Tag Archives: water

This All Natural Drink Can Save Your Life & Keep You Healthy

 
making coconut water

Traditional Healthy Coconut Water from the Source.

Deep within the warm and juicy blood pulsing through the four chambers of your throbbing heart, you love this quirk of my mine. Which quirk? The one where I list my brilliant, yet discarded blog titles: Tap into the Fountain of Youth–too spammy, Discover an Easy Trick to Lose Weight, Boost Energy, and Increase Stamina–too long, This Drink Will Keep You Healthy–too lackluster, Drink This to Boost Energy & Lose Weight–too bossy and somewhat spammy. Attention! Trolling ghosts, dry and drained of joy, skip the first paragraph of my posts for there is where I lay my quirks.

So what is this miracle drink that restores energy, decreases appetite, and saves lives? 

Coconut Water from a Green Coconut

Super Healthy All Natural Energy Drink

Coconut water! Not coconut milk. There is a HUGE difference between coconut water and coconut milk. Coconut WATER is the liquid inside unripe, green coconuts. 

Coconut milk is the juice from the flesh of a ripe coconut. It’s much sweeter than coconut water and it lacks the beneficial properties of coconut water.

How Coconut Water Boosts Health:

  • Turbo Charged Re-hydration, which prevents death from fluid loss.
  • Instant Electrolyte Replenishment, which eliminates post exercise blues.
  • Appeases Appetite, which leads to HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS.
  • Imparts Critical Vitamins, which decreases the signs of aging.

How to Tap into the Health & Energy Properties of Coconut Water:

Drink it after a work-out. I like to cut it with water; my stomach rebels against viscous fluids after longer runs. Occasionally I’dd add some stevia to sweeten it. I also sip coconut water BEFORE I run or workout. It’s always a great idea to start exercising when you’re well hydrated.

How to Use Coconut Water as a Diet Aid:

Simply drink undiluted coconut water and then wait five minutes  BEFORE each meal. The vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in the coconut water will significantly cut appetite.
Most craving for (junk) food are really urges for water or for essential nutrients lost through perspiration. Drinking coconut water before meals replenishes many of the key nutrients; it also quickly re-hydrates, which satiates the appetite, thereby resulting in the consumption of fewer calories. Coconut water also flushes out toxins, thereby choking out the urge to eat sugar and strangling cravings for salty foods.

Where to Buy Packaged Coconut Water:

  • At the semi-racist “Ethnic” Food or the “Health Food” sections of your local Grocery Store.  MAKE SURE your coconut water HAS ONE AND ONLY ONE INGREDIENT: 100% Pure Coconut WATER. Here are some brands–that should be paying for endorsing them, but aren’t, but which I still like anyway: Vita Coco, ONE Coconut Water, & Zico. (One container will last a few days. Believe me, you won’t want to over drink coconut water. It has a rich, healthy taste.)
  • From Overpriced Health Food Stores run by Hippies or Big Corporations disguised as Hippies.
  • Online from Amazon.Com!

    Excellent Source of Pure Coconut Water

    Great Source of Pure Coconut Water

SHAKE BEFORE DRINKING. NUTRIENTS SETTLE TO THE BOTTOM OF CONTAINERS.
Do It Yourself DIY Coconut Water:
Buy a fresh coconut. Make sure it’s a “young” coconut, not the old hairy brown coconuts sold at the grocery store. The water in the mature brown, hairy coconuts lacks vital nutrients. Instead buy a whole young coconuts from a tropical vendor or in the REFRIGERATED veggie section & fruit isles at your local overpriced health food store. The coconut should still have the thick fibrous, white husk intact. Use a machete to cut open the top. See first image above. (Don’t chop it in your hand like the man above, unless, of course, you think you have too many fingers.)

Weird Facts about Coconut Water:

  • “Coconut” stems from Spanish and Portuguese word “coco,” which means “grinning face.” Spanish and Portuguese explorers noted the peculiar resemblance of the three holes at the base of the shell to a human face.
  • In the literature of India, Kalpavriksha (Devanagari: कल्पवृक्ष), also known as kalpatarukalpadruma and kalpapādapa, is a mythological, wish-fulfilling divine tree. The tree provides wealth, health, and enlightenment. In many coastal sections of India, the coconut tree takes sacred name Kalpavriksha because the tree easily transforms into shelter, food, water, and even comfort in the form of  a makeshift palm leaf fan.
  • Coconut Water is so nutritive that World War II, doctors used it intravenously, when regular IV fluid was unavailable. Before you shoot up coconut water, read below.

