes alkalize urine production, while dissolving and flushing out certain types of kidney stones out of the body.

It also has antibacterial properties that help prevent bladder and urinary tract infections.

4. NATURAL HANGOVER CURE

A hangover is equivalent to dehydration. It flushes out fluids from your body through frequent urination and vomiting. Coconut water is an all-natural remedy to take the hangover away and make you feel better. Due to its potassium content, it provides quick recovery by replenishing the electrolytes in the body.

5. NATURAL HEADACHE REMEDY

Dehydration can trigger headaches and even migraines. Coconut water is highly hydrating and provides instant relief. It is also high in magnesium which is helpful in reducing migraine attacks.

6. IT SUPPORTS HEALTHY DIGESTION

Chugging your recommended eight glasses of water a day keeps everything moving along just dandy in your digestive system and allows nutrients to absorb into the bloodstream. Coconut water, though, takes things to the next level thanks to its fiber and magnesium content. (Surprised?) “Fiber is a crucial component of healthy digestion as it helps move waste through your system,” says Poon. “Magnesium helps to relax your muscles and is often taken in supplement form to help relieve conditions like constipation.”

7. IT SUPPORTS HEALTHY SKIN

Keeping our bodies nice and hydrated not only supports healthy organ function, but it also supports optimal skin health. Regular H20 provides the same benefit, but with coconut water, you also get a small dose of skin-enhancing vitamin C—around 10 milligrams per 100 grams.

“Vitamin C has been shown to support collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Poon says. “Coconut water isn’t going to be the magic bullet towards beautiful skin, but it certainly can help you cultivate beauty from the inside out.”

8. COCONUT WATER IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEART

By now you know that coconut water is a great source of potassium. That’s not only good news in terms of hydration, it also directly benefits the cardiovascular system. Scientific evidence links regular potassium consumption with lowered risk for stroke and coronary heart disease. Considering that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S., that’s a very good reason for drinking coconut water on the reg.

9. IT COULD HELP LOWER CHOLESTEROL

Another reason why coconut water is good for cardiovascular health is that it may help keep cholesterol levels in check. One scientific study found this to be the case—at least in rats. More research needs to be done in order to confirm the connection in human health, but the results are promising.

10. IT CONTRIBUTES TO BONE HEALTH

The calcium in coconut water is directly linked to helping keep teeth and bones strong; up to 99 percent of calcium is stored in our bones. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, adults ages 19 to 50 need at least 1,000 mg of calcium of day. One serving of coconut water has 60 milligrams, which isn’t a ton, but every little bit counts.

11. DRINKING COCONUT WATER HELPS PREVENT CHRONIC INFLAMMATION

When the body experiences high levels of inflammation for a prolonged amount of time, it can lead to chronic disease and cognitive decline. Eating foods high in antioxidants helps mitigate this risk and you can add coconut water to your anti-inflammatory shopping list.

How much coconut water should I drink?

Clearly, coconut water makes a great companion to your regular water consumption. Like with most things, though, it is absolutely possible to have too much of a good thing. Poon points out that coconut water has about 50-60 calories per 8-ounce serving, so chugging it like you would good ol’ H20 all day long isn’t recommended. It also naturally contains some sugar, and some brands add even more to theirs, making it definitely not equivalent to drinking water. It suggests sticking to one to two cups of coconut water per day at most.

How to incorporate coconut water into your daily routine

The other benefit of coconut water: It can be easily incorporated into a variety of healthy recipes. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing, so to speak:

1. Drink it straight up

If regular water feels too dull and you have a hard time hitting your daily hydration goal, consider switching things up with coconut water. “Coconut water has a delicious, almost sweet flavor,”. In other words, it makes hydration a bit more fun (and taste a bit better, too).

2. Turn it into ice cubes

If you’re feeling fancy, it suggests swapping your regular ice cubes and making your own out of coconut water. Then pop them into your favorite cocktail or mocktail for a refreshing twist. 

3. Mix it into your salad dressing

Yes, you can add coconut water to jazz up your salads, too. “Mix it with oil and spices to create a tropical-flavored salad dressing,”.

Drinking coconut water can be a part of a healthy diet as it helps you stay hydrated while being low in calories and being free of fats and cholesterol.