Have you had your Coconut Water today?

[Dover]

Summer is upon us and this is one of the healthiest and quenching/hydrating drinks available. It's pure, unadulterated water from a coconut.
A couple of brands I know of are Amy & Brian All Natural Coconut Juice, and Zico Pure Premium Coconut Water.



Coconut Water: A New Health Drink


What is the healthiest beverage you can drink? Fruit juice? Milk? Sports drinks? Herbal tea? It may come as a surprise to you, but one of the healthiest beverages is coconut water. Most people respond to this statement with, "what the heck is coconut water?"

You´ve been to the grocery store, picked up a coconut, and shaken it, right? The sloshing sound you hear inside is coconut water. Contrary to popular belief, this liquid is not coconut milk. Coconut milk is made by crushing and squeezing the liquid from coconut meat. What you get is a thick, creamy, white fluid that looks much like dairy milk. Coconut water, on the other hand, looks pretty much like ordinary water, although it may be slightly cloudy due to the vitamin and mineral content. The two are completely different in taste, texture, nutrient content, and health benefits. Coconut water is sometimes referred to as coconut juice and is consumed just like any other fruit juice.

Coconut water has a slightly sweet, somewhat nutty taste. Surprisingly, it doesn´t taste like coconut. It has a flavor all its own. Coconut water has long been the most popular beverage consumed in the tropics where it is considered not only a refreshing drink but a health tonic.

Coconut water is a superfood filled with minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, and growth factors. It is low in fat and has only a fifth of the sugar found in most fresh fruit juices.

Its unique combination of nutrients gives it incredible health promoting properties. Coconut water has a normalizing effect and gives the body a boost of energy so that it can overcome a number of health related conditions. It is effective in relieving dehydration, fatigue, constipation and other digestive disturbances, kidney and bladder disorders, and vision problems such as glaucoma and cataract. It is reported to turn back time, so to speak, by reversing or slowing down the aging process. Coconut water also has an alkalizing effect on the body, helping to counteract or balance the effects of acidifying foods which are so common in our diets.

Research shows that coconut water can improve blood circulation, lower elevated blood pressure, and reduce risk of heart attacks and strokes. Studies have been so impressive that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has approved coconut water to carry the claim that it "may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke."

One of the most remarkable characteristics of coconut water is its chemical profile and mineral content. The primary minerals or electrolytes in coconut water are essentially the same as those found in human blood. For this reason, doctors have used it as an intravenous fluid for rehydration, pumping it directly into the patient´s bloodstream. Numerous studies dating back over 60 years document the successful use of intravenous coconut water in the treatment of malnutrition and dehydration...cont'd

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/81020

------


Another healthy drink (nondairy) is Almond 'Milk' - super in smoothies, on cereals, replacement for milk in recipes, or as a stand alone drink. Creamy and delicious. I enjoy the taste of Blue Diamond's Vanilla Almond Breeze and appreciate that it comes unsweetened as well as sweetened. And their chocolate almond milk is awesome. But then I haven't tried another brand.

http://www.bluediamond.com/shop/natural/almondbreeze32.cfm

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. My mother

always had a coconut around. She'd drill holes in it and I'd get the liquid, which was wonderful. Then we'd work together, taking the shell off the meat and stashing it, tightly wrapped in Saran Wrap, in the fridge, where we'd all snack on it.

Damn. I gotta get me a coconut. Thanks for the reminder..............................

[patrice]

2. I love the coconut meat that way, whole, plain. It's delicious and satisfying.

I'm going to get one too, the next time I go to the grocery store.

[eleny]

3. No, that was MY mother!

Hmmmmmmmmm

But seriously, we often got coconuts and it was such a happy ritual putting a hole in it with a nail and hammer.

You know I'll be picking one up next time I shop - if it ever stops snowing around here!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. My mother was part Lithuanian and part Polish

and half Russian. Her mother - who was half Lithuanian and half Polish - used to grow her own herbs and things in the back yard, and was a real pro with using them as medicine. My Mom learned a lot from her. So, if we were pounding coconuts, it was because it was good for us.

Everything she fed us had a good reason, and we grew up awfully strong and healthy. Mom knew, and her Mom knew.

I'm hitting the market tomorrow. Supposed to be 65, and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, right on time. The forsythia is all over the place ........................

[eleny]

10. Lithuanian on both sides of my family

I remember grandma telling me how when she first came to America that bananas were a wonderful treat but that it took some time getting used to tomatoes.

Coconuts and pomegranates were definitely unusual for Lithuanians but we loved them around our house. Still do!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

11. Yes, pomegranates, too!

All my childhood books have red splatters on them. A kid sitting there, working on a pomegranate, reading.

