Can drinking pre-opened coconut water kill you? Can coconut water purify amniotic fluid? The truth is out!

Coconut is a fruit loved by many people. Whether you use coconut to make food, drink coconut water or eat coconut meat, it is delicious. However, the shell of coconut is too hard to open. In order to make it easier to eat, pre-opened coconuts are sold on the market. After purchasing, consumers only need to open the package and insert a straw to drink.

However, the topic #drinking pre-opened coconut water and going to the emergency room# has recently become a hot search, attracting the attention of netizens to coconuts. So, is drinking pre-opened coconut water fatal? Is coconut water the same as coconut juice? Is coconut oil healthy? Is coconut water a holy product for amniotic fluid? ... Today, we will debunk these common rumors about coconuts one by one.

01

Myth: Drinking pre-opened coconut water can be fatal

Analysis: There is a possibility that a pre-opened coconut may go bad. Drinking coconut water from a spoiled coconut may not only cause simple discomfort symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and loose stools, but may be life-threatening in severe cases.

Spoiled coconut will produce Pseudomonas cocovenenans , a toxic ingredient that may also be found in black fungus that has been soaked for a long time.

When food is contaminated by Pseudomonas cerebrovenanthi, it is easy to produce fumonisin , which is highly toxic and heat-resistant, and it is difficult to decompose it even at high temperature and high pressure. If you eat food containing fumonisin and get poisoned, there is no specific antidote, and the mortality rate is as high as over 40%.

In addition, spoiled coconut water may also be infected with 3-nitropropionic acid , a highly toxic neurotoxin that is not afraid of heat. Its toxicity remains unchanged after being heated and treated with disinfectants. The human body has no immunity to it, and there is no specific medicine to detoxify it. In severe cases, the poisoned person may die within 1 to 3 days due to cerebral ischemia and necrosis, and even the survivors often have sequelae of lifelong disability.

To avoid poisoning, first of all, be careful not to buy pre-opened coconuts. Secondly, don't buy or eat coconuts if they look spoiled. If the coconut water looks cloudy or unclear, don't eat it.

02

Myth: Drinking coconut milk is the same as drinking cow’s milk

Analysis: The name "coconut milk/coconut milk" makes people think that drinking it is equivalent to drinking milk. In fact, the two are not the same. The so-called coconut milk is not a dairy product, but a kind of beverage.

Natural coconut milk is an important coconut processed product made from fresh coconut fruit or coconut desiccated coconut through a process of crushing, pressing, filtering, blending, homogenizing, filling, sterilizing, and cooling. [1] In addition, most coconut milk products also contain added sugar.

Artificial coconut milk is mainly made from natural coconut oil, protein and sugar, with an appropriate amount of emulsifiers added to create a protein drink with a rich coconut flavor and a delicate taste. [1]

Besides, the calcium and protein content of coconut milk is not as good as that of milk, so don’t drink it as milk.

Image source: Copyright Library

03

Myth: Coconut water is coconut juice

Analysis: The coconut juice on the market and what we call coconut water are two completely different drinks.

Coconut water is a clear liquid found in the coconut cavity. It can be drunk directly by inserting a straw. The coconut water in a mature coconut accounts for about 15% to 30% of its weight, with an average water volume of about 300 ml. [2] Coconut water generally has a coconut aroma, but due to different maturity stages, many may have a sour taste. Coconut water from 7-9 month old coconuts is called young coconut water, and it is the sweetest at this age.

The coconut juice products on the market taste better, with a sweet flavor and strong coconut flavor, but they are not real coconut water. The ingredients generally contain coconut juice, white sugar and other ingredients, such as the hot-selling coconut juice in the picture below.

Image source: e-commerce platform

04

Myth: Coconut fruit is coconut meat

Analysis: Many people are familiar with "coconut fruit", which is often seen in canned fruit and milk tea. However, it is not made by directly cutting the coconut flesh.

