Tender Coconut Water Uses, Health Benefits, Good Nutritive
Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, April-June 2018, Vol.9, No. 2 185 10. Cures malnourishment,
11. Diuretic,
12. Effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones,
13. Can be injected intravenously in emergency case, 14. Found as blood plasma substitute because it is
sterile, does not produce heat, does not destroy red blood cells and is readily accepted by the body, 15. Aids the quick absorption of the drugs and makes
their peak concentration in the blood easier by its electrolytic effect2-5.
Sugars: Sugars in the forms of glucose and fructose form an important constituent of the tender nut water.
The concentration of sugars in the nut water steadily increases from about 1.5 per cent to about 5-5.5 per cent in the early months of maturation and then slowly falls reaching about 2 per cent at the stage of the full maturity of the nut. In the early stages of maturity sugars are in the form of glucose and fructose (reducing sugars) and sucrose (non-reducing sugar) appears only in later stages which increases with the maturity while the reducing sugars fall. In the fully mature nut approximately 90 per cent of the total sugars is sucrose.
Minerals: Tender coconut water contains most of the minerals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper, sulphur and chlorides.
Among the minerals more than half is potassium the concentration of which is markedly influenced by potash manuring. Tender coconut water being rich in potassium and other minerals plays a major role to increase the urinary output.
Protein: Coconut water contains small amounts of protein. The percentage of arginine, alanine, cystine and serene in the protein of tender coconut water are higher than those in cow’s milk. Since it does not contain any complex protein the danger of producing shock to the patients is minimized.
Vitamins: Tender coconut water contains both ascorbic acid and vitamins of B group. The concentration of ascorbic acid ranges from 2.2 to 3.7mg per ml, which gradually diminishes as the kernel surrounding the water begins to harden.
Thus the present Review was written based on the original article they conducted to investigate the effects of tender coconut water on antioxidant status and
lipid peroxidation in mercury exposure workers6. The study findings demonstrate that tender coconut water consumption can reduce oxidative stress and increase antioxidant status indicated by reduced MDA level , increased antioxidant enzymes such as SOD , CAT and GPx. Based on this findings health benefits written in this Review.
dISCuSSION
Medicinal properties of Tender Coconut Water:
Some of the medicinal properties of Tender Coconut Water reported are:
1. Good for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances.
2. Oral rehydration medium.
3. Contains organic compounds containing growth promoting properties.
4. Keeps the body cool.
5. Application on the body prevents prickly heat and summer boils and subsides the rashes caused by small pox, chicken pox and measles etc.
6. Presence of saline and albumin makes it a good drink in cholera cases.
7. Excellent tonic for the old and the sick.
8. Diuretic (a substance which tends to increase flow of urine).
9. Can be injected intravenously in emergency cases such as cholera and dysentery when other pyrogen-free fluids are not available.
10. Can be used as a blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, pyrogen - free and does not produce heat, and does not destroy blood cells.
11. Aids the quick absorption of drugs and make their peak concentration in the blood easier by its electrolyte effect.
12. Urinary antiseptic and eliminates poisons in case of mineral poisoning.
Uses and Health Benefits: Coconut water can used as a high-electrolyte beverage with a low glycemic index (54 ± 4) for hydration purposes. (Based on the study conducted by PCA on the Development of a High Electrolyte, Low Glycemic Index Coco Water Drink in
186 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, April-June 2018, Vol.9, No. 2 2011). During the World War II, coconut water has been
used intravenously since coconut water is identical to the human plasma and can be injected directly into the human bloodstream. Decrease the risk of heart attacks, increase metabolic rate, help in dissolving kidney stones, prevents muscle cramps, and an effective diuretic are some of the health benefits of coconut water7-8. Nutritionally supports immune function, Provides nutrients important in preventing osteoporosis.
Composition of Coconut water: Coconut water is high in ionic nutrients (electrolytes) such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphorus and sulphur. It also contains sugar, in the form of glucose and fructose, Vitamin C, Vitamin B group and amino acids such as glutamic acid, arginine, aspartic acid and leucine.
Coconut water is the liquid endosperm obtained from a young coconut (6 - 8 months) which is pure, nutritious and wholesome natural beverage. The sterile water, which is approximately 200 – 750 ml, is enclosed with a hard shell and a welllined layer (8–10 mm) of coconut meat.All details has given in the tables.
