Naturally refreshing, sweet coconut water, as you know, has a nutty, delicious taste. The drink contains easily digested carbohydrates in the form of sugar and electrolytes.
There are a lot of beverages and foods that claim to be good for your oral health. But you cannot compare them to the health benefits of coconut water. This natural drink works by getting rid of toxins from your body. Regular consumption of this natural, healthy drink can lead to digestive system improvements and several oral health benefits.
Due to its recent explosion in popularity, you find more information on the topic. However, coconut water has been consumed for centuries, especially in hot, tropical regions worldwide. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, coconut water is believed to help digestion, urination, and even semen production. Particular importance is given to this natural drink. Over the years, it has also traditionally been used to treat dehydration and oral health problems.
It might not have a miracle cure, but the drink has many health benefits. Keep reading below to find out how adding more coconut water to your diet may improve your oral health.
What is Coconut Water?
Coconut water is the refreshing, clear liquid you find inside immature or green coconuts. As the coconut matures, the coconut meat slowly replaces the water. The water is sometimes called green coconut water because the immature coconuts are green in color.
This naturally refreshing, nutty coconut water is super tasty to drink and healthier than any other artificial beverage. The drink contains easily digested carbohydrates in the form of electrolytes and sugar. Not to be confused with other drinks, this natural drink is found in the fruit’s center which is tapped from green, young coconuts.
Coconut water is the clear liquid inside the hard green coconuts you generally see on the trees. However, you should not confuse it with coconut milk, which you find in supermarkets. Coconut milk is artificially made from the flesh inside of a mature coconut. Coconut water is about 95 percent water and is very healthy.
The water found inside the coconut is known for its electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals. You can purchase this tropical drink from vending machines to yoga studios just from anywhere.
Real Benefits of Coconut Water
Unlike many energy drinks and sugar-filled beverages, coconut water is actually nutritious and contains antioxidants, amino acids, and healthy vitamins. It also has several essential compounds, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
One of the key benefits of coconut water – it is suitable for individuals living with dry mouths as the drink’s natural electrolytes. Electrolytes are substances present in your body that help balance your bodily fluids, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium. It means drinking natural coconut water might help keep you more hydrated than drinking soda or juice. The more hydrated you stay, the better your body deals with dry mouth symptoms.
The water from the coconut fruit also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Meaning it helps combat inflammation in your body. When left unchecked, such inflammation may lead to many chronic diseases. Therefore the more ways you fight back, the better it is.
Oral Benefits of Coconut Water
Listed below are a few of the oral benefits of coconut water:
1 Reduce oral bacteria
Oral bacteria may be really harmful when it comes to your dental health. The bacteria produce acids that erode your teeth’ enamel, leading to cavities and decay.
Harmful bacteria harden to form plaque on teeth that cause gum infection. Fortunately, this water can help reduce these harmful effects on your teeth. The water can also help remove bacteria from your mouth. Including the gum disease causing bacteria.
2 Replace electrolytes
Another excellent oral health benefit of this natural water is that it can easily replace electrolytes in the body. It is a great time to try this natural drink if you need oral surgery, like dental procedures to remove your wisdom teeth.
Especially after any dental surgery, the cells in your body rely on electrolytes, as it keeps the cell membranes stable. The cell membranes actually carry electrical charges required for muscle contraction. Moreover, if you lose electrolytes throughout the day exercising, the water from the coconut can replace them instantly.
3 Powerhouse of vital minerals
Besides being an excellent hydrating agent, the drink from the coconut contains the necessary organic compounds that protect your cells. Moreover, this tropical fluid is rich in a plethora of active agents that boost your immune system. This natural drink can also fight against the inflammatory response of microbes.
Coconut water includes organic agents like amino acids, calcium, antioxidants, cytokinins, magnesium, and potassium. Moreover, the drink is low in calories. The minerals like potassium and magnesium contents in this natural beverage help prevent yeast infection in the mouth.
