Coconut Water & Electrolytes: What You Should Know
Are you interested in increasing your electrolyte intake? Although coconut water has various health benefits, one of the reasons it has become so trendy is how packed it is with electrolytes.
It’s also one of the main reasons Greater Than chooses to use it as an ingredient in our sports drinks. Keep on reading to learn more about coconut water and electrolytes and why we think they’re a great addition to make to your daily diet.
What Are Electrolytes?
Electrolytes are minerals that carry either a positive or negative electric charge and are involved with different essential processes in your body. They’re usually found in your blood, sweat, and urine.
When these minerals break down into fluid, they form electrolytes that are used in metabolic processes and help your body function to the best of its ability. They are crucial to keeping the nervous systems and your muscles functioning as they should.
One of the best ways to get electrolytes is through having drinks rich with electrolytes. Drinks that are a good source of electrolytes make for a great way to get the electrolytes you need, especially if you have just finished a workout or you’re a nursing mom.
The best way to reach and maintain the electrolytes you need is done through a healthy diet. While they are often found in fruits and vegetables, our electrolyte drinks are a great way to achieve this as well.
Why Are Electrolytes Important?
Electrolytes are essential because they help our body to do its functions to the best of its ability, such as:
- Hydration – Through osmosis, electrolytes help maintain your fluid balance.
- Balance out our pH levels – Having the right balance of electrolytes can help maintain your blood pH level.
- Help our muscles and nerves function – Electrolytes help your brain send signals to communicate with cells in your body as well as muscle contraction.
- Electrolytes can also help move our nutrients and waste along.
Electrolytes are also essential because they can prevent you from becoming dehydrated. They also come in many different forms, such as:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Phosphate
- Bicarbonate
These are naturally produced in your body, so you don’t need to worry about including them in your diet!
The recommended intake for people in the United States for sodium is 2,300 mg per day, equivalent to one teaspoon of table salt. They are essential to get from your diet and offer so many nutritional benefits, so that’s why we wanted to include them in our drinks.
Some people have reported they even feel less nauseous. It’s an all-natural way to hydrate and get some necessary electrolytes you need. It can help fill in the gaps by providing you nutritional benefits you may be missing if you aren’t getting enough fruits, vegetables, or dairy.
Electrolyte Imbalances
While getting electrolytes through drinks or food, it’s essential not to overdo it. If you have too high of an imbalance or too low, it can have a harmful effect on your health.
Most of the time, electrolyte imbalance comes from dehydration, which increases worse in the heat or if you’re vomiting or have diarrhea. This is why it’s super important to start replacing any lost fluids if you begin to notice any signs of dehydration.
If you have a mild imbalance of electrolytes, you most likely won’t experience any symptoms. However, if you have a severe imbalance, you can experience symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Numbness or tingling typically in your hands or feet
- Confusion
- Muscle weakness and cramping
- Head and neck tension
- Convulsions
What Is Coconut Water?
Coconut water offers a unique nutty and sweet taste you can’t get with drinks like water. It’s set apart from other juices, sodas, and most sports drinks because it has way less sugar and no fillers or additives.
What Are the Benefits of Coconut Water?
Coconut water has some beneficial nutrients like electrolytes, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, making it a great hydrating drink. It has way fewer calories, sugar, and sodium, making it a better alternative to other drinks with a ton of sugar and sodium.
This is one of the reasons why we liked it for our electrolyte drinks.
Not only does it aid in hydration without the calories and carbs, but the electrolytes it provides can also be helpful after exercise. Many people do not get enough potassium in their diet, so drinking coconut water can be a great way to help with that.
In recent studies, it has also been shown to fight acne and possibly prevent kidney failure.
The Relationship Between Electrolytes and Coconut Water
As we mentioned before, coconut water has a high amount of electrolytes, making it a great source of hydration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that coconut water is a great source for certain electrolytes because it contains:
- 396 mg of potassium
- 16.8 mg of calcium
- 62.4 mg of sodium
- 14.4 mg of magnesium
For the most part, you get your nutrients through your daily diet, so combined with coconut water, you can achieve your daily recommended intakes.
