Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and is marked by the presence of elevated sugar levels, characterized by insufficient insulin production and resistance of the cells to insulin.
Coconut Water:
Coconut water is widely consumed because of its sweet taste and nutritional content. It contains sugars, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Apart from these, coconut water has nutritional value as it is a good source of potassium, magnesium, manganese, and vitamin C. Coconut water is high in nutrients, has a small amount of carbohydrates, and has a low amount of fat, due to which it is a great drink for energy.
Coconut water elements and its uses:
1. Sugars: fructose and sucrose are the main sources of energy for the body.
2. Minerals: They contain K, Mg, Ca, and Na, which are great sources of electrolytes. Mg is also known to improve insulin resistance.
3. Vitamins: contains vitamin B1, B6, and vitamin C. B1 boosts insulin action, B6 acts as an antioxidant, and vitamin C reduces blood glucose levels.
4. Fatty acids: contains several saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, which act like antioxidants, reduce cholesterol levels, and indirectly reduce blood pressure and heart problems.
5. Amino acids: main component is L-arginine, which reduces blood glucose levels.
Coconut water contains various phenolic compounds like gallic acid, ferulic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, catechins, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, etc. These phenolic compounds counter the free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and act as free radicals.
Coconut water is classified into 3 categories based on the maturity. They are 1) young or immature coconut (IMC) – 5 to 6 months of age; 2) mature coconut (MC) – 8 to 9 months of age; and 3) overly mature coconut (OMC) – >12 months of age. These are also classified based on the thickness of the flesh. For example, IMC has less flesh, MC has thin, soft flesh, and OMC has firm, thick flesh.
Recent studies have also shown that coconut water has many benefits. The benefits are listed below:
1. It is a source of many nutrients, which serves as an energy provider.
2. According to research, coconut water protects the body from free radicals. So it acts as an antioxidant.
3. Another study also showed that coconut water reduces blood sugar levels and HbA1c.
4. Coconut water is known to reduce the formation of crystals, according to a 2013 study. Also, coconut water increases urination of potassium, chloride, and citrate, and reduces the formation of stones by flushing them out.
5. It is also known to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which can prevent many heart diseases, a 2008 study revealed.
6. As coconut water is rich in vitamins and minerals, it can be used to restore energy lost due to dehydration in the body.1
Coconut water and diabetes:
There are 2 mechanisms by which coconut water improves metabolism in diabetes: one is by phenols and the other is by L-arginine. Phenols act as antioxidants, whereas L-arginine enhances insulin sensitivity and reduces hyperglycemia by releasing NO catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase. NO released is essential for glycolysis, and it increases insulin sensitivity. In hyperglycemia, free radical species are released, which can cause insulin resistance, so phenols act as antioxidants, counter the free radicals released, and reduce hyperglycemia. So this is the mechanism by which coconut water is beneficial in diabetes.
In an article published in PubMed, the study was conducted to assess whether the coconut water possessed anti-diabetic activity. The result of the study says that when coconut water was given with L-arginine, it led to a reduction of the blood glucose levels and HbA1c.2 L-arginine increases insulin sensitivity, which means it stimulates the cells to utilize insulin, thereby reducing blood sugar levels.
Unsweetened coconut water is low in carbohydrates, so it has a low glycemic index and load. If we take the example of 5 grams of coconut, it has 5 grams of carbohydrates, the glycemic index is 54, and the glycemic load is 3. So, coconut has a low glycemic index and load. The glycemic index is the measure of how quickly carbohydrates can raise blood sugar levels, whereas glycemic load is dependent on the glycemic index and measures the amount of carbohydrates needed to raise blood sugar levels. A large amount of coconut is needed to increase blood sugar levels, so it can be used in diabetic patients.
Expert Opinion:
Speaking exclusively to the MedBound Times, Dr. Ayush Chandra, Founder and Director of Nivaran Health, Senior Consulting Diabetologist Beato, shared his views on the use and benefits of coconut water in diabetic patients.
According to a case study, it was revealed that the patient with type 2 diabetes developed hyperkalemia after he continuously consumed around 1 liter of coconut water daily for several months.3 Even though coconut water is a great source of nutrition, it should preferably be consumed in moderation, especially for people with type 2 diabetes.
Coconut water is a naturally sweet drink, but when it is supplied by the manufacturers, they add more amounts of sugar, flavoring agents, etc. Also, sometimes when coconut water is manufactured as a ready-to-use drink, it is subject to heat treatment, which can cause a Maillard reaction. So coconut water, if consumed in its natural form, is much better since the packaged form of coconut water has high sugar content.
REFERENCES:
1. DiGiacinto, J. (2023, February 14). 7 Science-Based Health benefits of coconut water. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coconut-water-benefits
2. Preetha, P. P., Devi, V. G., & Rajamohan, T. (2015). Mature coconut water exhibits antidiabetic and antithrombotic potential via L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 26(6), 575–583. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2014-0126
3. Devgun. (2016). Coconut water drink and the risk of hyperkalaemia in diabetes. Practical Diabetes, 33(3), 87–89. https://doi.org/10.1002/pdi.2009
4. Hollimon, N. (2024, June 15). Is coconut good if you have diabetes? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/coconut-carbs-diabetes
5. Cpt, K. D. M. R. (2019, December 13). Does coconut water help manage diabetes symptoms? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coconut-water-and-diabetes
6. https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/AMNT/article/download/32524/25004/218765