The World famous Coconut Water IV Drip is great story, but only partially true. Coconut water was used ONCE in place of saline solution IV Drip during the Second World War. It did save the soldier, but it was NOT and IS NOT commonly used to for IV Drips. It’s not an optimal IV solution for re-hydration because it doesn’t have enough sodium content to stay in the bloodstream. Using it as an IV drip could cause dangerously high blood levels of calcium and potassium. Drink it, don’t shoot it up.

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Warning: Hidden Dangers of Drinking Too Much Water in the Sweltering Heat

 

 

Down from Heat Exhaustion

Heat Collapse Dangers of Running Without Adequate Fluids & Nutrition in Summer

I originally entitled this post “Hidden Dangers of Sun Poisoning,” but the sun isn’t as poisonous as I thought; so, I took the sweat the route.

The Alarming Incident:

A few weeks ago, I went for a pleasant 9 mile run. Armed with Chia goo and water, I felt fantastic! It was about 80 degrees; so, I was not surprised to be soaked in a brine of my waters as I reached the mile. I was, however, slightly surprised by the army of salt cakes on my arms and legs. But aside from a slight back ache and tender knees, I felt great.

Little did I know that things were about to take a turn for the worse. About ten minutes AFTER my POST RUN stretch and rolling pin massage, a sudden wave of fatigue and weakness knocked me to bed, then, under two sets of covers in 80 degree weather, chills rattled me, then stomach cramps stabbed my guts, and then the punch of nausea almost made me vomit. Suddenly I found myself foggy, tired, and completely out of sorts, I had my phone ready to dial 911.

What’s going on? I thought. I’m not dehydrated because I wasn’t showing any of the telltale symptoms.

I forced myself out of bed, made myself drink some water to eat an apple and an orange. Soon after, the symptoms diminished. After some quick online research, I figured out what had struck me: I was suffering from an electrolyte imbalance.

What are electrolytes and what role do they play in the body?

Electrolytes are the secret power juices for the nerves, heart, and other muscles. Their chemical charge empowers cells to receive and transmit vital electric impulses.

The Symptoms of Electrolyte Imbalance:

  • Weakness/fatigue
  • Stomach/Muscle Cramps
  • Chills
  • Nausea/vomiting (vomiting is serious and may require and IV drip because it will produce more fluid loss, thereby exacerbating the electrolyte imbalance)
  • Confusion/Foggy Brain/Dizziness
  • Slurred Speech

Cause of Electrolyte Imbalance:

Sweating drains the body of electrolytes, shattering the balance of the body’s natural chemistry, thereby leading to post run misery aka post run nasties. The symptoms of electrolyte imbalance are specifically designed to STOP fluid loss. The fatigue, nausea, and cramps keep you on your ass so you won’t  lose more fluids and thereby kill yourself.

Common electrolytes lost during strenuous excercise:

  • Potassium
  • Sodium
  • Chloride
  • Magnesium
  • Calcium
  • Phosphate
  • Bicarbonate
  • Sulfate

Easy Fixes for Electrolyte Imbalance:

Post-exercise is the most important time for electrolyte replacement, especially if you’re unable to consume sufficient amounts of fluid during the workout. Fluid losses can be replaced by plain water only if taken along with a sufficient amount of food, preferably salty carbohydrates.

You can drink your own urine or you can drink Gatorade. Your urine is probably healthier, but not as tasty. In other words, Gatorade and other sports drinks are packed with weird chemical dyes, preservatives, and other harmful ingredients.

Foods contains far more electrolytes than sports drinks. A medium banana contains about 450mg of potassium, whereas Gatorade provides 30mg per 8-ounce serving.

My Electrolyte Post Recovery Snack Pack/Energy Cocktail:

  • A Juicy Orange (Totally hits the spot after a long run.)
  • A Banana (I eat them in small pieces. Very slowly. I’m usually NOT hungry after a run, so I sort of have to force myself to eat small pieces.)
  • Coconut Water (It has lots of super vitamins, it tastes nutritious, and it’s cheap. It’s pretty strong for a post run beverage. My stomach is usually not up for straight coconut water; so, I cut it with some regular water–just enough to dilute the flavor. Sometimes, I even add a pinch of Stevia to make it bit more palatable. I’m experimenting with Coconut Water Chia Goo combo–I’ll post recipes soon.)

