Benefits Of Coconut Water For Children

Coconut water

If you are born and brought up in Nigeria, chances are that you were deprived of coconut water as a child. Not to worry, I was too. At a time, one begins to wonder the root of some of these myths. It is believed in Nigeria that the academic knowledge or intelligence of a child who drinks coconut water will begin to fall. For this, no child going to school must drink this water. Only graduates can drink of it. It becomes a taboo if the child even takes a sip during an examination.
My guess is that the originator must be a Nigerian mom. She could consider the only way to enjoy this drink alone is to lie to her dear child who probably loves school to desist from it to continue performing well in class. Swallowing the new knowledge without asking, the child went to school to disseminate the newfound truth. The other students may have ignorantly told their own mom who at the same time bought the idea.
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Coconut water has been given several names all around the world. Some call it the liquid next to the water. Others call it nature milk. Whatever the name it is called, some few evidence points to some beneficial effects on children.
There is a lot of hype about coconut water, yet the research is just not there to support many of the claims and much more research is needed says, Cheung
Coconut water is low in fat and calories and at the same time rich in minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. Key nutrients include iron, chloride, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, lauric acid, and calcium. It has about four times the value of potassium in a banana.
Have does coconut water gotten from broken coconut benefits children. Let us see some of the benefits.

Benefits Of coconut water To Children

• Coconut water contains lauric acid, one of the compounds found in mother milk. This acid forms monolaurin. This compound helps children to fight against diseases exactly the same way the one from mother milk does. It is advice that children from 6 – 8 months can start drinking it.
• Its antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial properties are next to none. It helps the skin to fight infection and eliminate excess oil. Some apply it topically directly on the skin. The result is a brighter, beautiful skin. Another way it functions as an antibacterial is that it encourages diuresis, eliminating microbes from the bladder and preventing kidney stones.
• Coconut water contains fibre. If you do not know, one of the main function of fibre is that it aids digestion, prevent dehydration because it has natural sugar, potassium and sodium. This, in turn, prevent constipation.
• If we say it contributes to children strong bone, we are not far from the truth because one of the components of coconut water is calcium. The Little amount of calcium in the diet of children goes a long way in contributing to their bone strength.
• My mom knows this fact. Coconut water is a very powerful antitoxin given to adults in times of emergencies. Children can also benefit from this. We do not know what these children have consumed unknowingly.
• Another aspect that is beneficial to children is that coconut water improves oxygen circulation to various parts of the body including the skin.
• It is sterile making it safe for consumption.
• Lastly, overweight kids can benefit a lot from its ability to aid weight loss.

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Things To Note About Coconut Water

Water from ripe coconut can lead to constipation. Green and tender coconut are better with less sugar.

• Always serve fresh
• Sip and not gulp
• Coconut lasts only a couple of days between 5 – 10 days at room temperature for raw tender coconut. The liquid can last 24 hours under cool conditions such as inside a fridge.

With the above benefits, please Nigerian moms, let your child drink this refreshing and nutritious liquid from nature. Even though there is no evidence of its positive effect on a child’s academic performance, the other benefits far outweigh the myth associated with coconut water.