Anyone who has known me, will likely know that I used to drink gatorade religiously. It was the greatest compliment to the college lifestyle–it rehydrated after workouts and sports and also combated those inevitable hangovers.
After years of consuming the sugary sweet beverage known as gatorade, I’ve finally made the transition to its naturally superior* replacement.
Coconut Water.
It’s all natural, has no food colouring, and no added sugar. It has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than gatorade. Marketers have been calling it “Mother Nature’s Sports Drink,” and they may just be on to something. I’ve taken the liberty of investigating a few recent studies and have compiled FIVE reasons why YOU should be drinking coconut water.
1. Coconut water has more potassium than a banana.
Most North Americans don’t meet their daily requirement of potassium intake, don’t get left in the dust.
2. It contains naturally occurring elements such as Chloride, Magnesium and lauric acid.
Chloride is an electrolyte which brings alkaline levels back in balance. Magnesium maintains bodily nerves, muscles and bones. What’s lauric acid? Well its a substance present in breast milk, so you know it’s going to get you jacked.
3. Natural vs. Artificial.
This was the main selling point for me. As long you don’t buy some cheap imitation from concentrate, coconut water is 100% natural. The main reason it can pull this off without additives and preservatives is its sterility. When the water is produced, it permeates through the filtering husk. Furthermore, the sugars that are found in it are 5mg of naturally occurring, compared to gatorades 20mg of altered sugars.
4. Coconut water has successfully been used for intravenous hydration.
It sounds absurd, but here’s the proof. It is naturally isotonic, possessing the same balance as the plasma in human blood. Next test, inject gatorade into our blood and record the results…
Well, there you have it. The taste may not be as tantalizing as a melted freezie, but give it a week and I guarantee you’ll prefer its nutty sweetness over that of a sports drink. Whether its post spin class or post bar night, it’ll rehydrate you and keep you one step ahead of the game.
*Now, don’t get me wrong, gatorade is still a very effective drink, in fact its higher sodium and engineered electrolytes are sometimes more ideal for very high calibre athletes. But unless you’re working out like Mike Cammalleri, coconut water will more than meet your needs. On top of that, the food dyes used in gatorade are not great for your health.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/truth-about-coconut-water
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=coconut%20water%20health
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/food-dye-adhd