That means since coconut water has potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium, it can quickly help you replenish lost nutrients. It’s a great drink to have in your day-to-day routine, but also a post-workout drink or to have if you’re recovering from a mild illness.
Other Ways to Get Electrolytes
There are other ways to get the electrolytes you need and maintain a good balance. They mostly come from fruits and vegetables. If you’re looking for some food alternatives, we have some listed for you:
- Sodium is often found in salt, pickled foods, and cheese.
- Potassium is found in many fruits and vegetables, the most common example being bananas, avocados, and sweet potatoes.
- Magnesium is found in many sweets and nuts.
- Calcium is most popularly found in dairy products.
Is Coconut Water Worth the Hype?
We think so! We love how they are a key ingredient in our drinks, which offers you refreshing hydration and makes sure you, the little one, and the rest of the family are healthy. Coconut water and the electrolytes they provide are what sets our drinks apart from the rest.
While not many studies have shown whether plain water or coconut water is better. However, coconut water has a higher source of electrolytes and flavor. This means that it can be a better option for those looking to become more hydrated but are tired of regular water.
Some Athletes Love It
Some athletes believe coconut water is the best drink after an intense workout. A professional tennis player, John Isner says that coconut water is “super hydrating and has kept me going in long matches and prevented me from cramping in the hottest and most humid conditions.”
It’s a great way to cut the carbohydrates and sodium while getting the potassium you need. If you are an athlete who exercises rigorously, you may want to consider adding another energy source besides coconut water. However, for the average person and athlete, this can be a great source of hydration for the average person and athlete without the chemicals and sugars.
Be aware of how many electrolytes you need to consume because it depends on your losses.
Long periods of working out, especially in high heat, can cause a large amount of electrolyte loss. Recreational athletes and the average person typically achieve this through drinks and getting enough sodium from foods.
Coconut water is considered to be better at losing fluids than a regular sports drink or water – and that was when we knew it would be a perfect ingredient in our unique low sugar, high electrolyte drink.
Why Our Drinks Are Different From the Rest
At Greater Than, our electrolyte drinks are different because ours are electrolyte-infused water beverages that do not have the same amounts of sugar and calories as other fruit juices and sports drinks.
Our drinks contain no added sugars or preservatives, meaning our label is safe to read. They can be enjoyed at any time of the day, such as on an empty stomach or with a meal, and they come with a variety of different tastes.
Greater Than offers 140mg of sodium for electrolytes, but only 50 calories, 9 grams of carbs. Unlike most brands, we also have no added sugar, additives, or chemicals. You get a delicious and refreshing alternative to sugary sports drinks.
That means our drinks are two to three times the electrolytes vs. typical sports drinks and 100% all-natural while also non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, paleo & keto-friendly, and organic.
Our drinks are a great way to replenish any electrolytes you may have lost during your workout but don’t contain unnecessary sugar and additives. That’s why they’re perfect for athletes, kids, and pregnant mothers. Our drinks are ideal for breastfeeding since our key ingredients will give you the energy boost you need to keep up with your little one.
Make Greater Than Part of Your Routine
At Greater Than, we make drinks with low sugar, but high electrolytes. They’re perfect for on the go, after a workout, or as a refreshing drink for the whole family. Some of that is thanks to our friend, coconut water.
Whether you’re a lactating mom looking for liquid gold, a weekend warrior looking to crush your PR, or a big kid looking for a healthy juice box, Greater Than is the hydration hack your household can rely on.
Always make sure to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider if you are worried about your electrolyte intake or any imbalances.
Sources:
Electrolyte osmosis through capillaries | ScienceDirect
Coconut Water: An Unexpected Source of Urinary Citrate | Research Gate