Tender coconut water ‐ its Health benefits

The water of fresh tender coconut (king coconut or 'Thembili' and 'Weware') which is the liquid

endosperm is the most nutritious wholesome beverage that the nature has provided for the people

of the tropics to fight the sultry heat. It has a caloric value of 17.4 per 100 gm.

According to Ayurveda "It is unctuous, sweet, increasing semen, promoting digestion and clearing the

urinary path."

Medicinal properties of Tender Coconut Water (T.C.W.)

Some of the medicinal properties of T.C.W. reported are:

1. Good for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances.

2. Oral rehydration medium.

3. Contains organic compounds containing growth promoting properties.

4. Keeps the body cool.

5. Application on the body prevents prickly heat and summer boils and subsides the rashes caused by

small pox, chicken pox and measles etc.

6. Presence of saline and albumin makes it a good drink in cholera cases.

7. Excellent tonic for the old and the sick.

8. Diuretic (a substance which tends to increase flow of urine).

9. Can be injected intravenously in emergency cases such as cholera and dysentery when other

pyrogen‐free fluids are not available.

10. Can be used as a blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, pyrogen ‐ free and does not

produce heat, and does not destroy blood cells.

11. Aids the quick absorption of drugs and make their peak concentration in the blood easier by its

electrolyte effect.

12. Urinary antiseptic and eliminates poisons in case of mineral poisoning.

'Fluid of Life'

Tender coconut water is the natural isotonic beverage with almost the same level of electrolyte

balance as we have in our blood. It is the 'fluid of life' says Chief of FAO's Agricultural and Post

Harvest Management Service, Morton Satin.

A word of warning

When T. C. W. is injected intravenously, in view of its high potassium level (290 mg%) it may cause hyperkalemia (high level of serum potassium) in patients with poor kidney function.

In cases of patients with dysentery and cholera and other types of severe diarrhoea, in whom, serum potassium level may be low, T.C.W. can be used both orally and intravenously. T.C.W. has been used intravenously to treat diarrhoea both in Sri Lanka and abroad by various researchers.

As mentioned earlier, T.C.W. is best avoided in patients with hyperkalaemia such as renal failure, acute adrenal insufficiency and in patients with low urine output due to haemolysis following blood

transfusions and in case of viper bite in whom serum potassium is usually very high.

Use of i.v. Tender Coconut Water in the treatment of Diarrhoea

Prof. K. Rajasuriya and colleagues were the first to use i.v. T.C.W. to treat diarrhoea in Sri Lanka (CMJ, Vol. 2, 1954, 255‐261) Prof. C.C. De Silva used intravenous T.C.W. in the treatment of infantile

diarrhoea (Paediatric International Rome, 19, 1958, 225) Dr. (Mrs) N. P. Fernando used T.C.W. as i.v. rehydrating fluid in malnourished children with diarrhoea (J.C.H., Vol 4, 1955, 57‐59).

Tender coconut water has been used in other areas of the world where intravenous solutions cannot be obtained. Japanese have used T.C.W. intravenously in Sumatra in World War I. Pradera et al have used intravenous T.C.W. for paediatric patients in Havana, Cuba without any serious reactions (Am. J.Dis. Child, 64, 1942, 977).

Dr. Ben Eisman at Barnes Hospital, St. Louis used fresh intravenous T.C.W. in 21 patients without evidence of any serious reactions (B. Eisman, A.M.A. Archives of Surgery, 68, 1954, 167).

Composition of Fresh Tender Coconut Water

Sugars in the form of glucose and fructose form an important constituent of T.C.W. The concentration of sugar steadily increases from 1.5% to about 5.5% in the early months of maturation and this slowly falls to about 2% at the stage of full maturity.

Sucrose which is a non‐reducing sugar, appears in the late stages and this increases with maturity. So tender king coconut water and 'Wewara' water do not contain significant amounts of sucrose 90% of total sugar in mature coconut is sucrose and hence the different taste of mature coconut water.

Minerals

Tender coconut water contains most of the minerals such as potassium (290 mg%), Sodium (42 mg%), Calcium (44 mg%), magnesium (10 mg%), Phosphorus (9.2 mg%), iron (106 mg%), and copper (26 mg%) (Source: Satyavate Krishnankutty, 1987).

King Coconut

"Thambili", (King Coconut) short in stature and indigenous to that country and the nuts of which its inhabitants regard as "a living pharmacy." And so do sell and consume thousands of them on a daily basis.

A Sight of a king coconut palm in most of Sri Lankan home gardens is a common thing. And bunches of king coconuts can be seen many wayside kiosks throughout the country.

These nuts come in several varieties, the most commonly found being the 'Red Dwarf (kaha Thambili, more commonly called 'Gon Thambili'.) Other varieties are the 'Ran Thambili' a smaller and containing about 40 nuts a bunch.

But it is the king coconut that is realy known as 'king of coconuts'. in the villages the more easily available, cheap and popular drink is that of the green coloured young coconut, the 'kurumba'.

The king coconut is also a hot favourite among visitors to Sri Lanka.

It's soft, spongy, tangy, nutritious and tasty kernel called the 'londha' . The kernel can also be eaten straight off the split nut by scooping it either with a piece shaved off from the nut shell which most villages do, or by scooping it with a spoon.

The sweetness of the king coconut water is said to vary among palms (the 'Gon Thambili' is less sweet) and is quantity in each fruit to be dependent on the correct timing of its harvesting which is best when the nut is between its seventh to eighth months of maturity.

The king coconut is also highly nutritious. It is a good source of carbohydrates, has a high dietary soluble fibre and appreciable amounts of protein, fat, Vitamin E, iron, calcium, and phosphorus. And apart from this, its pharmaceutical benefits are legion.

