Overview
There are several varieties of king coconuts of which two types are
commonly found in Sri Lanka. These are 'Red dwarf' i, a smaller variety containing about 40 nuts in
a bunch. The sweet and refreshing water of the king coconut is a hot
favorite among residents and tourists alike.The water of the young coconut is probably the most nutritious and
wholesome drink that nature has provided for people living in tropical
countries such as Sri Lanka. Compared with varieties of aerated water
that are usually artificially colored and flavored, the natural king
coconut drink refreshes and purifies the body.
Cure for ailments
The water of the king coconut is a commonly used Sri Lankan
traditional remedy for many ailments relating to impurities in the
system. It is naturally sterile and is therefore, a good substitute for
saline. Coconut water is said to be an ideal drink to cure kidney
disorders and dissolve kidney stones. Those suffering from difficulty in
urination (stranguria), frequent urination (polyuria) and other urinary
ailments could get relief by drinking coconut water.
In Sri Lanka, the tender king coconut water is commonly used to feed
infants suffering from intestinal disturbances. It is also applied on
the body of babies to prevent prickly heat and summer boils.This versatile fruit is also used to treat rashes caused by smallpox,
chickenpox and measles. In Sri Lanka, king coconut water is generally
offered to patients as a replacement for fluid loss from the
gastrointestinal tract and as an alternative to intravenous therapy.
Vitamins and other Nutrients
The king coconut is a well-known source of carbohydrates, Vitamin E,
iron, calcium and phosphorus. It also has high dietary soluble fibre and
significant amounts of protein and fat. The king coconut consists of
bioactive enzymes such as acid phosphatase, catalase, dehydrogenase,
diastase, peroxidase and RNA-polymerases which help in digestion and
metabolism.Despite the light consistency, its water has a much better
composition of minerals such as calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium and
zinc than some fruits such as oranges. King coconut water is also a very
good source of B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin,
pyridoxine and folates. These vitamins are essential to the human body
which needs to replenish them from external sources. The water contains
a high concentration of electrolyte* *potassium.
Hundred millilitres of this water has 250 mg of potassium and 105 mg
of sodium. Together, these electrolytes help replenish electrolyte
deficiency caused in the body due to diarrhoea (loose stools).
Countries such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji and the Philippines have started to popularise the use of this all-purpose 'wonder drug' and have now started to process and preserve it for export. Sri Lanka has recently started to package this 'living pharmacy' into tetra packs that are being exported. Coconut water has an energy value of 17.4 calories per 100gm and 0.1g protein, 0.1g fat, 4g carbohydrates, 0.02mg calcium, 0.01mg phosphorus and 0.5mg iron.There is a growing demand for king coconuts from Middle Eastern countries. This versatile fruit is being exported to many countries including Korea, Japan and the UK. However, Sri Lanka is unable to reap the full benefits of exporting king coconuts due to the shortage in production (80- 85 percent of its production is consumed by the local market). It is recommended that Sri Lanka takes steps to increase its king coconut production so that the country could benefit from the emerging global trend of consuming natural beverages such as king coconuts.
