Food Shopping and Storing Beverages Think Coconut Water Sounds Too Good to Be True? We Have News for You Newsflash. Your favorite, trendy beverage is packed with (legitimate) health benefits. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 10, 2022 Fact checked by Danielle Slauter Fact checked by Danielle Slauter Highlights: * Has worked as a fact checker for Real Simple since 2022 * Worked as a staff writer for Mochi Magazine * Currently runs and operates the United States blog for Student Beans Our Fact-Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Coconut water has become one of the coolest sippable superfoods on the block in recent years, and there are few things more refreshing than an ice-cold glass of it after a run or yoga session. It's a great alternative to soda and the perfect add-on to smoothies without the added sugar. But with health claims ranging from hydration and electrolytes to being a catch-all for glowing skin and the ultimate hangover cure; it's natural to be skeptical of this stuff. To better understand the juice found inside the coconut fruit (not to be confused with coconut milk, which is mostly coconut meat), we turned to Kaleigh McMordie, RD. She helped us cut through the wellness-y health halo touted by coconut water—and it turns out this beverage is packed with a number of legitimate health benefits. If Sparkling Water Is Your Drink of Choice, We've Got News for You 01 of 04 Antioxidants "Coconut water contains antioxidants that can neutralize damaging free radicals that cause oxidative stress on the body," explains McMordie. Antioxidants are found in a variety of coconut plant forms and products, which do show a range in their effectiveness. Meaning? "It's best to choose fresh coconut water for the highest antioxidant activity, as heat processing will reduce antioxidant activity." 02 of 04 Electrolytes Hydration is one of coconut water's most celebrated attributes, and for good reason. According to McMordie, coconut water naturally contains the electrolytes magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium, all of which are important for maintaining fluid balance in the body. In addition to keeping you hydrated, electrolytes help balance your body's pH, control muscle contractions, and help you recover post-workout (more on this below). Can Beet Juice Really Boost Your Physical Fitness? We Asked an RD 03 of 04 Vitamin C Vitamin C is an important vitamin for maintaining a healthy immune system, as well as an antioxidant. "Coconut water naturally contains about 10% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin C per serving," says McMordie. 3 Immunity-Boosting Ingredients RDs Want You to Add to Your Diet 04 of 04 Workout Recovery "Coconut water is about 95% water and contains both carbohydrates and electrolytes, making it a great beverage for hydration and recovery after a workout," explains McMordie. It's naturally much lower in sugar than sports drinks and doesn't contain artificial colors or flavors. Now that you know just how good coconut water can be for your body, it's time to choose the right brand. And believe us when we say there are a lot of them out there. The most important thing is to read nutrition labels. Look for lower-sugar coconut waters, like VitaCoco's sparkling coconut waters that contain only 4g per 12-ounce serving (the Pineapple Passionfruit flavor is delicious). Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Santos JL, Bispo VS, Filho AB, et al. Evaluation of chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of coconut water (Cocus nucifera L.) and caffeic acid in cell culture. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2013;85(4):1235-1247. doi:10.1590/0001-37652013105312 Lau WY, Kato H, Nosaka K. Water intake after dehydration makes muscles more susceptible to cramp but electrolytes reverse that effect. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2019;9(5):e000478. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000478 Kardalas E, Paschou SA, Anagnostis P, Muscogiuri G, Siasos G, Vryonidou A. Hypokalemia: a clinical update. Endocr Connect. 2018;7(4):R135-R146. doi:10.1530/EC-18-0109 USDA FoodData Central. Nuts, Coconut Water (Liquid From Coconuts).