The electrolytes in coconut water, especially potassium and sodium, make it a super hydrating beverage. Coconut water contains about 600 mg of potassium and 252 mg of sodium per serving, making it an excellent post exercise recovery drink.
You can buy a coconut, bust a hole in its top, and drink cocnut water raw or you cheat and buy some from Amazon. This pack qualifies for Super Saving Shipping :)

SHAMELESS PRODUCT PLUG

 

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7 Foods that Hydrate Better than Water

 

 

The term "natural" is applied to man...

The term "natural" is applied to many foods, but does not have a consistent meaning. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Not in Sandy, Oregon, the deadly summer sun is shooting its heat rays again. Do you know the signs of de-hydration? The heat claims the lives of many spry athletes every year. A person can train for cold or train for elevation, but no one can train for fluid loss–fluids must be replaced. Here is a link to my 5 Deadly signs of Heat Exhaustion. If you don’t know the signs of heat exhaustion, I urge you to read it. It could save your life.
Thank goodness drinking water or juices isn’t the only way the way to replenish fluids.
I addition to drinking water, eating wet foods alleviates fatigue, headaches and muscle aches brought on by dehydration. Here are some excellent re-hydration foods.
Fruits

  • Watermelon
  • Strawberries
  • Oranges
  • Catalope

Vegetables

  • Cucumbers (97% H20)
  • Zucchini (95% water)
  • Eggplant (92% water)

Weird Bonus Food you Probably didn’t cosider:

  • Warm Soup. Any watery broth based soup is good–clam chowder would not be so good.

I’m writing a post about electrolyte imbalance/post run nasties. I suffered from a mild case after a 9 mile run a few weeks ago. I was NOT dehydrated. I had plenty of water. I lost something else. Luckily, I discovered an easy fix.

 

 

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5 Reasons NOT to Drink Bottled Water in the Sweltering Heat

 

First of all, YOU SHOULD DRINK PLENTY OF WATER & COCONUT WATER FOR ELECTROLYTES IN THE SUMMER. Proper hydration is essential for barefoot health. BOTTLED WATER isn’t. It’s a DEADLY lie sold by mega corporations. Bottled water is harmful to your health, the planet, and your wallet.
Here are FIVE REASONS TO DITCH BOTTLED WATER

  1. Plastic bottled water contains a harmful chemical, BPA. Studies suggest that BPA mimics hormones. Exposure to BPA can cause a wide variety of health issues.  Journal of the American Medical Association.[110][111] The cross-sectional study of almost 1,500 people assessed exposure to bisphenol A by looking at levels of the chemical in urine. The authors found that higher bisphenol A levels were significantly associated with heart disease, and diabetes.
  2. Plastic waste from bottled water is killing the ocean and our planet. Trashed plastic fills the ocean with a toxic soup. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also described as the Pacific Trash Vortex  is patch of poisonous ocean. The chemicals are deadly to fish and worst of all, jellyfish ingest the soup and carry to toxins to other parts of the sea.

    Bottle of Sprite given up on a beach of Pas-de...

    Image via Wikipedia

  3. Plastic wastes our nation’s stupid supply of nasty planet murdering oil. Plastic for bottled water takes the equivalent of about 17.6 million barrels of oil. That’s WITHOUT transportation–the oil waste is exclusively from making the bottles themselves.
  4. It’s a waste of money. The price of bottled water is usually  at least triple the cost of tap water. But isn’t it better quality? Read on.
  5. Most bottled water comes from public water sources. It’s really just filtered TAP WATER and there aren’t any regulations on its safety. Contrary to popular belief, bottle water is NOT safer than American tap water. Tap water is highly regulated, bottled water is not.

Alternative water containers for barefoot runners

  • Stainless Steel Water Bottle
    (safe sturdy, but weighty, the MOST practical, sensible alternative for the barefoot runner).

    A calabash gourd, used for drinking mate.

    Image via Wikipedia

  • Hippie Style Waterskin/ Bota Bag (Groovy, cool, very barefoot runner. But, it’s leather and they require constant care; also, they add a funky taste to the water and you have to clean then. Still better than plastic (if you use the traditional lining, NOT latex), plus they’re way more stylish.)
  • Water Gourds (About as impractical as the bota bag. Same drawbacks and killer primitive style.)
BTW, drinking too much water during strenuous exercise can lead to hypnoatremia–a deadly condition. Drinking Coconut Water is the BEST way to stay hydrated in the sweltering heat. It will restore lost electrolytes, it also provides key nutrients to prevetn “post run blues” /post run nasties.
Read my
Article about Coconut Water for More Information about this Excellent All Natural, Healthy Nutrient Dense Electrolyte Drink that you Pick up at most grocery stores.
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