How is Coconut Water Helpful for Diabeties?

Is Coconut Water Good for Diabetes?

Coconut water is a healthy beverage known to be beneficial for diabetics. Coconut water is a refreshing and nutritious drink that can be consumed in a variety of ways. Let us understand more about the benefits of coconut water for diabetes and how it aids people struggling with the disease. By including coconut water in your diet, you can give your diet a healthy kick. Because of its high content of healthy fats and minerals, health practitioners also recommend coconut water for diabetes. But do you know how this wonderful drink serves the best purpose to a diabetes patient? In this article, we are discussing about the benefits of coconut water for diabetes.

Various ways in which Coconut water helps diabetics:

We get coconut water from tender green coconuts. This thin liquid has natural sugar in it, which gives it the natural sweet flavor.  Mentioned below are the  various benefits of drinking coconut water, especially for people suffering from diabetes:

• Ample Nutrients Source – Being a healthy drink, coconut water is loaded with ample amounts of nutrients and minerals. It has plenty of nutrients such as;
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Phosphorous
• Iron, and
• Calcium

By adding about 240 ml of coconut water to your daily diet, you can have a good and perfect supplement of balanced sugar intake required for a diabetic on a daily basis.

• Immunity Enhancer – The tender coconut water is a great source of immunity enhancer as it  contains an immunity booster called la uric acid. It also contains vitamins containing anti-bacterial properties. Some such vitamins that offer anti-viral properties to coconut water are namely;
• Pyridoxine
• Folates
• Riboflavin
• Thiamin and
• Niacin etc.

Thus, drinking coconut water allows the body to increase immunity and enhance metabolism. However, seeking doctor’s advice for the exact quantity of the liquid that should be consumed is important.

1. Augments Metabolism –  Fresh coconut water of over one cup is a source of over 60 calories and 15 grams carbohydrates. Thus, the amount of carbohydrate in coconut water is very less, which satiates hunger and helps in digestion. It makes your stomach full and control hunger as well as help in breaking nutrients fast.
2. Helps in recovering Blood Circulation – Issues of blood circulation are common among people suffering from diabetes. At times, it is also accompanied by muscle spasm and pain in joints etc. By adding coconut water to your diet, you can improve the circulation of blood in the body.
3. Glycemic Index Low – The score of Glycemic index or GI in coconut water is over 54. Thus, for diabetes patients it serves as the best drupes as it has little natural sugar and so it doesn’t shoot up the level of blood glucose in diabetes patients.
4. Coconut water has Fibre –  We all need fibre in our diet and coconut water has high levels of dietary fibre. The availability of amino acids in the fibre helps in controlling blood sugar of diabetics.
5. Helps in weight Loss – Coconut water also help obese diabetic people. As such obesity and diabetes can make things worse. Since coconut water aids in digestion, nutritionist advise coconut for sugar patients as a healthy option. People with diabetes who are facing weight fluctuations can consume the drink to reduce calorie intake while not compromising on taste.

Does Coconut Water Increase Blood Sugar Levels?

Is coconut water good for diabetes? This is a common question that most diabetics ask.  Coconut water has this sweet refreshing flavor. So, most people have this concern that regular consumption of coconut water for diabetic patients might increase blood sugar or weight. However, the fact is one serving of coconut water (240 ml) has over 10 grams of sugar, which is quite low. So, if consumed in moderation, coconut water causes no negative health issues to diabetics.

However, if someone drinks coconut water that is packaged and has artificial sweetener, it can cause harm to the body. Manufacturers generally add artificial sweetener and preservatives to augment the taste. So, it can harm the body as it has twice the amount of sugar as compared to natural fresh coconut water. Thus, drinking packed coconut water can increase blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. It is always recommended to have fresh coconut water rather than the packed versions.

Can A Diabetic Patient Consume Coconut Water?

If you ask, can diabetic patient drink coconut water, the answer is – Yes.  diabetic patients can consume coconut water, but only the fresh and naturally obtained water. However, to be on the safer side it is better to consult your nutritionist before adding coconut water to your daily diet so that you are away from any side effects or allergies.

Because if a diabetic patient gets any ailment, it takes a long time to heal, which in turn can be a costly affair. So, to avoid such a situation, it is important to have a comprehensive health insurance policy that covers diabetes and its related ailments. This way, you can stay away from any related complications in future.