When you have acid reflux disease or regularly experience heartburn and other symptoms, finding foods and beverages that won't cause you any discomfort can be frustrating. But did you know that there are foods and drinks out there that can actually improve your acid reflux?
It's almost like if you eat or drink these things, it cancels out if you've eaten something acidic. If you've been on the quest to find ingredients that are good for your acid reflux, you may be curious about coconut water.
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Is Coconut Water Good For Acid Reflux?
Coconut water is good for your acid reflux or GERD! Because coconut water is alkaline, it can help reduce the acid in your stomach, improving or preventing symptoms like heartburn or acid reflux. While there are no studies that confirm that coconut water is beneficial for acid reflux, the number of people who state it is, and based on the science of coconut water, it's safe to say it is.
Why is Coconut Water Good for Acid Reflux?
Eating and drinking acidic things can cause the painful symptoms associated with acid reflux disease. On the contrary, eating neutral or alkaline foods can reduce the symptoms you experience from acidic foods and neutralize your body's pH.
Since coconut water is naturally an alkaline liquid, if you drink it or add it to any of your meals, you can help reduce the acid in your stomach and keep your body's pH less acidic. Doing this will be great for your acid reflux because you should experience more minor symptoms.
Drinking coconut water provides your body with much-needed electrolytes that can help balance your body's pH.
Health Benefits of Coconut Water
Besides being fantastic for your acid reflux, coconut water has plenty of other health benefits worth mentioning.
If you love drinking flavored drinks but are looking for a lower-calorie alternative, coconut water is a great option. With only 45 calories per eight ounces, you can drink more coconut water for fewer calories than other sports drinks or juices. This beverage has fewer carbs and sugars than other drinks, making it an appealing alternative for those who are watching their calories.
Something that may surprise you is that coconut water is quite high in potassium. This vital mineral helps keep muscle cramps at bay and keeps our bodies functioning properly. How much potassium is in coconut water, you may ask? One eight-ounce glass of coconut water has as much potassium as a medium banana! If you suffer from regular cramps or have a potassium deficiency, coconut water may be something you'll want to add to your diet.
If you've ever seen athletes or those who work out often drinking coconut water, there's a reason for it. Besides being a delicious sports drink alternative, coconut water has essential amino acids. Amino acids are needed to repair tissues and are the building blocks of the protein in our bodies.
Coconut water has more amino acids than cow's milk. It's high in arginine. Arginine is an amino acid that helps your body respond to stress, such as the stress put on your body after a challenging workout.
What Country Produces the Most Coconuts?
You can't have coconut water without coconuts. You don't juice a coconut, but you crack open the nut to get the delicious liquid. It's safe to say that the countries that produce the most coconuts are the ones that, in turn, make the most coconut water.
Indonesia is the leading producer of coconuts in the world. They produce about 17 million metric tons per year. Following closely behind Indonesia, with about 14.74 million metric tons per year, is the Philippines. India is almost tied with the Philippines, with 14.68 million metric tons of coconuts produced every year.
Ways to Drink More Coconut Water
While coconut water is a tasty beverage, drinking it by itself can get old really quickly if you're not obsessed with it. If you're looking for more ways to incorporate coconut water into your diet, check out these ideas.
There's nothing better than an ice-cold popsicle when it's hot outside or whenever you're craving something icy. You can make coconut water popsicles. All you'll need are popsicle molds and sticks, coconut water, and if you'd like to add anything else to the popsicles. You can add different fruits to really create something delicious and unique.
Speaking of freezing coconut water, you can make coconut water ice cubes to use in your lemonade or iced teas. While adding these coconut water ice cubes won't add an intense flavor to your drink, it's an easy way to add more coconut water to your daily routine. You can even toss a few of these ice cubes into a smoothie instead of regular ice cubes.
If making coconut water ice cubes isn't something you're interested in, you can still use coconut water for smoothies. Instead of using regular water, you can substitute coconut water. This adds all the benefits of coconut water to your smoothie and a tropical flavor that will make your smoothie that much better.
While drinking coconut water is by far the easiest way to add to your diet, you don't have to drink coconut water to enjoy its flavor and benefits. If you love coconut rice, you can make your favorite recipe using coconut water and coconut milk. This will add a delicious boost of coconut to your rice, and you can pair it with almost anything or eat it on its own.
For those of legal drinking age, my favorite way to drink more coconut water is to add it to a delicious and boozy cocktail. You can simply add coconut water to rum or vodka, add a dash of lime juice and be set, or use it in mojitos for a real twist.
If you're just adding coconut water to a liquor, choosing a flavored vodka or rum is another excellent idea to give your drink a little bit more flavor. Gin and coconut water isn't a likely pairing like coconut water and vodka, but if you're a gin fan, add a little coconut water next time. I promise you won't regret it.