Although there are no national mandatory standards for coconut nut, there are import and export industry standards. The standards stipulate that coconut nut is a cellulose gel substance made from coconut water or coconut juice (milk) as the main raw materials, fermented by xylem-glucose acetobacter. It is also called coconut fiber nut, coconut nata or high-fiber coconut nut. [3]

Therefore, coconut fruit is a product that is further processed from coconut water or coconut juice, and is not coconut meat.

05

Myth: Coconut oil is healthy

Analysis: Coconut oil is obtained by squeezing the white part of coconut meat. It has a high oil yield and contains a high level of saturated fatty acids (a fat component that is generally recognized to be detrimental to cardiovascular health). The proportion is as high as 91.4%, [4] which is more than twice the saturated fatty acids in lard.

Its saturated fatty acids are mainly medium-chain fatty acids (MCT) and long-chain fatty acids. MCT can be quickly metabolized after entering the human body to produce the energy needed by the human body, and will not be stored in the body in the form of fat. Therefore, most people believe that eating coconut oil can help lose weight, prevent cardiovascular diseases, and improve blood lipids...

But it should be clear that coconut oil is not medium-chain fatty acids, and its MCT content is less than 15%. Long-chain fatty acids are more abundant, and their absorption process is more complicated than MCT, and they may be deposited in organs or blood vessels.

The most important thing is that the "Dietary Guidelines for Adults with Hyperlipidemia (2023 Edition)" issued by the National Health Commission clearly states that people with hyperlipidemia need to reduce and limit their intake of coconut oil.

Therefore, coconut oil is not recommended for daily cooking. If you need to fry food occasionally, you can choose it, after all, it has a high degree of saturation and is relatively stable under high temperature conditions.

06

Myth: Coconut water can replace plasma

Analysis: Rumor has it that coconut water has the same ingredients as plasma and can replace plasma.

The origin of the rumor may be related to World War II. At that time, the situation was special and they had to take the risk. In the face of a shortage of medical resources, the Japanese and the British first used coconut water as a substitute for intravenous injections to save the lives of soldiers on the battlefield. Many patients in India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh also used young coconut water for intravenous injections during the cholera epidemic.

This only means that coconut water may be a substitute for intravenous infusion, but it does not mean that it can replace plasma.

As for why coconut water was used to save lives during World War II, some modern researchers have analyzed this: the reason may be that freshly opened coconut water is completely sterile, the electrolyte composition it contains is similar to that of human cells, and has a specific gravity similar to that of plasma. Although coconut water contains complex molecules such as sugars and a small amount of natural polymer substances compared to normal saline, these molecules have little effect on water and may not affect the water molecules in living organisms participating in life metabolic activities. Therefore, it can safely replace normal saline for infusion. [5]

However, not all patients can be treated with coconut water infusions. Some may experience allergic reactions, with side effects such as fever, chills, hives, headache, numbness and tingling in the hands, and others may experience high potassium levels in the blood. [2]

06

Myth: Coconut water is the holy product of amniotic fluid

Analysis: It is rumored that pregnant women drinking coconut water can filter the amniotic fluid and make it clear.

There is currently no evidence that drinking coconut water during pregnancy can purify amniotic fluid. However, some studies have mentioned that drinking coconut water during pregnancy may help increase the amount of amniotic fluid and may improve the situation of low amniotic fluid.

The reason is that the electrolyte composition of amniotic fluid is similar to that of coconut water. Sufficient intake of coconut water can maintain the stability of the osmotic pressure level in pregnant women, reduce the gradient pressure between maternal blood and amniotic fluid, and thus increase the amount of amniotic fluid absorbed by the membrane. In addition, the reduction of "fetal urine" in amniotic fluid in late pregnancy may cause a decrease in amniotic fluid, while the free amino acids in coconut water have a vasodilating effect, which can promote the excretion of fetal urine and thus increase the amount of amniotic fluid. [2] There are still few related studies, and the specific effect still needs to be verified.

