Relax! Get Loose With Coconut Water?




Is Coconut Water Also Relaxing

 

I woke-up the other morning with worrying thoughts about a family medical emergency.  I trudged through the kitchen, got a glass and poured my regular morning drink of coconut water for energy.

 I drank the coconut water and immediately felt my worries float away.

The absence of the worries was very noticeable.  I stopped moving so I could languish in the freedom from the sad thoughts. 

Then it hit me ‘the coconut water did this’.

‘Say Whattttt…Pat’

Yes!

 I didn’t feel anything physical happening to me.  I just felt the thoughts of disappointment being literally moved aside. I was standing in front of the sink when it happened. Then I went on with my day: I was back in the moment  and not what could have been in the past. 

Is Coconut Water Really Mood Altering?

So where  is the research to prove that I experienced what I know I experienced?

I haven’t found any academic research results yet, just tons of testimonials like mine all over the internet. 

Some writers say that it’s the B vitamins in coconut water that relaxes partakers.  Some say that a heightened mood is a natural benefit of being hydrated with coconut water.

It could be the magnesium, calcium or some of the other minerals in coconut water. Perhaps it’s the sugar or the tiny bit of fat.

Yes, there is fat in coconut water, just a little bit according to the USDA, less that 1 gram per cup.  Here the link for the USDA’s Coconut Water Nutrient Data Table.

Trust Coconut Water, Verify Later

To all that I say: “Maybe or maybe not”. The relaxed feeling JUST IS. So just enjoy coconut water instead of a glass of wine or beer for a change of pace sometimes.

Why You Should Start Going Bananas Over Coconut Water



Good Things for Potassium:  Bananas and Coconut



Ever have a taste for a banana but only have lime green bananas or mushy black ones in your fruit bowl, like me? I just stare at them and wish that they were yellow... and ripe... and creamy-tasting.

Mmmm...bananas are so tasty and so full of energizing potassium. But bottled coconut water is becoming the handiest way  for me to get a daily dose of nutrients like potassium.

Keeping a bottle of coconut water stashed in my office desk or gym bag is just very handy for me.

According to  the USDA nutrient database, 1 cup of coconut water has about 600 mg of potassium versus 422 mg in 1 ripe banana.

Losing Potassium Big Time

You may want to start drinking coconut water if eating a banana regularly is getting harder and especially if you are losing vital potassium from your body because of  any of the following reasons:

• You are a big time coffee drinker, downing 3 or more 8 oz. cups of java every morning;
• You drink caffeinated soda pops throughout the day;
• Your prescription medication makes you go to the bathroom more often;
• You strictly follow the rule to drink 8 or more glasses of plain, H20 water a day; or,
• You work-out and work-up a real sweat.

How Bananas Can Be Annoying

Perhaps you are not eating as many bananas because of one or more of the following reasons:

• Bananas give you indigestion and/or gas;
• You can’t eat-up fresh yellow ripe bananas fast enough before they get over ripened;
• Bananas cost too much at your office’s kiosk or at the gym’s café;
• You just don’t like the fishy or “bad water” taste that many bananas seem to have these days; or,
• Your body cannot handle the blood sugar changes when you eat a banana.

Don’t get me wrong: Drinking coconut water will never replace eating a tasty banana or other potassium-rich foods like yogurt, watermelon or salad tomatoes. 

 All I am saying is that a quick gulp of  the natural refreshment  that's in  a bottle of coconut water is indeed a quick and easy "good thing".  I like to think of coconut water as the original convenience food.

BREAKING NEWS! LESS MAKEUP IN VOGUE



The More Eye Makeup Look



The New York Times had an interesting feature about makeup or the lack thereof.  Here’s the NYT link: THE NAKED FACE . Note: Coconut Oil is the best make up remover because it's moisturizing.

Monoi Tahiti Sandalwood Review: Fresh Soap Scented Coconut Oil!



Fragrant sandalwood hand fan



Fragrance Name: Monoi Tiki Tahiti Sandalwood Coconut Oil    

Rating:  5 out of 5 points

Where to Buy:  Online stores                                                                    

Type:  Massage Oil, Après shower moisturizer

Use:  Day off from work fragrance or layering over other scents

Fragrance Notes:  Gardenia (tiare'), coconut and sandalwood.

Price:  About $12.00 for 4 oz.

Impressions:  This scented coconut oil has a refreshing shower-fresh fragrance because the sandalwood essential oil keeps the gardenia note in check.  The oil has a mild soap-like scent fragrance that's almost addictive.

It’s great for an occasional change of pace from the intoxicating floral versions of Monoi Tahitian oils.

The unisex sandalwood note is pleasant and peppy not pungent. The fragrance reminds me of the scented air that drifts from my handheld sandalwood fan on hot days.

I use Monoi Tiki Tahiti Sandalwood and the floral scented oil versions in 2 ways:

• Full-strength as a massage oil, or
• As a Spot-treatment for layering over body creams.

Either way, Monoi Tiki Tahiti Sandalwood is gently compelling.


