The Right Balance

Coconut water is making a splash in the beverage market, promoted as the new ‘wonder health drink’ due of its ‘phenomenal hydrating properties’. But is it really all it's cracked up to be?

The Verdict

Coconut water, not to be confused with coconut milk, is often marketed for the nutrients it contains, like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, however these nutrients are in very low amounts.

Also dubbed as ‘nature’s Gatorade” due to its electrolyte and carbohydrate content, as well as a sneaky 630 kilojoules. So unless you're an athlete who exercises longer than 90 minutes, a sports drink and/or coconut water is not the best choice for hydration and certainly not the waistline....The real miracle drink is plain water.

Sorry, I'm still not convinced.

 

The Bottom Line:

1. Read the label. Read them! Don't be fooled just because the marketing says they are organic or natural, there is a lot of latitude in those words. Just because they use 2% of an organic substance, doesn't make them fully organic. Do your research and if you don't know what a particular ingredient is, look it up! We are educated consumers; we read labels on our food so why not on the products we put on our skin? Much like food, the shorter the ingredients list the better. 
3. Look within. Eat loads of plant-based food (fruit, legumes, nuts, vegetables). They are packed with antioxidants that combat free-radicals - one of the leading causes of fine lines and wrinkles.

Remember, you are what you absorb!

Kathleen answers Nine-to-Five's reader question of the week.

Q: I have been hearing about celebrities going on raw food diets. What is a raw food?