Coconut Water - Manage Your Weight With This Tropical Drink

Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.

If you've ever vacationed in the tropics, you've probably seen people drinking from what looks like peeled coconuts with straws inserted. I've seen it and am finding more and more skinned coconuts in the fruit and vegetable section of grocery stores. Chop off the top, insert a straw and drink up. Coconut water is becoming so popular there are now a whole bunch of canned coconut water drinks on the market.

So what's the deal with coconut water?

Well, I can't speak to the dozens of pre-packaged products that are showing up (usually sold in cans), but I can tell you what's found inside the actual coconut. And it's a nutritional bonanza that could easily be a boon to people trying to control their weight.

One cup of coconut water contains a measly 46 calories. (Remember, I'm talking about the liquid that occurs naturally inside the coconut, not some "coconut milk" sweetened product -- that's a whole different animal.) It also contains a surprisingly high three grams of dietary fiber and two grams of protein. Best of all, it's a fabulous source of potassium -- way better than a banana.

Lots of nutrients for a very small number of calories in coconut water. That profile definitely makes it a great drink for a weight management program.