Coconut Water, the Refreshing Beverage

“Wow! That tastes great and so refreshing!” I told my mother-in-law, Lynn.  She had ordered me a young Thai coconut for lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant.  The Thai coconut tasted nothing like your store-bought canned coconut drinks.  This was a fresh coconut that the server had cracked for me. It’s like I was in Hawaii and a guy would climb up the coconut tree, chopped one down, peeled and cracked it for me.  I loved it!  She also said that it’s very nutritious for me and my baby.  I was pregnant with our first baby, Buddy, at the time.

So, what’s coconut water, you might ask?  Coconut water is the liquid inside the coconut fruit. It’s refreshing and naturally sweet, but not too sweet like fruit juices. The “meat” is what lines the inside of the fruit. It can be taken out and eaten as a healthy snack. Although we have not attempted to do this yet, you can make coconut milk from grinding up the coconut meat and mixing it with water. The young coconut meat is jellylike, but as the coconut matures, the meat hardens. Our kids prefer the harder and nuttier taste of coconut meat rather than the younger, jellylike version. On a side note, recently our friend, Jadda, gave Bubba a challenge to come up with fresh, unprocessed coconut milk for her Thai curry. That means more fun experiments for us to do!

Although I am not a doctor or a nutritionist, the research that I had done all points to the fact that coconut water is a nutritional powerhouse.  It has so much good stuff in it that it’s hard for me to summarize in one short post.  I’ll name a few, and then refer you to some helpful articles that I’ve found.

  1. It rehydrates your body. My pediatrician once told me that back in the islands (he’s from Jamaica) because of its rehydrating properties, coconut water was used to treat diarrhea.
  2. Naturally rich in vitamins and minerals.
  3. Contains anti-aging properties.
  4. Protects against cancer.
  5. Provides immune-supporting properties.
  6.  Enhances eye and skin health.

All in all, you have to try one if you have not done so.  You can purchase them from Whole Foods, New Seasons Market, or your local Asian markets.  If you need help in cracking one, my hubby, Bubba, has created a YouTube video on how to crack one in four easy steps.  The video is also located on the right sidebar. I do have to say that this drink has become one of our favorites with the kids and the best part is that it satisfies their sweet cravings.

To learn more about coconuts and its health benefits click the links below.

mercola.com

Coconut Research Center

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this blog is a combination of my experiences and research I have done. It’s not meant to substitute your doctor’s advice. If you have a medical condition, please consult your doctor.

 

The Healthy Italian Punch

This is one of my first juice creations. I call it the Italian Punch because it has the Italian parsley. Parsley has a mildly bitter taste to it, but it seems to balance out the salt in celery and the earthy taste of carrot. Hmm…yum! It’s quick and easy and only three ingredients. Even my three kiddos liked it! You can also add an apple to sweeten it.

Ingredients:

10 small carrot

2 long stalks of celery

2 stems of Italian parsley

Juice veggies in order listed above. Depends on the type of juicer you have, my Breville Juice Fountain Plus doesn’t process leafy veggies as well if it’s the last item. The carrot juice acts to wash down the parsley. New to juicing? Start here.

A delicious and nutritious beverage, a Healthy Italian Punch to your thirst!

 

The Juicing Encounter

Juicing…hmm…was my first thought when my friend, Heidi, brought it up in our phone conversation. Then Bubba and I watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.  (If you haven’t watched it, I would recommend it.) After the documentary, we both decided to take the plunge.  Now, eight months later, we were glad that we did it!  Here are a few reasons why we did:

  1. Juicing breaks down the veggies so your body could absorb the nutrients faster than eating veggies whole cooked or raw. In juicing, your body doesn’t have to work so hard on those fibers.
  2. Not very many of us eat the recommended 6-8 servings of fruits and vegetables in a day. Juicing allows your body to intake greater quantity of veggies more efficiently.
  3. Many of us tend to eat the same vegetables in our salads. In juicing, on the other hand, it’s easy to put in a variety of veggies, especially vegetables that you wouldn’t normally eat.
  4. Juicing raw fruits and vegetables provides your body with live enzymes and all kinds of needed nutrients for optimal health.

 

If you are new to juicing I suggest you do a little research on juicers. I personally own the Breville Juice Fountain Plus and I just love it. I purchased it from Bed Bath and Beyond for $133.00 including shipping after the 20% off online coupon. You can also get the Breville Juice Fountain Plus at Amazon.com at a very good price. I went with the Breville because it was easy to clean-up.  It only took me a couple of minutes to clean up immediately after juicing.  Also, it comes with a big feeding chute which allows fruits and vegetables to go down easily without having to work so hard. This is a big plus and thus the Breville is my choice.  Above all else, it’s reasonably priced for a good quality juicer.

Any thoughts or experiences with juicing? I’d love to hear your comments.

Betty