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*Tender Coconut Water

The water of tender coconut, technically the liquid endosperm, is the most nutritious wholesome beverage that the nature has provided for the people of the tropics to fight the sultry heat. It has caloric value of 17.4 per 100gm.

"It is unctuous, sweet, increasing semen, promoting digestion and clearing the urinary path," says Ayurveda on tender coconut water (TWC).

 

Numerous medicinal properties of tender coconut water reported are:- 

    1. Good for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances. 
    2. Oral rehydration medium
    3. Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties
    4. Keeps the body cool
    5. Application on the body prevents prickly heat and summer boils and subsides the rashes caused by small pox, chicken pox, measles, etc.
    6. Kills intestinal worms
    7. Presence of saline and albumen makes it a good drink in cholera cases
    8. Checks urinary infections. 
    9. Excellent tonic for the old and sick
    10. Cures malnourishment.
    11. Diuretic
    12. Effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones
    13. Can be injected intravenously in emergency case.
    14. Found as blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, does not produce heat, does not destroy red blood cells and is readily accepted by the body.
    15. Aids the quick absorption of the drugs and makes their peak concentration in the blood easier by its electrolytic effect.
    16. Urinary antiseptic and eliminates poisons in case of mineral poisoning.

 

"It’s a natural isotonic beverage with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It’s the fluid of life, so to speak," says Mr. Morton Satin, Chief of FAO’s Agricultural Industries and Post Harvest Management Service.

The major chemical constituents of coconut water are sugars and minerals and minor ones are fat and nitrogenous substances.

 


 

Analysis of Mature and Tender Coconut Water

Mature Coconut Water Tender Coconut Water
Total solids% 5.4 6.5
Reducing sugars % 0.2 4.4
Minerals % 0.5 0.6
Protein % 0.1   0.01
Fat % 0.1   0.01
Acidity mg % 60.0   120.0    
pH 5.2 4.5
Potassium mg% 247.0     290.0    
Sodium mg% 48.0    42.0  
Calcium mg% 40.0    44.0  
Magnesium mg % 15.0    10.0  
Phosphorous mg% 6.3  9.2
Iron mg% 79.0    106.0    
Copper mg% 26.0    26.0  
Source: Satyavati Krishnankutty (1987)

 

Sugars

Sugars in the forms of glucose and fructose form an important constituent of the tender nut water. The concentration of sugars in the nut water steadily increases from about 1.5 per cent to about 5 - 5.5 per cent in the early months of maturation and then slowly falls reaching about 2 per cent at the stage of the full maturity of the nut. In the early stages of maturity sugars are in the form of glucose and fructose (reducing sugars) and sucrose (non-reducing sugar) appears only in later stages which increases with the maturity while the reducing sugars fall. In the fully mature nut approximately 90 per cent of the total sugars is sucrose.

 

Minerals

Tender coconut water contains most of the minerals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper, sulphur and chlorides. Among the minerals more than half is potassium the concentration of which is markedly influenced by potash manuring. Tender coconut water being rich in potassium and other minerals plays a major role to increase the urinary output.

 

Protein

Coconut water contains small amounts of protein. The percentage of arginine, alanine, cystine and serene in the protein of tender coconut water are higher than those in cow’s milk. Since it does not contain any complex protein the danger of producing shock to the patients is minimised.

 

Amino Acid Composition of Coconut Water 
(% of total protein)
Alanine 2.41
Arginine 10.75
Aspartic acid 3.60
Cystine 0.97 - 1.17
Glutamic acid 9.76 - 14.5
Histidine 1.95 - 2.05
Leucine 1.95 - 4.18
Lysine 1.95 - 4.57
Proline 1.21 - 4.12
Phenylalanine 1.23
Serine 0.59 - 0.91
Tyrosine 2.83 - 3.00
Source: Pradera et al, 1942

 

Vitamins

Tender coconut water contains both ascorbic acid and vitamins of B group. The concentration of ascorbic acid ranges from 2.2 to 3.7mg per ml, which gradually diminishes as the kernel surrounding the water begins to harden.

 

Vitamins of B Group in Coconut Water
Nicotinic acid 0.64 microgram / ml
Pantothenic acid 0.52 ,,
Biotin 0.02 ,,
Riboflavin < 0.01 ,,
Folic acid 0.003 ,,
Thiamine Trace ,,
Pyridoxine Trace ,,
Source: The Wealth of India (1950)

 

For more details Please Contact us: 

E-mail: cdbkochi@dataone.in


Project Profile of Preservation and Packing of Tender Coconut Water

Project Profile of Coconut Vinegar

Project Profile of Nata-de-coco

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