 |
Coconut Products
Coconut Products Directory
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:-
- Good
for feeding infants suffering from intestinal
disturbances.
- Oral
rehydration medium
- Contains
organic compounds possessing growth promoting
properties
- Keeps
the body cool
- Application
on the body prevents prickly heat and summer
boils and subsides the rashes caused by small
pox, chicken pox, measles, etc.
- Kills
intestinal worms
- Presence
of saline and albumen makes it a good drink
in cholera cases
- Checks
urinary infections.
- Excellent
tonic for the old and sick
- Cures
malnourishment.
- Diuretic
- Effective
in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones
- Can
be injected intravenously in emergency case.
- 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.
- Aids
the quick absorption of the drugs and makes
their peak concentration in the blood easier
by its electrolytic effect.
- Urinary
antiseptic and eliminates poisons in case
of mineral poisoning.
"Its
a natural isotonic beverage with the same level
of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood.
Its the fluid of life, so to speak,"
says Mr. Morton Satin, Chief of FAOs 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 cows 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
-::-
Back to Coconut Products Menu
-::-
Coconut Products Directory
|
 |