by Edcer Escudero
COCO water is making huge waves in the USA, the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”
Americans, especially entertainment celebrities, big name sports personalities, and physical fitness buffs, are living the “vida loca” (crazy life) as they sip the multi-nutrient coconut water, which Filipinos simply call Buco juice.
Coco water – natural water from young coconut – is the newest and elitist craze in America. It is fact gaining acceptance and popularity as a potent rehydration drink, and a potential rival to Gatorade, the drink endorsed by sports superstars like Tiger Woods, Vince Carter, Michael Jordan, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova.
The craze has spilled over to North America and Europe. I’m sure it will hit our shores like a tsunami, given our penchant for copying or adopting what originates from foreign land. (Remember rock n roll, break dance, rap music, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra, Spice Girls, etc.).
Reports have it that pop music icon Madonna likes coco water so much that she has placed $10 million in a company that sells Vita Coco, a brand sold in pack. (Hello! Jinkee Pacquiao, Joey Concepcion, Lucio Tan. Go into coco water and rake in precious dollars, and a the same time help boost the coconut industry in our country).
It would be a great disappointment and certainly, ironical if our Filipino entrepreneurs, would not ride on the crest of the popularity and appeal of coco water, considering that ours is a coconut-producing country. Coconut is grown in the entire archipelago, which means that supply won’t be a problem.
Pepsi Co. is going into the coco water business, and that’s a good sign which should encourage other companies to follow suit. It’s dollar-earning and definitely will help our economy.
Why is coco water better than Gatorade and other health drinks that saturate the market today? Research has shown that coco water contains high percentage of vitamins, minerals anti-oxidants. It has no artificial additives, flavoring, is low in fat and has less sugar. It is a natural water drink.
The US Department of Agriculture lists the following health benefits of coco water:
• Kills intestinal worms
• Fights viruses that cause flue, herpes, AIDS
• Maintains our body’s natural fluid levels.
• Effective in treating kidney and urethral stones
• An excellent oral re-hydration medium
• Helps absorb drugs quickly
• Helps prevent osteoporosis
• Helps eliminate pinworms
• Helps control diabetes
• Promotes bowel movement
• Promotes healthy thyroid function
• Keeps the body cool
• Natural drink for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances
• Improves digestion
• Helps eradicate eczema
• Helps keep the skin soft and smooth
• Promotes quick energy
• Helps in gallbladder disease
Good to drink while meditating, eating, running, surfing, biking, aerobics, driving, fishing, working.
So there you are. Coco water or buko juice, if all of the above benefits are true as the USDA claims, could very well be the health drink of the century. No kidding.
