coconut water during workout?

[johnson13]

good/bad?

[Austinknight]

I know coconut milk is a laxative, don't know about coconut water why do you want to take that while working out?

[SupaNatural]

Just saw a coconut water product the other day. It claimed to be a natural source of electrolyte replenishment, potassium in particular. Outside of that, I did not see any other claims from the product. If this is the case I don't see it hindering anything, but the product was while by no means expensive if its only benefit is replenishment of electrolytes.

It is from what I've seen however, extremely rich in potassium. Here is something I found on the subject:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...t=AbstractPlus

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2007 Jul;38(4):769-85.
Rehydration with sodium-enriched coconut water after exercise-induced dehydration.

Ismail I, Singh R, Sirisinghe RG.

Sports Science Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

This crossover study assessed the effectiveness of plain water (PW), sports drink (SD), fresh young coconut water (CW) and sodium-enriched fresh young coconut water (SCW) on whole body rehydration (R) and plasma volume (PV) restoration after exercise-induced dehydration. Ten healthy male subjects ran at 65% of VO2max in an environmental temperature of 32.06 +/- 0.02 degree C with a relative humidity (rh) of 53.32 +/- 0.17% for 90 minutes to lose 3% body weight (BW). During the 2-hour rehydration period, subjects drank, in randomized order, PW, SD, CW or SCW equivalent to 120% of BW lost in three boluses representing 50, 40 and 30% of the fluid lost at 0, 30, and 60 minutes, respectively. In all trials subjects were still somewhat dehydrated even after the 2-hour rehydration period. Indexes of percent rehydration with PW, SD, CW and SCW were 58 +/- 2, 68 +/- 2, 65+/- 2 and 69 +/- 1%, respectively, with significantly better rehydration with SD and SCW. The rehydration indexes for SD and SCW were significantly lower than PW (p < 0.01). PV was restored to euhydration levels after 2 hours of rehydration with SD, CW and SCW but not with PW. The plasma glucose concentration were significantly higher when SD, CW and SCW were ingested. SCW was similar in sweetness to CW and SD but caused less nausea and stomach upset compared to SD and PW. In conclusion, ingesting SCW was as good as ingesting a commercial sports drink for whole body rehydration after exercise-induced dehydration but with better fluid tolerance.

PMID: 17883020 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12056182

J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci. 2002 Mar;21(2):93-104.
Rehydration after exercise with fresh young coconut water, carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and plain water.

Saat M, Singh R, Sirisinghe RG, Nawawi M.

Department of Physiology, School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. matsaat@kb.usm.my

This is to cross-over study to assess the effectiveness of fresh young coconut water (CW), and carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage (CEB) compared with plain water (PW) for whole body rehydration and blood volume (BV) restoration during a 2 h rehydration period following exercise-induced dehydration. Eight healthy male volunteers (mean age and VO2max of 22.4 +/- 3.3 years and 45.8 +/- 1.5 ml min kg-1 respectively) exercised at 60% of VO2max in the heat (31.1 +/- 0.03 degrees C, 51.4 +/- 0.1% rh) until 2.78 +/- 0.06% (1.6 +/- 0.1 kg) of their body weight (BW) was lost. After exercise, the subjects sat for 2 h in a thermoneutral environment (22.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C; 67.0 +/- 1.0% rh) and drank a volume of PW, CW and CEB on different occasions representing 120% of the fluid loss. A blood and urine sample, and the body weight of each subject was taken before and after exercise and at 30 min intervals throughout a rehydration period. Each subject remained fasted throughout rehydration. Each fluid was consumed in three portions in separate trials representing 50% (781 +/- 47 ml), 40% (625 +/- 33 ml) and 30% (469 +/- 28 ml) of the 120% fluid loss at 0, 30 and 60 min of the 2 h rehydration period, respectively. The drinks given were randomised. In all the trials the subjects were somewhat hypohydrated (range 0.08-0.18 kg BW below euhydrated BW; p > 0.05) after a 2 h rehydration period since additional water and BW were lost as a result of urine formation, respiration, sweat and metabolism. The percent of body weight loss that was regained (used as index of percent rehydration) during CW, PW, and CEB trials was 75 +/- 5%, 73 +/- 5% and 80 +/- 4% respectively, but was not statistically different between trials. The rehydration index, which provided an indication of how much of what was actually ingested was used for body weight restoration, was again not different statistically between trials (1.56 +/- 0.14, 1.36 +/- 0.13 and 1.71 +/- 0.21 for CW, CEB and PW respectively). Although BV restoration was better with CW, it was not statistically different from CEB and PW. Cumulative urine output was similar in all trials. There were no difference at any time in serum Na+ and Cl-, serum osmolality, and net fluid balance between the three trials. Urine osmolality decreased after 1 h during the rehydration period and it was lowest in the PW trial. Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly higher compared with PW ingestion when CW and CEB were ingested during the rehydration period. CW was significantly sweeter, caused less nausea, fullness and no stomach upset and was also easier to consume in a larger amount compared with CEB and PW ingestion. In conclusion, ingestion of fresh young coconut water, a natural refreshing beverage, could be used for whole body rehydration after exercise.

PMID: 12056182 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The bolded is particularly of interest to me.

[HurfDurf]

coconut water?

[mikew4545]

coconut water?

lmao

[PhoenixFlame]

good/bad?

Good, know alot of guys that swear by it. Especially great for cardio and sports. Natural electrolytes. Only wish I could get it at a decent price here. Pop in some xtend or an intraworkout formula without electrolytes and you're golden, but also good alone.

[hyper.radio]

coconut water is nice still, i get a case of the soda sized cans, or u can get the taller ones for about 1.20 here...most super markets carry them, and all west indian stores have em too

[12bbig]

Coconut water is good , but it is much better to get it from the coconut itself and use the jelly as well ( very pricey) than use the one in the can.

[dsade]

I'm actually working on an intra formula that uses a coconut water extract.

I already use the same extract in several of my skin formulas - amazing stuff.

[tradentravel]

good/bad?

Im here in the philippines and was looking every where for dextrose for my post workout protein delevery system, couldnt find it anywhere...Some local here told me coconut water is a form of dextros...maybe worth doing your own research...I did some and learned they used coconut water for dextros in both world wars and vietnam war. It is dextros like, not sure if its same result as far as delivering ur protein to ur muscles. Plus its natural and very healthy drink.....I may be wrong but im trying it with my protein post work out mix also the last 20 minuites of my workout.

[optimus1]

Stuff tastes horrible, plus recently saw a study that stated most coconut waters do not actually have the amt of electrolytes, etc. that are on the label. As it is considered a "food" product, their standards to do have to be precise, but as an intra-workout/electrolyte beverage, I DO want precise numbers on the labels and consistency in the product's content. IMO, many better intra-workouts to go with over this crap.

[IronMan1234]

the potassium would be great

[Cheftepesh]

VPX puts out a great one. It has lots of D3 and Omegas. I used it during a workout for electrolytes and taste. I would same you can get an electrolyte supp and get the same effects for less money.