Coconut water, the liquid endosperm of green coconuts (Cocos nucifera), is a refreshing beverage, a natural rehydration medium, and is used as a supplement in nutrient media for tissue culture. Because it offers higher amounts of electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium than regular sports drinks, coconut water is known as a “natural isotonic sports drink.” Functioning as a prebiotic, coconut water solids support beneficial bacteria in the gut. The endosperm abounds in essential nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, sugars, vitamins, minerals and growth factors, that nourish the growth of the embryo in green coconuts, and therefore potentially support healthy cell growth and metabolism in other living tissues as well. It’s important to differentiate between coconut milk and coconut water. The first is a sweet, milky white cooking base taken from the flesh of a fully developed coconut, while the latter is the liquid endosperm of the coconut. The liquid endosperm is sometimes incorrectly called coconut milk, however this terminology comes from the French term lait de coco. The correct term is coconut water, not coconut milk.