I never knew my Mom's parents - they were gone before I was born. Only pictures and stories.

My Mom wasn't like the other mothers, thankfully ...............

[eleny]

16. Pomegranates = "Chinese Apples"

No wonder I love autumn. I'm glad that me can get the juice in bottles now, too. But there's nothing like munching on that juicy goodness.

[thegoodbyegirl]

55. Pomegranates are incredible for us...mucho antioxidants

So much better than the pasteurized drink.

[emilyg]

18. My grandma did that, too.

For bruises, burns, coughs - she'd go out to her garden and pick appropriate herbs.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. Doctor told me to never touch anything coconut ever again.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. Saturated fat?

Got a plaque problem?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

7. Ridiculously high triglycerides.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. Oh, rats ...........

That's the luck of the genetic draw, I honestly believe.

Well, coconut's not that important. Better you should stay with the stuff that's good for you. There are lots of foods out there...........

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. Pretty clearly genetic in my case. Tri-Cor is doing the job though.

[Schema Thing]

13. you might try coconut water. it has a normalizing effect.

:P

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

28. A normalizing effect on what?

[Dover]

17. The oil, the milk or the water?

I think there's a big difference (which is not to suggest that the water is 'okay' for you).
Just trying to clarify.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

27. Doctor told me to touch none of it.

[JohnyCanuck]

14. For what it's worth,

that is probably because technically coconut oil is considered a saturated fat which is known to raise cholesterol. However health food advocates and pro-coconut advocates believe that the coconut fat/oil is actually beneficial for the body in ways that normal saturated fat from animal sources is not and actually acts on the body in a way that counteracts the normal adverse effects of saturated fat. See, for example, the explanation posted here http://www.coconut-connections.com/ . I am not a medical expert, and I am certainly not advising you to go against your doctor's advice on my say so, or on the basis of a few articles posted on the internet. Just thought I would mention this and provide the link as an FYI for those people interested in this topic, and if you want you can discusses with the doc and see if he thinks there might be anything in it.

And if anyone needs further evidence that inhabitants of tropical islands have long known of the benefits of coconut products, just see this video of an old time Harry Belafonte Calypso "Coconut Woman" performed by an Australian guitarist, Sal Bonavita:
http://www.nylonguitarist.com/coconut_woman.html :)

[Schema Thing]

12. WT holy F is a "normalizing" effect?

I hate hate hate the above style of writing.

aside from that, I saw coconut water with pineapple pulp @ the local Mercado just a few minutes ago. Almost bought it out of curiosity, next time I will. I'm sure it is good for you.

[trotsky]

23. It's something you say when you don't want to make a specific health claim.

Which, when you're pushing a product that hasn't been proven to do anything in particular, you have to.

[omega minimo]

31. .

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22normalizing+effect%22&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

[Dover]

15. You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up!

Put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the lime in the coconut and call the doctor woke him up
I said Doctor! Is there nothing I can take
I said Doctor! To relieve this bellyache
I said Doctor! Is there nothing I can take
I said Doctor! To relieve this bellyache

Oh let me get this straight
Oh Mr. Doctor man I think i'm going insane
My girls been creepin on me and my head is in pain
I can flee away from all these funky beats

You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the lime in the coconut and call the doctor, woke him up
I said doctor, is there nothing I can take
I said doctor, to relieve this bellyache
I said doctor, is there nothing I can take
I said doctor, to relieve this bellyache

let me get this straight
You put the lime in the coconut and drink them both together
Put the lime in the coconut and you feel better
Put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em all up
You put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning
doctor, is there nothing I can take
I said doctor, to relieve this bellyache
I said doctor, is there nothing I can take
I said doctor, to relieve this bellyache

You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
Put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
Put the lime in the coconut; you're such a silly one
You put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em both together
Put the lime in the coconut and you feel better
Put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em all down
You put the lime in the coconut and call me in the mornin'

Woooo Woooo
Is there nothing I can take
Wooo Wooo
To relieve this bellyache, I said
Oh Wooo Wooo
Is there nothing I can take I said
Wooo Wooo
To relieve this bellyache I said
Yeah Yeah
Is there nothing I can take I said
Wah Wahh
To relieve this bellyache I said
Doctor! Is there nothing I can take I said
Doctor! To relieve this bellyache
Put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em both together
Put the lime in the coconut and then you'll feel better
Put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up
You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Coconut-lyrics-Baha-Men/5D813259A608172948256C88002993B3

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. why not just buy the coconut and crack it open?