And so king coconut water has been used in folk medicine from time immemorial - particularly as a 'brew' made by the addition of a proportionate quantity of powdered 'Aralu' (myrobalan) nuts to its water and used as a laxative. And that long before modern day medicines like blood purifiers and other chemical and herbal cures came into the picture.

King coconut water comes naturally sterile and is, therefore, a good substitute for life saving saline.

It is said that during World 11, both the Americans and the Japanese military doctors found that in an emergency they could dip coconut water instead of sterile glucose solutions straight into a

person's veins.

Lanka's ayurveda physicians talk of this 'Aralu brew' as having the properties for "expelling heat from the body" thus resulting in a feeling of freshness - a freshness which is due to the concoctions ability to balance the body's electrolytes. King coconut oil promotes hair growth and the 'ran thambili water' is used as an eyewash.

Moreover, King coconut water is considered a good antidote to some of the powerful drugs that are now being administered to some patients.

scientists believe that king coconut water is far superior to injecterble potassium salts.

Other countries like India, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia and the philippines have also put this product into good use by processing, sweetening, drying of dehydrating its tender kernal and popularising those products around the world.

FRUITS OF BRAZIL

The green coconut, a traditional fruit of the northeast region of Brazil, in the interior of this fruit it exists much water, rich in proteins, leaves minerals, carboidratos, vitamins, calcio, fosforo, iron, iodine, has covered, chlorine, sulphur, potassio, leaves, carbohydrates and vitamins, B1, B2, B5 and C.e magnesium. The water-of-coconut is rich in leaves mineral, carboidratos, proteins, staple fibres, vitamins and helps the hidratação of the body. the green coconut has a ratio of amino acids arginine, alanine, cisteína (essential) and serina, greater of that those finding in the cow milk, perfect and natural isotonico to restitute energies in the human body.

In Brazil, the coconut is used green to drink the water, that is purest, nutritional and complete drunk that the nature produces in the tropics. The human being needs it for conservation of its health. The water of green coconut is delicious, cooling, nutritional and therapeutical, beyond exotic. The benefits of the water of the coco.Por are many exmplo: hydration and softens the skin reduces the cholesterol level combat verminose infantile, prevents and assists in the treatment of the artrite, controls pressão arterial, combat the dehydration restitutes the energy immediately, prevents vomits and nauseas during the pregnancy purify the blood are calmante natural reduce the fever deal with ílcera stomachal combat the arrest of womb prevent the nausea.

ISOTONIC SPORT / HEALTH DRINK : Benefits

1. Keeps body cool in summer and optimal temperature

2. Carries nutrients and oxygen to cells

3. Naturally replenishes body’s fluids after exercise

4. Raises metabolism, raises energy and promotes weight loss

5. Heightens your immune system

6. Detoxifies body

7. Helps fight against and slow down the progression of viruses, such as AIDS, Herpes and other viruses like the flu

8. Cleanses digestive tract

9. Controls diabetes

10. Balance body’s pH and reduces the risk of cancer

11. Boosts poor circulation

12. Helps treat kidney stones

13. Low in Carbohydrates

14. Low in Fat 99% Fat Free

15. Low in natural occurring sugar

16. Keeps the body cool and at the proper temperature.

17. Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties.

18. Cures malnourishment.

19. Effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones.

20. Natural drink for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances.

21. Excellent oral re‐hydration medium, an all natural isotonic for all ages.

22. Natural diuretic.

23. Presence of saline and albumen makes it an excellent drink in cholera cases.

24. Maintains the human body’s natural fluid levels.

25. Aids in the quick absorption of drugs and makes their peak concentration into the blood stream easier because of its electrolytic effect. Similar to the theory of fructose compounding with faster absorption into the cells and body.

26. Can be injected intravenously in emergency cases.

27. Found as a blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, does not produce heat, and does not destroy red blood cells and is readily accepted by the body.

28. Kills intestinal worms.

29. Aids in keeping the skin from itching, application on the body also helps prevent prickly heat, and summer boils, and helps subside the effects of rashes caused by chicken pox, hives, measles, small pox, mosquito and insect bites.

30. Helps control body’s natural fluid levels to help maintain proper blood pressure, circulation, kidney functions, digestion, and liver functions.

31. Helps maintain our mental concentration and aids in the prevention of headaches by keeping the body‘s natural fluid levels maintained and the body properly hydrated. This natural isotonic beverage comes with the same electrolytic balance as we have in our bodies.

32. Helps in carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells.

33. Excellent all natural water to drink while Relaxing, Meditating, Driving, Eating, Running, Aerobics, Working, Skiing, Mountain Biking, Exercising, Body Building, Surfing, Fishing, Snow Boarding, Working Out, Surfing, Physical Activities, or Exertion of any kind.

34. Help prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal infections

35. Aid the body in fighting viruses that cause the flu, herpes, and AIDS

36. Helps promote weight loss

37. Reduces risk of arteriosclerosis and related illnesses

38. Helps prevent osteoporosis

39. Helps control diabetes

40. Promotes bowel movements

41. Promotes healthy thyroid function

42. Helps eliminate pinworms

43. Used in cancer therapy

44. Helps kill the parasite Giardia Lamblia

45. Improves digestion

46. Provides quick energy

47. Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body

48. Helps in gallbladder disease

49. Helps eliminate Candida yeast infections

50. Inhibits the growth of mycoplasma

51. Helps eradicate eczema

52. Helps keep skin soft and smooth

53. Helps prevent dandruff

54. Helps prevent premature aging and wrinkling of the skin

55. Helps prevent skin cancer and other blemishes

56. Helps prevent dry and chapped skin.