Re-Fueling your workout with coconut water!
Coconut water, what the heck is this stuff? Unless
you’ve been working out under a rock, which sounds terribly challenging, then
you’ve probably seen and heard people raving about coconut water. Every Tom,
Dick and Yogi at the gym or Whole Foods has their favorite and can list off its
many benefits like they were counting off reps. But what’s in it for you?
Well... let me break it down.
What IS it? Coconut water is the slightly
opaque liquid found inside young coconuts, once it matures it solidifies and
forms the meat of mature coconuts.
What’s IN it? Coconut water has a high
potassium content and contains lots of minerals and antioxidants. It also
contains cytokinins, which promote plant cell division and growth. Fresh
coconut water from a plant that hasn’t been damaged is sterile and because its
cellular makeup so closely resembles that of human plasma (a little more
potassium, but not quite enough sodium) there have been cases where it has been
used intravenously as a hydration fluid when medical saline was not available,
how amazing is that?! In ancient Sanskrit the coconut palm is even known as
Kalpa Vriksha, meaning, “tree which gives all that is necessary for living,” which just shows how, as a species we’ve been benefiting from coconuts and their
by-products for thousands of years.
Why IT’S great! Pure coconut water has no
fat and has minimal calories, most of them from its natural sugars as opposed
to most Sports drinks whose calories are almost always from highly refined
sugars and chock-a-block with chemicals. AND it has more potassium than a
banana, which is key if you want to help your body replace electrolytes and
rehydrate after an intense workout. But don’t forget you need sodium too; so
eat a balanced meal with dark leafy greens like Swiss chard, spinach, beet,
collard and dandelion greens (or throw them in a smoothie, you seriously won’t
even notice).
*Possible BONUSES: Some of the extra health
benefits touted include promoting weight loss by raising metabolism, boosting
the immune system, controlling diabetes, aiding the body in fighting viruses,
treating kidney stones and boosting circulation. Its anti-viral, anti-fungal
and anti-microbial properties have been proclaimed far and wide.
As always, be aware of what you are putting into
your body, read the label, avoid products with any additives, they aren’t
necessary, they never are!
Mind-blowing Coconut Lime Granita - (so easy
a highly trained monkey could do it, but don’t let a monkey show you up!)
~granita is a refreshing classic italian dessert,
half-way between a sorbet and a slushie.
Ingredients:
1 Stalk of Lemongrass, chopped
1 Tbsp of agave, honey or other sweetener
½ cup of water
3 cans of plain coconut water (One, Cocos Pure,
Blue Monkey or whatever your favourite)
or 2 young coconuts if you are feeling really
industrious!
2 limes (one zested a.k.a. very finely grated, one
peeled into curls and the juice of both
Simmer lemongrass and agave in water until it
reduces to about ¼ cup of liquid (15mins or less), let cool. Meanwhile use one
of these lemon zesters and make little curls of rind
with one of the limes and zest the entire peel of the other. Juice the naked
limes. Keep the lime curls in a glass of water in the fridge; they will curl up
even more (adorable). Remove lemongrass stalks and combine remaining syrup with
lime juice, zest and coconut water in a 8x8 (or thereabouts) casserole/baking
dish. Freeze for 2 hours, (here comes the trained monkey part...) every
15-30mins rake it with a fork so that it breaks up into little grainy ice
crystals. Once the entire mixture is frozen, but grainy and separated, spoon
into bowls and top with the remaining lime rind curls.
If you’re feeling particularly fancy add slices of pineapple, mango or
star fruit, but really, less is more.
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