[Dover]

20. That would be the ideal solution IF you have access to coconuts.

And definitely more fun!

Exposure to air begins to degrade the coconut water's nutritional integrity (followed by fermentation), so drilling a hole in a coconut and drinking it on the spot is ideal. However, assuming the canning/bottling process maintains a reasonable level of freshness (not exposed to air) , commercially available drinks might be more accessible for many and almost as good.

[Adsos Letter]

21. I have just the thing for you all, if I may be allowed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7LUHHLIRQI :D

:hi:


.

[cosmik debris]

22. I've got to wonder

If I posted an article written by the director of research for Merck praising Merck's products, would that be welcomed here?

When you post an article written by the director of the Coconut Research Center praising their products, is that any different?

I've seen a lot of people posting sales pitches in this forum, and I always wonder if they (and the readers) recognize that they are reading a sales pitch disguised as journalism or educational material.

The article you cited is clearly promotional material and should be taken with the same sincerity as a used car salesman's pitch.

[trotsky]

24. How about if someone with any relationship to the corn-growing industry...

made a statement about corn syrup? Such a testimony would be laughed out of this forum. I guess what it comes down to is just how much money is involved. Because people will clearly lie when billions of dollars are at stake, but they'll be honest as the day is long if only millions are involved. :sarcasm:

[cosmik debris]

25. Well, It's not like he was selling coconuts to cure AIDS--oh wait...

Yes he is!

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/91693

And he claims to be a naturopathic physician which doesn't even require a license in some states.

[trotsky]

26. WTFLOLBBQ?!?

Oh man.

[omega minimo]

32. "reported success lowering their viral loads and improving their overall health"

"Coconut oil is composed of a unique group of fats known as medium chain triglycerides (MCT). When eaten, our bodies transform MCT into medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) and monoglycerides both of which possess powerful antiviral properties. Knowledge of coconut oil´s effect on HIV has been circulating in the AIDS community ever since Icelandic researcher Halldor Thormar began publishing studies on this topic in the early 1990s. Since then, HIV-infected individuals have reported success lowering their viral loads and improving their overall health by adding coconut oil or coconut products to their diets."

[cosmik debris]

33. Anecdotes are not evidence. n/t

[omega minimo]

34. one liners are not discussion.

what problem do you have with "reported success lowering their viral loads and improving their overall health"?

[cosmik debris]

35. There is no way to confirm that report.

There is no independent verification.

The quack who reported it is not a doctor or an AIDS researcher. He is a quack.

It is a report from a salesman who wants to sell you a product.

You may be gullible enough to believe fast talking salesmen, but I have higher standards for belief.

The report is worthless. If you want evidence, you'll have to do better than that.

That was not even reported in a reputable journal. It is just a story, not a fact.

[omega minimo]

36. rather than discuss ANY information, you antagonize and insult.

[cosmik debris]

38. You don't have reliable information to discuss

All you have is anecdotal evidence which is not worth discussing.

Any one can make up stories.

Get back to me when you have something that is more than just story telling.

[omega minimo]

40. "you" presume to demand restriction on OR SHUT DOWN discussion "you" are not interested in

get back to "us" when you have some interest or contribution beyond doing damage.


"All you have is anecdotal evidence which is not worth discussing."

Who are *you* to tell people what to discuss?

[cosmik debris]

41. Wow! you really like to make up stuff don't you!

Just because I refuse to discuss your salesman's propaganda doesn't mean that you can't discuss it.

Your crazy notion that I am demanding something or restricting your posts is absurd. There is no way I can prevent you from posting any kind of woowoo you want to post. You are just playing the martyr card to get sympathy for your woowoo position.

There are a lot of suckers in this group who will discuss this with you because they too believe anything a salesman tells them.

I just don't see anything to discuss here except the total lack of credibility of the author. Do you want to discuss that or are you trying to SHUT ME DOWN and RESTRICT what can be discussed?

:rofl:

[omega minimo]

44. "you" are talking to "you" with scattershot blanket accusations. "your salesman's propaganda"

yours are the crazy notions.

[cosmik debris]

46. So you do want to discuss the lack of credibility of the author?

Besides being a salesman with no academic credentials of any value, he is also a paid shill for the industry he is bragging about.

If a salesman for Merck or Pfizer posted here about how wonderful their drugs are, would you believe that?

What if Glaxo announced that it had a cure for AIDS, but they would not submit it to trials. You just have to take their word for it. Would you believe that.

I suspect that you only believe the things that you wish were true. And actual facts play little role in that.

