As with coconut milk, for some reason I assumed that coconut water was just that, the water from the centre of a coconut. Once again I was wrong. You would think that as a dietitian, and a regular label reader, I would have the good sense to check-out the ingredients of any product I’m buying. Some day I’ll learn!

So… coconut water. Not always just coconut water apparently. Some brands are made from concentrate, some have additives like “natural flavour” and citric acid. Other brands are watered-down coconut water. Still others have added flavours (along with which tend to come added sugars) ranging from various fruits to chocolate and latte. Obviously, these versions tend to negate any of the benefits from consuming coconut water.

Now, I like coconut water. I often have a small (i.e. about 1/2 cup or less) glass in the morning. It’s tends to have about half the sugar that a glass of juice would have and most of us can do with a little bit more potassium. That being said, it’s not for everyone and I’m certainly not advising everyone to consume it. However, if you’re like me and you do enjoy it, just be sure to read the ingredients and make sure that you’re getting 100% pure coconut water.