How Does Coconut Water Help Hangovers?

If you're going to be tipping back beers, margaritas, or some fruity Jello shots this summer, you might find yourself with a nasty hangover come Sunday morning. Sure, you could just pop a few Advil, eat some greasy food, and complain. Or, you could sip some coconut water to help cure those hangover symptoms. How does coconut water help hangovers, you ask? Allow me to explain.

Forget all of those people who told you time was the only cure for a hangover. Coconut water — a magical, hydrating drink that's tapped from the center cavity of coconuts when they're still young and green — might be all you need to kiss that nasty feeling goodbye. Touted as "nature's sports drink," coconut water is the nation's latest health craze, promising a slew of benefits including helping with kidney stones, providing superior hydration, boosting your metabolism, and — you guessed it — curing hangovers.

Of course, you could avoid a hangover all together by simply not drinking too much. But, every now and then you might feel the need to party hard. And, it's better to be proactive and prepared to tackle those nasty symptoms head on. So, stock your fridge with some fresh coconut water and get ready for some amazing results! Don't worry — you can still sit on the couch and complain, too.

What's in coconut water?

Coconut water contains more potassium than a banana. It also has easily-digested carbohydrates in the form of electrolytes and sugar. Even better, it has less sodium, is lower in calories, and contains more potassium than a sports drink.

How does all of this help your hangover?

Potassium is a key nutrient for feeling better faster, which is definitely something you're looking for when you're suffering with the bottle flu.

We all know that a hangover essentially means you're dehydrated and need to replenish fluids. All of the booze you drank the night before acted as a diuretic, flushing the fluids from your body and making it difficult to absorb more. Luckily, coconut water is also incredibly hydrating, and can power right through.

Plus, if you have a difficult time choking down a glass of water when you're hungover, the sweet, nutty taste of this beverage can help encourage you to drink more fluids.

Does this stuff really work?

I should make it clear that while the nutrients and hydrating properties of coconut water are evident, there is no actual scientific research to back up all of the crazy claims about coconut water that marketers assert. So, maybe it won't cure cancer or heal your kidney stones, but the way I see it, anything that is extra hydrating is worth a sip when you're suffering with a nasty hangover. Let's face it — you're willing to try anything that might get rid of that killer headache.

Images: Hafiz Issadeen/Flickr; Giphy (2)