How effective is coconut water for hangover? What makes this natural drink good for the morning after drinking? Read on to find its effectiveness, when to use it (before or after bed) smoothies recipe and whether it can be used for alcohol withdrawal.
How good is Coconut Water for Hangover?
Does it come to a point your head is pounding, your vision is blurred and you cannot even think clearly? Yes, that comes after you have had too much to drink. Hangovers attack most of us when we drink too much alcohol.
You have certainly tried various hangover cures such as classic cocktail, coke, painkillers, or even hair of the dog. Incase these remedies did not work; it’s time to try coconut water. It is not only re-energizing and revitalizing but it is also refreshing to the body.
Some people still think that coconut water as hangover remedy is a myth. However, research has shown that coconut water is a perfect cure for hangovers. When you experience hangovers, it is basically because you are dehydrated and hence your brain cannot work consistently.
According to an author of 40 hangover cures, Fatin Mustafa, coconut water is one of the best cures for hangovers. Fatin explains that, apart from coconut water having more potassium than a banana, it also has more electrolytes as compared to other sport drinks. Mustafa further praises coconut water for its ability to wash away toxins. [1]
Alcohol is diuretic. You must have realized that the number of times you visit the toilet to pee after heavy consumption of alcohol increase. This happens as the body tries to flush out the alcohol from the body system.
Shona Wilkinson, a nutritionist at Nutri-center explains that, our brains are made up of 70% water and dehydration will probably cause the brain to shrink leaving you with the pains that come with the hangovers. Coconut water is able to replenish the body with any nutrients it may have lost as well as hydrating you.
The following properties explain why coconut water turns out to be among the best hangover remedies;
It contains potassium
Peeing a lot after alcohol intake leaves you highly dehydrated. So many of the important body nutrients are flushed out, among them, potassium.
A researcher from George Mason University writes that, apart from the liquid expelled out during urination, potassium and other salts necessary for proper muscle and nerve function are lost.
You may want to get potassium from a banana but coconut water is a preferable source of potassium since it comes with other benefits.
Depletion of potassium from your body can be dangerous since your body needs it for cellular homeostasis (this is a process through which the body tends to seek a balance in its internal environment).
When consuming alcohol, your body holds sodium and kicks out so much potassium. Coconut water will provide you with sufficient potassium after or during drinking. Sufficiency of potassium controls the likelihood of fuzzy thinking and headaches due to lose of fluids. [2]
It is hydrating
An alcohol metabolism expert, James Schaefer, explains that alcohol loves water and so, as soon as you take alcohol, it starts to draw water from your body leaving you dehydrated. [3]
Like plain water, coconut water is able to hydrate your body. Hydration of your body is necessary since alcohol is diuretic and hence causing you to lose a lot of fluids. Coconut water rehydrates your body since it contains electrolytes.
Too much alcohol causes your body to have electrolyte imbalance resulting to gastrointestinal disturbance. Coconut water comes in to correct the electrolyte imbalances.
It is considered a natural isotonic beverage because of its electrolyte contents. Coconut water contains 5 essential electrolytes. It is therefore able to replenish your body better than plain water. [4]
It has antioxidants
After a night of heavy alcohol consumption, your body experiences oxidative stress. The antioxidants in alcohol relieve you of such stress at any time.
Apart from that, coconut water relieves you of stomach acidity caused by too much alcohol consumption. The major antioxidants contained in coconut water are L-arginine, and Phyto-antioxidants.
The reason you need antioxidants in your body after drinking is that, alcohol robs you of your antioxidants. You will need to replenish your body with antioxidants;otherwise, you will have a worse hangover experience. Coconut water is perfect for such replenishment. [5]
It has very low levels of fructose
Coconut water has very little fructose as compared to other possible hangover remedies. Too much fructose is dangerous to your liver especially at that time when you are experiencing hangovers following high alcohol consumption.
High sugar and fructose levels in other sports drinks explain why coconut water is a superior cure of hangovers. You do not want to solve one problem and create another. Remember that young coconut water has very little sugar but mature coconut water has very high sugar levels. Be sure to go for the young coconuts.
