WOD: 21-15-9 95lb OHS, 95lb SDHP
My Time: 14:06
I looked back at my previous time 4 years ago. Even with the injury and feeling slow, my time was better. I feel stronger and naturally can lift heavier weights. That might be the factor. Here's another article:
The Coconut Water Report and Why You Want Rick James on Your Side
Written by Michele Vieux
I think it would be hilarious if there were a commercial for coconut water where Rick James sneaks up on people who are drinking sports drinks and smacks them out of their hands (screaming “I’m Rick James!”) replacing the sugary libations with cool and refreshing coconut waters.
People ask all the time what they can drink after an intense or long workout instead of traditional sports drinks and up until recently, there weren’t many options. Fortunately, companies have realized there is a market for a healthier option and have been conveniently packaging coconut water – the liquid from the inside of a young, green coconut – in individual portions and making them readily available at most supermarkets and convenience stores.
If you are a regular to this blog, you might remember Coach Calvin Sun’s July 6, 2011, blog post on hydration where he touted coconut water (Zico brand specifically).
Instead of eating sweet potatoes or drinking a high-carb shake after your workout, consider drinking coconut water to replenish fluids and refuel your body. In addition to refueling your glycogen stores, an 11 ounce serving of coconut water provides 670mg of potassium, 40mg of calcium, 17mg of phosphorus, and 25mg of magnesium.
But are all coconut waters created equal? A recent review by ConsumerLab.com puts Coach Sun’s Zico brand up against two other popular brands – O.N.E. and VitaCoco – to determine not only which one(s) tasted best but also which had the most truthful labeling in their claims for the levels of nutrients they contain.
Nutritional Labeling
O.N.E. Coconut Water (330 mL tetra pak) provided only 11 mg of sodium — far less than the 60 mg it promised. It also came up short on magnesium, providing 19 mg instead of the listed 25 mg.
VitaCoco 100% Pure Coconut Water (330 mL tetra pak) was also short on sodium (only 24 mg of its listed 40 mg) and magnesium (only 26 mg of its listed 40 mg). It also contained 16% less potassium than claimed 571 mg instead of the listed 680 mg — although this amount of variation (+/- 20%) is permitted by the FDA for naturally occurring ingredients in food products.
Zico was within the range it claimed.
Zico – 1, O.N.E. – 0, VitaCoco – 0
“A Good Source of Electrolytes”?
The front of the package of O.N.E. Coconut Water claims the product is a “Good Source of Electrolytes.” The FDA allows products that provide 10% to 19% of the Daily Value (DV) of a nutrient to claim to be a “good source” of that nutrient. O.N.E is a good source of only one electrolyte potassium, of which it provides 19% of the 3,400 mg adult DV for potassium. To be a good source of sodium, O.N.E. would need to provide at least 240 mg per daily serving; we found it to have only 11 mg. Likewise, O.N.E. was found to have 5% (19 mg) of the daily value of magnesium.
VitaCoco 100% Pure Coconut Water claims to provide more electrolytes than sports drinks. But it, too, had little sodium. While its label claims 10% of the DV for magnesium, which would be 40 mg, CL found it to only have 26 mg disqualifying it as a good source of the mineral. It is true that, like all coconut waters, this product has a lot more potassium than a sports drink; however, it has much less sodium. An equal amount (330 mL) of Original Gatorade, for example, would provide about 150 mg of sodium, compared to Vita Coco’s 24 mg.
A bottle of Zico Natural provided a more even balance of electrolytes. The 414 mL bottle contained 160 mg of sodium, several times more than we found in O.N.E. and Vita Coco products and close to the amount you would get from an equal amount of Gatorade. It also had slightly more magnesium (35 mg) than the two other products.
Zico – 2, O.N.E. – 0, VitaCoco – 0
Taste
Coconut water is typically consumed cold, but CL staff drank the products at room temperature to get a better sense of their inherent tastes. The first thing we noticed was a slight variation in the colors of the waters: O.N.E. had a slight pink hue; Vita Coco had a very faint yellow hue, and Zico Natural had no color but was slightly cloudy. All were mildly sweet. O.N.E. had a slightly sour taste, and Vita Coco had a similar but less pronounced tartness. Zico Natural had a milder, less sour but slightly more salty taste, with a bit of a nutty flavor. Its taste is likely the result of “natural flavors” listed as an ingredient as well as its higher sodium content. All of the tested products were pleasant tasting.
Zico – 3, O.N.E. – 1, VitaCoco – 1
Looks like Coach Sun was right again. Not all coconut waters are created equal and Zico was the only one of the three brands to pass all the ConsumerLabs.com tests. Zico is also the most expensive of the brands but fortunately for you, Costco now sells 11-ounce packs of Zico brand coconut water by the case. But don’t let the Costco-size abundance tempt you to start slamming the stuff. According to the report, coconut water consumed in large amounts can have a mild laxative effect. To read the full report, visit their website.
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