[omega minimo]

47. I was open to considering your offer, give you another chance and you finish with another insult.

:thumbsdown:

[cosmik debris]

48. If the shoe fits... n/t

[omega minimo]

49. If the bull shits

you never wanted to discuss anything, just piss on the thread.

[cosmik debris]

50. I just wanted to point out that the author was a paid shill.

That's not in dispute. He is selling a product by using a lot of shady sales practices.

If you want to buy into his con, that's up to you.

[omega minimo]

51. "just"

No, that's not "just" what you wanted. Every one of your posts has nasty barb in it. That's appears to be what you're interested in.

IMHO if you made your point and actually wanted to discuss, it doesn't have to eliminate any discussion of the potential properties of coconut juice. :crazy:




"If you want to buy into his con, that's up to you."

If you want to buy into your own (and others' septic) assumptions, that's up to you.

Your assumptions about everyone and everything and every poster all lumped together as one entity you pretend to "discuss" with, in order to deliver your petty personal assumptions.

Your choice.

[cosmik debris]

52. Again you are making stuff up.

Nothing I have said would "eliminate any discussion of the potential properties of coconut juice."

I don't have that magical power to stop people from posting.

You seem intent on condemning me for not discussion YOUR topic.

I think YOUR topic is bogus and does not deserve discussion. If you want to discuss it I can't stop you.

Just remember, you responded to my discussion about the shady reputation of the author. And you are welcome to do that. But to blame me for not changing the subject to discuss YOUR topic is just crazy.

I am not going to discuss the miracle property of coconut juice to cure AIDS because I don't believe it will cure AIDS.

But I can't stop you from discussing that if you do believe it will cure AIDS.

But it does make you look pretty gullible.

[omega minimo]

53. "But I can't stop you from discussing that if you do believe it will cure AIDS."

another barb, at least you used "if" :rofl: that's progress. It doesn't have to be ALL OR NOTHING does it?

It doesn't hurt to slow down and realize that the discussion is not about curing AIDS. It's about coconut juice.

Maybe it's even possible to realize that those of us interested are not all the same person and don't take everything we read on the Internets as THE TRUTH. :wow:

People are more skeptical than that.

okay CK, I hope you feel better soon, good luck :toast:

[Why Syzygy]

39. I'm interested in anecdotal information.

When I was struck with an "incurable" condition in 1992, I was very happy for my massage therapist to inform me of an alternate treatment, which "cured" the condition. I didn't ask her for published studies.

If there ever comes a day when we can't receive information from each other, our society will collapse.

[omega minimo]

43. Anecdotally

I was recovering from an awful flu last year, shopping for juices and bumped into my glassblower friend on his way to buy a case of Zico, "only thing that keeps me hydrated working the furnaces all day" -- also a former runner who knows what he's "anecdoting" about. :evilgrin:

"If there ever comes a day when we can't receive information from each other, our society will collapse."

Indeed. Health anecdotes a thought crime? :thumbsdown:

[cpompilo]

29. Coconut water comes from young, green coconuts.

As a person who has dehydration problems I drink coconut water daily. My body appreciates the electrolytes and apparently coconut water has anti-fungal properties.

[leftyladyfrommo]

61. I drink coconut water. I love it. It is delicious when its really cold.

Its high in potassium and magnesium and some other minerals. Supposed to be really good for people with urinary tract problems or kidney stones.

I just really like the way it tastes. It is a little high in sodium but not bad.

[omega minimo]

30. Zico is very good

A friend who's a glass blower says it's the only drink that keeps him hydrated (around the furnaces all the time)

[cpompilo]

37. I buy the O.N.E. brand.

I find the taste of coconut water a little too sweet so I mix it with fruit juice. It makes a great substitute for water in any recipe.

[omega minimo]

42. Zico has a Mango flavor, unflavored and at least one more flavor... very refreshing. Not as sweet as

coconut milk

[cpompilo]

45. Sounds delicious, however, I can't have anything with "flavors" in them as they can be a source

source of hidden sugars. I make my own coconut milk, it's awesome in coffee or soups or stir fry.

[thegoodbyegirl]

54. Thank you for this! Coconut water, as well as its other components,

is a life-giving substance. I know a rawfood writer who uses it instead of Gatorade as a drink whilst exercising!

[trotsky]

56. Bwah ha ha ha

Not a good idea to take "life-giving substance" advice from a person who got her latest tombstone.
:rofl:

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[uppityperson]

59. did it come and go again already? Post 1 down is deleted.

[trotsky]

60. Yeah, I totally missed it.

Weekend - might as well do a two-fer, I suppose.

[uppityperson]

57. goodbye