What is coconut water?
Coconut water is the clear liquid found inside young, green coconuts. As the coconut matures, this liquid becomes replaced by coconut meat. Coconut water has long been drunk in the tropics and it has gained popularity in North America over the last couple years as a natural sports drink alternative. It’s naturally high in potassium and other electrolytes and doesn’t contain the sugar and chemicals found in sports drinks like Gatorade. And unlike coconut milk, coconut water is virtually fat free and has a relatively low carbohydrate count.
Does It Work?
I’ve always tended to just drink water after working out, but with all the hype and celebrity endorsements, I decided to give coconut water a try. I didn’t notice any results right away in terms of being better hydrated, but a couple hours later, I looked in the mirror and noticed my skin was looking especially glowy.
You Are What You Eat
Of course I’ve heard that your diet affects your skin, and I mostly eat well, but I’ve never seen this in action so clearly as since I started drinking coconut water. I don’t know the reason why coconut water works so well, I just know that an hour or two after I drink it, my skin looks significantly better than it did before. I’ve also started getting random complements on my skin since I started drinking coconut water.
How Much is Enough?
I can only speak from experience, but I tend to buy the small cartons of Vita Coco (330 mL) and drink about half at a time. I don’t drink it just after I work out or every day either, just whenever I feel like it.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Since coconut water has become so trendy, I see new companies selling it all the time. It doesn’t have a strong taste, but I do notice that different companies’ can taste slightly different. So, if you don’t like the first one you try, you might want to give another one a go before you give up on it completely. Also, a lot of brands sell different flavours, if you aren’t a fan of the taste on its own. I have seen some companies that add sugars and artificial flavours to their coconut water though, so just be on the lookout for that when choosing a brand. I buy from companies that are not from concentrate too, as I tend to think you’ll get the most benefit from those.
Another Use
I also stumbled across another, somewhat bizarre-sounding use for coconut water. One day I had a HUGE pimple on my chin and was at my wit’s end looking for something to bring it down quickly. (Of course this would happen on a day when I had to go out and couldn’t just hide at home.) I was drinking coconut water and remembered reading about people using coconut water as a toner, so I dabbed a little on my blemish. Now this was a big honkin’ zit, and the coconut water definitely brought the inflammation down. I spot treated it several more times that day and while it didn’t completely eliminate it on contact or anything, it did reduce it in size and redness. The pimple also healed completely in just two days – usually I would have expected a pimple like this to dig in its heels and hang around for at least a week! I’ve tried this a couple times since and it’s worked just as well…amazing!
The Bottom Line
Whether or not using coconut water as a spot treatment sounds too bizarre to try, I recommend at least trying it as a drink. If nothing else, it’s refreshing and tastes good, and you might be surprised at the results!
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