Coconut water
Coconut water has been called the new ‘wonder health drink’ because of its ‘phenomenal hydrating properties’. But there is little scientific evidence to support these claims.
Coconut water is unlikely to be harmful, but it does not have a high nutrient content and can be expensive. The real miracle drink is plain water. The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend water as the best drink. It contains no kilojoules and is the best fluid for hydrating the body.
Unlike coconut water, tap water is free from packaging ? and it costs nothing. Unfortunately, spending money on new health trends (such as coconut water) often means people have less money available to spend on healthy foods, like fruit and vegetables.
Coconut water is often marketed for the nutrients it contains, like calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. But these nutrients are in very low amounts in coconut water.
Regular, everyday foods (such as fruit and vegetables) provide these nutrients. Eating a wide variety of these healthy foods, in the right amounts, will help people meet their nutrition needs. And nutritious foods like fruit and vegetables will provide other benefits, such as fibre.