This coconut oil bath product seals-in moisture, especially on knees, elbows or feet.  Also, when you buy authentic Tahitian Monoi oil, you support Tahiti's coconut agriculture and fragrance manufacturing industry.

Hummingbird Cake With Coconut, Sounds Yummy!



Hummingbird Cake



Have you ever eaten a piece of Hummingbird cake made by someone from Fiji? No! Well, neither have I.  But that's an incredibly tasty name for a cake. So it's on my short list of cake recipes made with coconut oil to try. 

I can't wait to taste this combination of coconut, pecans, pineapple and bananas plus cream cheese. Here's the link to the page with more coconut recipes from Fiji:  FIJI COCONUT RECIPES

NBA PLAYER'S GAME PLAN WITH COCONUT WATER HYDRATION



 Chicago Bulls NBA  player Joakim Noah has renewed his  endorsement deal with Vita Coco Coconut Water.  Chicagobusiness.com reported that it was Mr. Noah who originally approached the coconut water producer about endorsing the beverage.

 Usually, of course, these endorsement deals work the other way around:  The Company contacts the player first.

 Noah has always impressed me as a leader who follows his own calling.

Noah has even had twitter meet-ups with fans to promote Vita Coco at local Walgreens Drug Stores.  As I wrote in a previous post, Walgreens has been at the forefront of making coconut water widely available to all consumers.

Joakim Noah isn't the only NBA player who supports drinking coconut water for hydration.  Other NBA players who favor coconut water include:

• Orlando Magic NBA players Brandon Bass, Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick
• Boston Celtics NBA player Kevin Garnett
• Los Angeles Clippers NBA player Blake Griffin

Professional athletes are smarter than ever about nutrients  that enhance physical abilities.  I think that many players, like Noah, recognize that coconut water is the best all-around source of electrolytes like potassium for re-hydration.

QUICK MORNING SHOT OF COCONUT WATER FOR FITNESS AND ENERGY

A small glass of coconut water for big energy

Here’s one of my recipes for a quick boost of energy on late winter mornings when it’s really hard to get going.   I whip-up this really easy coconut water beverage recipe:

COCONUT WATER AND SWEET CREAM

1. Put 1 ice cube in a shot glass
2. Add 1 drop of lime juice
3. Add 1 dollop or squirt of whipped cream
4. Add enough coconut water to cover the ice cube and whipped cream.

Drink immediately as the ice cube melts in the coconut water.



Coconut and fruit

This shot of coconut water touches the right spot in my stomach when I’m not in the mood to prepare a fruit smoothie (which seems to be often these days). The sweet milk taste of the cream makes all the difference.

This slightly sweetened coconut water is really filling and a timesaver for me on dreary winter days.

MAKE FRESH, TASTIER GUMBO WITH COCONUT OIL FOR MARDI GRAS




Shrimp Okra and Crayfish Gumbo



You can make your shrimp, crayfish and okra gumbo dish with a fresh new savor to celebrate Mardi Gras. Here’s how I get more savory flavor.  I sauté my onions and other vegetables in coconut oil for most dishes to bring out ALL the goodness. 

Replace bland tasting soybean, corn or canola oils with coconut oil in your traditional African-American gumbo recipe for an healthier dish.

THE BEST COCONUT CANDY FOR VALENTINE'S DAY GIFTS



Eat Coconut Truffles when you can't get Haystacks



Guess what's my favorite coconut candy?  Answer:  All of it!  And I don't wait  to be given a Valentine's Day gift to eat a tasty coconut treat. 

The best coconut candy I ever tasted was Marshall Field's CHOCOLATE COCONUT HAYSTACKS.  This candy was a very rough mixture of sumptuous milk chocolate and moist coconut flakes,  nearly the size of golf balls.

In a previous post, I said that the haystacks were the size of baseballs. Sorry, I got carried away by my imagination and fond memories. 

Marshall Field's department store has been closed for over a decade. I won't ever forget the awesome flavor of their candy.

The coconut lover in your life would more than appreciate full-flavored, artisan crafted coconut haystack candy for a  Valentine's Day gift.

GATORADE INGREDIENT IN THE NEWS



Virtually clear coconut water



According to multiple news reports recently, PepsiCo, the makers of Gatorade have decided to remove the additive, brominated vegetable oil (BVO), from the sports drink because of consumer concerns about the possibility of adverse health effects. Virtually all soft drinks contain one or more additives, including most brands of coconut water.

PEPSICO PETITIONED TO CHANGE INGREDIENTS

Apparently PepsiCo’s action may have been in response to an Change.org online petition started by Sarah Kavanagh, a 15 year old teenager from Mississippi.

Sarah specifically addressed PepsiCo’s corporate officers.  She asked them to remove the BVO additive.  Over 200,000 signatures are on the petition as of today. Here’s the link to Sarah Kavanagh’s petition at Change.org.

DO YOU READ PRODUCT LABELS?

If a 15 year old  was motivated to  read a  product label and research the list of ingredients online, can’t we all do that too?

Whether the ingredient list is short, like that on most coconut water containers or very long like the ones on some other products, I read labels like my life depends on it.