Many people believe that coconut water has a refreshing taste, is low in calories and has many benefits for diabetics. So are these statements true? And can diabetics drink coconut water?
Coconut water is rich in minerals and nutrients and is known as a “natural energy drink”. Many people believe that coconut water has a fresh taste, is low in calories and has many benefits for diabetics. So are the above statements correct? And can diabetics drink coconut water? The following article will answer your questions, find out now!
Can people with diabetes drink coconut water?
Coconut water is a drink rich in nutrients and minerals, loved by many people, especially on hot days. So can people with diabetes drink coconut water? According to experts, with a low sugar content, coconut water is suitable for people with diabetes, providing the following benefits:
Helps reduce blood sugar effectively: Thanks to its high content of potassium, manganese, magnesium, vitamin C, L – arginine – substances that can improve cell sensitivity to insulin, drinking coconut water helps control blood sugar levels in diabetics effectively.
Inhibit oxidative stress and prevent complications: According to experts, coconut water has the ability to significantly improve oxidative stress, limiting dangerous complications for diabetic patients such as: Cardiovascular, nervous, kidney…
Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases: Drinking coconut water regularly also has the effect of reducing cholesterol, liver fat and triglycerides in the blood. At the same time, it effectively controls blood pressure and prevents blood clots.
How much coconut water should diabetics drink per day?
According to nutrition experts, each 240ml cup of coconut water contains only 9 – 11gr of carbs. Carbs are broken down into glucose molecules by enzymes in the digestive tract and absorbed into the blood, increasing blood sugar after drinking. Therefore, diabetic patients are advised to drink only 1 cup per day as a snack, equivalent to about 15 – 20gr of carbs.
What should diabetics pay attention to when drinking coconut water?
In addition to finding out whether diabetics can drink coconut water, patients also need to pay attention when drinking coconut water. According to experts, coconut water contains sugar, no matter how little or much. Therefore, patients can drink it but need to limit it, not drink too much and pay attention to some issues such as:
- Only drink pure coconut water, do not add sugar and do not use canned coconut water with sweeteners.
- Coconut pulp contains a lot of saturated fat, increasing the risk of complications for people with diabetes. Therefore, patients should not eat coconut pulp.
- You need to drink coconut water at the right time, should drink it as an afternoon snack to strengthen immunity and improve cardiovascular health.
- For patients with gestational diabetes, rheumatism or chronic kidney disease, you should not drink coconut water.
- Drinking old coconut water is better for diabetics than young coconut.
- You should only drink 250ml of coconut water/day and divide it into two drinks.
- What should diabetics eat and avoid?
