Mmm, coconut water. Super-hydrating! Potassium-rich! All natural! There's no shortage of talk about Mother Nature's tropical cocktail these days, but any "healthy" drink that gets so much buzz — and is so ridiculously tasty — makes us wonder if it's too good to be true. Depending on who you ask, coconut water is a miracle beverage...or barely better than soda. So before you reach for another bottle of Zico or Vita Coco, here are the facts on coconut water.
Not to be confused with coconut milk (a concoction of coconut water and freshly grated coconut), coconut water is all-natural carbs, straight up. A clear, sweet liquid with a nutty taste, it's found inside young, green coconuts; the sterile water is usually harvested at the nine-month point. If you're lucky enough to have access, fresh is best, says Barbara Mendez, RPh, MS, a NYC-based nutritionist and registered pharmacist. "Fresh coconut water has not been pasteurized, therefore it contains enzymes that help to detoxify and repair the body," she explains. Most of what you'll find in stores is pasteurized or from concentrate. ("It's still a great way to hydrate yourself and it will still contain minerals, but it’s pasteurized, therefore, not ...