4 A healthy beverage choice
Unfortunately, there are a lot of unhealthy beverages available in the market. A bottle of soda may taste delicious, but these drinks are full of harmful sugars and acids that can not wait to attack your teeth the moment you drink them.
On the other hand, this natural drink is a healthy alternative for those. It may be a bit sweeter than regular water, but it does magic to your complete body. Your teeth will really thank you for it.
5 Contains natural sugar
The water from the coconut fruit is sweet because of the naturally occurring sugars. The fluid contains glucose 50 percent, sucrose 35 percent, and fructose 15 percent.
As this water contains glucose sugar, it does not affect your teeth as refined sugars do. Sugary drinks feed the harmful bacteria in your mouth to wreck your teeth.
Meanwhile, the packed sweetened waters available in the market have sweetened agents that escalate the sugar contents in your mouth. Remember to take sweetened coconut beverages but consume them within limits.
Science-Based Health Benefits of Coconut Water
Few health benefits of this natural drink are as follows:
1 Good source of several nutrients
Coconuts typically grow in tropical climates on tall trees near the sea or ocean coasts and in wet areas. The sweet water from the fruit is often found in the center of a green, young coconut. An average green coconut will provide about 1/2–1 cup of fluid. The water in the coconut will contain 94 percent water with very little fat. The water is rich in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.
2 May have antioxidant properties
Coconut water contains antioxidants that are beneficial in modifying free radicals, so they no longer cause harm. During a metabolic activity, your cells produce free radicals, which are unstable molecules. Their production automatically increases when you have stress or injury.
If there are too many free radicals, your body may enter a state of oxidative stress. These free radicals then damage your cells and increase disease risk. Hence this natural drink can significantly improve oxidative stress when taken regularly.
3 Helps lower blood sugar if you have diabetes
Several studies have stated that water from the coconut can lower blood sugar levels and improve overall health. Another added blood sugar benefit – it is a good source of magnesium. The water from coconut can help increase insulin sensitivity and decrease blood sugar levels, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes.
4. May help prevent kidney stones
Hope you know that drinking enough fluids is essential for kidney stone prevention. Although plain water could be a good choice, coconut water might be even better. Most kidney stones are created when calcium, oxalate, and other compounds combine to form crystals in your urine. The next step is these crystals to form tiny stones.
According to research, coconut water can prevent these kidney crystals from sticking to the kidney and other areas of your urinary tract. The natural drink can also reduce the number of crystals formed in your urine. Much early research suggests that water from coconuts may help prevent kidney stones by reducing crystal and stone formation.
5. May support heart health
Drinking this natural drink might reduce heart disease risk. Studies have confirmed a reduction in cholesterol and triglyceride levels by drinking water from the fruit. Therefore the study proved that the drink might be beneficial for lowering blood pressure in people suffering from high blood pressure.
Takeaway
Coconut water is indeed a delicious, electrolyte-filled, natural beverage that may benefit your heart, help improve kidney health and moderate your blood sugar levels. Besides keeping you refreshed and hydrated, especially after a tedious workout.
If you want to start sipping this tropical drink, you should try the natural one first. Though you can find an array of brands on the supermarket shelves or your local grocery store, avoid added sugar products.
To be precise, if you are seriously concerned about your oral health while taking beverages, then this natural tropical drink will be the right choice. Its organic substances help eliminate harmful microbes in your body and boost your overall health.
Energy and sports drinks you take often help to replace electrolytes and replenish the body nutrients you lose throughout the day or after an exercise. Unfortunately, these flavoring agents contain sweetening substances present in those drinks. These harmful substances then tend to damage your oral cavity. So try minimizing them as much as possible.
Hope you have read how coconut water is nature’s energy drink that can restore the electrolytes like your favorite energy-boosting beverages without affecting your dental health.
When you combine it with good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, coconut water is indeed a healthy addition to your oral care regimen. Call us today to learn more about the benefits of this natural drink, and our dentists will guide you in the right direction.
Read similar articles on pure water, benefits of coconut water, and more.
Dr. Amal Al Qedrah Medical Center
Royal European Specialist Polyclinic