Does Coconut Water Cure Hangovers?

If you're like me, you've had some pretty horrible hangovers in your adult life. Sometimes, even after downing every hangover remedy known to man, the grim reaper still seems to lurk in the shadows. For those of you right now with a smirk of relatedness on your face, have no fear. There is a new natural hangover cure gaining popularity and popping up in drink aisles everywhere; coconut water. It has been called "the fluid of life," but can it really bring life back into your sunday morning after a long night of kicking back cheap vodka?

Coconut water is the fluid you find inside young coconuts, and drinking the stuff is nothing new. In fact, Pacific Islanders have been splitting open the coconut and drinking it's sweet nectar for centuries. It's also a widely popular juice (second to orange juice) in many tropical areas around the world including Southeast Asia, Hawaii and the Caribbean. The Western world has caught on in recent years, and it comes at no surprise. Simply put, it tastes good, and it's good for you. Mortin Satin, Chief of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization asserts that "coconut water is the very stuff of nature, biologically pure, full of natural sugars, salts and vitamins to ward off fatigue and is the next wave energy drinks BUT natural." You hear that...natural. You can't beat that with a stick.

While the symptoms of a hangover can come in many forms (headaches, vomiting, nausea...), there is still only one cure: hydration. If you didn't know already, alcohol acts a diuretic by flushing your system of fluids, essential vitamins and minerals. This can cause severe dehydration. Replenishing your body of water and electrolytes lost through dehydration is the only way to grapple with a nasty $100-bar-tab hangover. But what happens when water just isn't cutting it? Sports drinks like Gatorade or electrolyte enhanced waters do a much better job of rehydrating than regular water, but coconut water goes one, maybe even two steps further.

Coconut water rehydrates by replacing lost fluids and minerals much quicker (curing the headache), and settles the stomach (stopping the puking). Just one cup-full of coconut water contains more electrolytes than most sports drinks. More specifically, in a recently published article in Time, Charlie Duerr mentions that "[coconut water] contains the same five electrolytes found in human blood (Gatorade has only two)." That is great news, and it's the reason why "coconut water has been used intravenously when conventional hydration fluids were not available." Aside from electrolytes, coconut water is also rich in minerals and potassium. In fact, that same one cup-full of coconut water contains more potassium than a banana, for example.

So, does coconut water cure hangovers? For the most part, yes. Obviously, the only sure-fire way to avoid a hangover is to not drink alcohol, but that's no fun. If you are going to drink alcohol, drinking coconut water in the morning could be the best way to get your brain out from underneath that steamroller. Admittedly, some hangovers are just too intense to be cured, let alone by a glass of miracle nut juice. If that's the case, do what I do; put some rum in it.

Coconut water helps with urinary problems - People diagnosed with strangury, polyutra and other urinary ailments will drink coconut water on a regular basis to relieve their symptoms.

Coconut water kills intestinal and stomach worms - Drinking coconut water with one teaspoon of olive oil for three days will kill intestinal worms and clear the stomach of worms, which makes for better digestion. Isn't that special?

Coconut water acts as an antibacterial - Coconut water contains certain chemicals that help to kill off viruses like HIV, Herpes, flu and others.

Coconut water can break up kidney stones - Doctors will recommend drinking coconut water to patients with kidney problems. It helps break up kidney stones, making them easier to push out.

You can find servings of coconut water being sold in the beverage aisle of most supermarkets. You could also opt for the old fashioned route and buy whole coconuts. Whole coconuts are sold closed up, as found in nature, keeping the nutrient rich water inside and ready to drink. You will need a knife or an ice-pick to pierce the coconut and allow the water to pour out.