Even that, you still need some sugar after a heavy night of drinking and dehydration. Coconut water contains that amount of sugar that is just sufficient at such a condition.
When should you take it before or after drinking before bed?
Reviews show that, coconut water will work best when taken the morning after. A student of University of Oregon swears by coconut water for hangover cure.
She explains that, the loads of electrolytes in coconut water as well as vitamins are sufficient to replace what was lost in the night of heavy alcohol drinking. She however explains that she prefers flavored coconut water to better the taste.
Taking the coconut water after drinking alcohol works better since you can estimate the preferable amount of coconut water that you should take. This is because, to overcome your hangover, for instance by rehydrating the body, you will take small amounts of coconut water increasing periodically until you feel better.
If you choose to take coconut water before drinking, you may find it really hard to determine the right amount that you should take. It is important tobear in mind that too much of coconut water is unhealthy for you. This is because; too much potassium consumed has negative impacts to the body. [6]
Tips to use Coconut Water for Hangover+ Smoothie Recipe
For best results of coconut water for hangover treatment, you are advised to observe a number of things;
- Take a glass of coconut water before going to bed after you have had plenty of alcohol. This gives your body the energy and boost it needs to metabolize the alcohol that is in your body.
- On the following morning, keep on taking more glasses of coconut water, at least 2 to 3 glasses by the end of the day. This facilitates driving out of the toxins.
- Do not drink too much coconut water. Start with small amounts and see how your body behaves then you can take more with time. Too much potassium from coconut water is harmful to your body.
- It is okay to use flavored coconut water but pure coconutwater is always the best if you can put up with the taste.
- Look for a young coconut since it contains more antioxidants. As a coconut matures, the liquid becomes sugarier and gets absorbed to the coconut meat. You need to take the liquid before the better part of it gets absorbed.
- If you are not comfortable with taking coconut water alone, you could make a smoothie as follows;
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened coconut water
- 1\2 cup of ice
- 2 cups of ripe mango
- 2 sprigs fresh mint
- 3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice[7]
You do not need to have all the above ingredients. You can choose the ones that are most preferable for you. Should you choose all the above, then all you need is to mix them evenly into a smoothie. Take a cup before you sleep and then take another cup later on.
Can Coconut Water be used for Alcohol Withdrawal?
You may decide to stop taking alcohol but sadly, that may only result to more problems if you do it instantly. This occurs majorly when you suddenly stop taking alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are mostly associated with people who drink alcohol regularly and then stop drinking all at once.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include; sweating, nausea, headaches, vomiting, insomnia, mild anxiety, and shaky hands. What you require is therefore treatment of these symptoms. [8]
If you wish to stop taking alcohol but are afraid of the withdrawal symptoms, you may consider some home remedies to detox your body.
If the symptoms are too severe, you may be tempted to get back to alcohol drinking to overcome the suffering. However, that is not the right decision because coconut water will help you get relieved from the alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
To begin with, coconut water contains electrolytes. Over the period of alcohol drinking, you realize that you lost so many electrolytes. That loss of electrolytes showcases itself even more when you suddenly stop taking alcohol.
Additionally, coconut water hydrates your body. Nausea is one of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms and this leaves your body dehydrated. The electrolytes in coconut water help rehydrate your body and hence getting your body back to its normal functioning.
Sources & References
[1]http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/9-natural-hangover-remedies-that-really-work-pa1214/Fatin
[2]https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/12/sciences-best-hangover-cures/333719/
[3]http://www.gq.com/story/the-7-best-foods-and-drinks-to-cure-a-hangover
[4]http://www.coconutwaterlife.com/coconut-water-hangover
[5]http://ghanahospitals.org/moreinfo/details.php?id=1720
[6]https://www.hercampus.com/health/physical-health/5-hangover-remedies-actually-work-3-don-t
[7]https://www.mnn.com/food/recipes/stories/3-coconut-water-drinks-to-try-this-summer
[8]http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms-treatments#1withdrawal