In addition, if the amniotic fluid is turbid during pregnancy, it is best to seek medical treatment in time to avoid affecting the development of the fetus.

Image source: Copyright Library

07

Myth: People with diabetes should not drink coconut water

Analysis: Coconut water tastes sweet, and diabetic patients worry that drinking it will raise their blood sugar, which is not conducive to blood sugar control.

In fact, the sugar content in coconut water is not high. The carbohydrate content is only 3.71 grams per 100 grams [6], which is about 1/4 of that in an apple, and the sugar content is only 2.61 grams [6]. Its GI value is 55 [7], which is a low GI drink. It tastes sweet because it contains fructose and glucose, and it becomes even sweeter when chilled. Even so, it still contains a certain amount of calories, so you still need to control the total amount when drinking it.

08

Myth: Coconut water can replace sports drinks

Analysis: Many people use coconut water as a sports drink, after all, it is low in calories and rich in minerals. Every 100 ml of coconut water can provide 19 kcal, 3.71 grams of carbohydrates, 1.1 grams of dietary fiber, 24 mg of calcium, 0.29 mg of iron, 25 mg of magnesium, 250 mg of potassium, and 105 mg of sodium.

my country also has clear requirements for the sodium and potassium content in sports drinks: sodium content is 5-120 mg/100 ml, and potassium content is 5-25 mg/100 ml. [8]

The content of these two ingredients in coconut water is obviously excessive, so if you want to replenish water after a short period of exercise, you can choose coconut water, but if you need to replenish a lot of water after a long period of extensive exercise, it is not suitable.

in conclusion

Coconuts that have been opened easily deteriorate. Drinking coconut water from spoiled coconuts can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and diarrhoea at the mildest, and may be life-threatening at the worst. Coconut milk is a type of beverage, and its calcium and protein content are not as high as those in milk. Coconut juice and coconut fruit are products of further processing from coconuts. Coconut oil contains a high level of saturated fatty acids, which is not good for cardiovascular health. Coconut water cannot replace plasma, and some patients will experience allergies after coconut water infusion. There is currently no evidence that coconut water can purify amniotic fluid. The sugar content in coconut water is not high, but it does have a certain amount of calories, so diabetic patients need to control the amount they drink. Coconut water cannot completely replace sports drinks, and it is not appropriate to use coconut water to replenish large amounts of water after long-term and extensive exercise.

References:

[1] Liu Xiaoqin, Guo Zhiyong, Cui Xinyue, Bai Xinpeng. Research on the preparation and stability of artificial coconut milk[J]. Modern Food Science and Technology, 2011, 27(02): 181-184. DOI: 10.13982/j.mfst.1673-9078.2011.02.026.

[2] Li Tong, Zhang Caihong, Guo Honghua. Analysis of the mechanism of action and clinical application of coconut water in medical health care[J]. Trace Elements and Health Research, 2021, 38(03): 45-48.

[3]SN/T 4597-2016 Inspection Procedure for Imported Coconut

[4] Chinese Nutrition Society. Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents[M]. People's Medical Publishing House. 2022

[5] Gao Yanyan, Liu Yuan, Yang Man, Fan Xiaoqing, Zhao Kongshuang. Dielectric properties of coconut water and its feasibility as an alternative to infusion[J]. Journal of Tropical Crops, 2016, 37(07): 1377-1381.

[6]https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170174/nutrients

[7]https://glycemicindex.com/gi-search/?food_name=Coconut+water&product_category=&country=&gi=&gi_filter=&serving_size_(g)=&serving_size_(g)_filter=&carbs_per_serve_(g)=&carbs_per_serve_(g)_filter=&gl=&gl_filter=

[8] GB 15266-2009 Sports Drinks

Author: Xue Qingxin, registered nutritionist

Review | Zhang Yu, researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, doctor of medicine, and master's supervisor

The article is produced by "Science Refutes Facts" (ID: Science_Facts). Please indicate the source when reprinting.

The pictures in this article are from the copyright gallery and are not authorized for reproduction.