Coconuts are known for their medicinal properties. Coconut water, in particular, is often recommended for sick people, pregnant women, and health-conscious people. It can be a good alternative for coffee and tea because it is both nutritious and flavorful.
Coconut Water And Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman experiences a lot of changes in her body. Consumption of coconut water may help her deal with these changes and protect the baby in her womb.
Check out below the numerous health benefits that can be offered by coconut water to a pregnant woman’s health.
Helps Boost The Immune System
Coconut water is significantly rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that boost the immune system of a pregnant woman. Due to this effect, the mother and child are at a lowered risk of various diseases. Lauric acid, one of the key nutrients of coconut water, is responsible for the production of a disease-fighting acid called ‘monolaurin,’ that helps prevent illness like flu and HIV.
A Potential Natural Diuretic
Coconut water is a natural diuretic. It is rich in potassium, magnesium, and other minerals that increase the urge to urinate thereby getting rid of toxins inside our bodies and clearing the urinary tract. It may help prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections thus lowering the chances of preterm labor.
Though coconut water is good for pregnant women, consumption of it must still be controlled.
Helps Improve The Amniotic Fluid
Of course, pregnant women always want the best for their babies. In order to improve the overall environment and health of a baby, drinking coconut water is recommended as it can help improve and boost the levels of amniotic fluid, the fluid that surrounds and protect the baby in the uterus (womb).
Helps Provide Relief From Heartburn And Constipation
Pregnant women experience hormonal changes that can cause various issues including indigestion, constipation, and heartburn. Coconut water contains dietary fiber that could help regulate pH levels, enhance digestion, prevent constipation, and strengthen the digestive system.
Moreover, coconut water can also help improve metabolism, support detoxification of the body, and act as a natural acid neutralizer to prevent heartburn.
Healthy Breast Milk
Drinking coconut water as well as eating fresh coconut meat can help pregnant women produce healthy breast milk for their babies. A single meal containing coconut oil will affect the fatty acid makeup of a woman’s breast milk for as long as 3 days, with the maximum concentration occurring within the first 10 hours, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Contains Essential Electrolytes
Since coconut water contains all the five essential electrolytes (minerals, sodium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus), it can help maintain daily levels of the body’s required fluids and electrolytes.
Electrolytes are needed by the body during pregnancy because conditions like morning sickness, nausea, and diarrhea dehydrate the body. Moreover, they also aid in the transmission of electrical charges in the body, support muscle functioning, help maintain the body’s pH levels, and control blood pressure levels.
Helps Promote Weight Loss
Coconut water contains zero cholesterol thus consumption of it can promote weight loss. In addition to this, it also helps prevent the accumulation of excess fat cells by increasing HDL cholesterols in the body by slowly eradicating the LDL cholesterols.
A Word Of Advice Before Consuming Coconut Water
- Only consume fresh coconut water from young coconuts.
- The best time to drink coconut water during pregnancy is in the morning, as the nutrients and electrolytes it contains are easily absorbed on an empty stomach.
- Drink coconut water in moderation. One to two glasses of coconut water a day is recommended.
- Do not consume coconut water if you are having an adverse reaction to it or dislike its taste.
