Go Coco Loco ! Coconut Water all the way.

One of the purposes of Nutritional Coaching is inspiring the client(coachee) to find his/her own reason to change for good.
And when it comes to changing certain eating patterns that have been burnt into the memory for years, is important to think outside the box and brainstorm ideas, as crazy as they might sound. This is the essence of being adventurous with food as well,  discovering alternative ingredients and foods that will allow us to adjust our eating habits, not being afraid to try other things. As much as I could criticise the globalization of the food industry, one thing I love is the possibility of experiencing typical foods from the other side of the planet.
Every cloud has his silver lining.

And all this introduction for what? Well, in a nutshell, healthy lifestyle means also exercising with regularity, and drinking enough liquid to replenish all lost fluids is part of this deal.  This is especially true after extraneous exercise that can leave us dripping sweat.

There are many excellent options out there to help us recover lost minerals, bananas being one of them (Our Roland Garros champion knows it well ) and also the electrolyte drinks which contain a range of minerals and other ingredients, but something new has arrived from Latin American countries, the coconut water!

It is a question of preferences and digestibility as well:

Bananas: It contains all you need> very high in Potassium,magnesium and fast absorbing sugars , The downside is that it might feel a bit heavy on the stomach and for some people difficult to digest. It is not a juicy fruit so it's important to drink enough water.




Sports drinks with all needed electrolytes,high in sodium,  although it also contains artificial sweeteners, colors, sugars, etc. I personally find them difficult to drink cause I have never liked any of the flavours.

Coconut water: I discover it years ago thanks to VitaCoco (the biggest American brand now going global), and when I tried it I loved it. Delicate natural flavour and I have been craving lately the pure coconut water, especially after the sweat-dripping HIIT workouts in very humid conditions.

Let me tell you things about Coconut water (not to be mistaken for Coconut milk!)

Where does it come from? From the inside of the young green coconuts.Typically drank in Cuba, Brazil, Colombia with a straw.




What does it contain? very high in potassium and magnesium, low in sugar, low in sodium compared to other sports drinks.

Why is it good? For these characteristics it has been marketed as the alternative sports drink for those who really need it (long distance runners, outdoors training in summertime, athletes). Tennis players, performers, and dancers who train really hard for hours. Madonna, Rihanna, A.Rod, Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chilly Peppers are VitaCoco addicts(and clever investors too)

 

John Isner , who played the longest tennis match in history in Wimbledon (11 hours!) credits his endurance in that match to the coconut water mixed with sea salt. A powerful cocktail that gave him enough energy and minerals to prevent dehydration and muscle fatigue.Who knows!

If you don´t sweat like this...don´t bother with any special drinks.Water is all you need

I also reckon that the average person going to the gym for 1 hour session does not need any sports drink or coconut water at all. Good hydration and balanced diet will do. However, it is an excellent option for children and adults tempted to get a coke or any other sweet drink that doesn't help at all.

The pros are good as its mild nutty flavour encourages you to drink more after intense workout but it is still difficult and expensive to find in certain countries.. I hear Zico(CocaCola brand of Coconut water) has already landed in Spain (Barcelona) at a  small scale and Spanish megastore El Corte Inglés and certain superstores of the capital stock  them as well. Latinamerican immigration being high means more demand for this drink too! If you ever have the chance to try it , don't hesitate!

If I fancy a natural rehydration in my post workout recovery drink no other juice goes down better than coconut water.

 Tip: It's only worth trying it if it is 100% pure coconut water, without added sugars. Or go to Cuba or Brazil and get one straight from the tree :-P

Check my latest refreshing drink with coconut water on Instagram tuppertogo.