Table 1: Composition of young coconut water21
Proximates g/100 g
Energy 109 kJ
Moisture 95.2
Nitrogen 0 .04
Protein 0.2
Fat 0.0
Ash 0.2
Fructose 2.4
Glucose 2.7
Sucrose 1.5
Maltose 0.0
Lactose 0.0
Total Sugar 6.6
Starch 0.0
Carbohydrate 6.6
Table 2: Mineral Component21
Minerals mg/100 g
Calcium 12.0
Copper 0.220
Iron 0.4
Conted…
Magnesium 11.0
Manganese 1,020.0
Phosphorus 9.0
Potassium 186.0
Table 3: Vitamin Component21
Vitamins mg/100 g
Thiamin 0.01
Riboflavin 0.02
Niacin 0.10
Vitamin C 0 ug
Retinol 0 ug
Table 4: Amino Acid Component21
Amino Acids mg
Alanine 10
Arginine 32
Aspartic Acid 18
Cystine + Cysteine 4
Glutamic Acid 43
Glycine 10
Histidine 5
Isoleucine 8
Leucine 14
Lysine 10
Methionine 4
Phenlyalanine 10
Proline 8
Serine 11
Threonine 9
Tryptophan 2
Tyrosine 6`
Valine 12
Tender coconut water can be used as a source of methionine and vitamin B69. The high content of L-arginine in tender coconut water can be used to reduce the free radical generation, increase antioxidant activity and inhibit the process of lipid peroxidation10-12. L-arginine plays an important role in mercury detoxification and serves potentially as a preventive and therapeutic strategies against occcupational or environmental exposure to mercury. 36 L-arginine is
Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, April-June 2018, Vol.9, No. 2 187 a source of nitrid oxide (NO). NO can inhibit xantine
Oxidase (XO), increase levels of SOD, total thiol (TSH), vitamin C, total antioxidant (TAC)13-15. If the XO activity decreases, the amount of superoxide will also decrease so that the levels of SOD increase because the need of SOD to decompose superoxide into hydrogen peroxide is also less. Fang et al. reported that superoxide can also be formed due to the reduction of O2 by NO synthase when a shortage of arginine and tetrahidribiopterin (BH4) occurs, so that L-arginine can be used as an alternative to reduce production of superoksida16.
The increase of Thiol levels after giving of L-arginine can increase the conversion of ascorbic acid radicals into ascorbat acid14. Treatment by L-arginine can increase GPx activity in rats exposed with Pb17. The high content of vitamin C in tender coconut water makes coconut water effective to increase the level of antioxidants as vitamin C can reduce superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen derived from activated neutrophils and monocytes. The work of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant indirectly regenerates membrane antioxidant bonding, such as α-tocopherol, by raising peroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen. Vitamin C works synergistically with vitamin E. Vitamin E oxidized by free radicals can react with vitamin C, after obtaining the hydrogen ions of vitamin C and then it will convert into tokoferol18. Tender coconut water contains selenium, GPx activity is strongly influenced by the presence of selenium, selenium deficiency in the body can decrease the activity of GPx up to 90. 42Mercury has strong affinity to bind selenium19, and both are antagonis20. Giving tender coconut water for workers exposed to mercury can be used as a source of selenium to increase the activity of GPx. High nutrient content in tender coconut water can be used as a source of minerals which is essential to the body, one of them is as a natural cofactor antioxidants SOD contained in the body.
Previous studies shown that consumption 450mL/
day of tender coconut water for 30 day increases antioxidant enzymatic SOD, CAT, GPx and decreases lipid peroxidation in mercury exposure workers.
Market for tender coconut water is increasing considerably due to its medicinal, nutritional and sensory properties. Further market for processed bottled tender coconut water also increasing to reduce transport cost
and easily available in all locations throughout a year.
However, there is a challenge for developing process to ensure that the product is available with safety and high nutritional and sensory quality. Generally, the tender coconut water present inside the fruit is shelf sterile and stable for few days, but shelf life of extracted tender coconut water is very less. Due to its nutritive value, it gets contaminated easily, therefore autoclaved coconut water was also analyzed for any change in nutritional value and shelf life.
CONCluSION
The potential anti-cancer properties of specific cytokinins could bring encouraging and novel perspectives in finding cures for the different types of cancers. The recent discovery of other medicinal values of coconut water signifies a good potential in improving human health. Better insights and understanding of the functions and properties of the individual components of coconut water will, therefore, help us to better utilize this marvelous and multidimensional liquid with special biological properties from nature. Coconut and coconut related products help in maintaining wellness with a range of health benefits. It is a gift of nature for best remedial for thirst and providing better health. Antioxidant effect and anti cancer properties of different components of it give a better choice for removing the poisoning effect of other food which is part of modern life. There is increasing scientific evidence that supports the role of coconut water in health and medicinal applications.
Despite the facts that tender coconut water is a natural, harmless, vegetable product available in a perfect transportable container, good nutritive value with no propensity of adverse events, it has not gained popularity as an ideal intravenous fluid. The favourable profile of tender coconut water makes it an ideal parenteral substitute fluid. Further extensive large clinical studies are suggested particularly on human volunteers.
Conflict of Interest: Nil Source of Funding: Self
ethical Clearance: Taken from institutional ethical committee No.IEC/C-P/038/2016
188 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, April-June 2018, Vol.9, No. 2
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