Is Vita Coco healthy?

Choices, choices, choices. There are tons of coconut water brands on the market, so where does Vita Coco stand? Is it all it’s hyped up to be?

Vita Coco sells refreshing coconut water. What differentiates this brand from many of its competitors is they sell different flavors, like sparkling coconut water, chocolate coconut water drinks, and even coconut water cold brew.

What is Vita Coco?

Vita Coco is a company best known for selling a wide range of products from regular pure coconut water to coconut milk, coffee beverages, and sparkling waters. They’re one of the best-known coconut water brands on the market – and for good reason!

Is Vita Coco 100% Coconut Water?

This varies from beverage to beverage. A lot of coconut water in stores is not actually 100% coconut water. Many brands contain added sugars or could even be diluted.

Coconut water is usually made from young green coconuts.

Is Vita Coco Coconut Water Actually Healthy? What products do they sell?

How healthy Vita Coco is an answer that depends on the product in question.

Health is not something that can simply be defined by how many calories it contains. The calorie content in coconut water is not just empty calories since pure coconut water has nutritional value. So, while a can of diet soda might be 0 calories, coconut water has some nutritional benefits which are better for your health.

Coconut water has a delicious flavor due to its naturally occurring sugars and mild coconut taste. With that said, a lot of coconut water brands can add preservatives, flavors, and a high amount of sugar to their products which may defeat the purpose of drinking coconut water for weight loss and to obtain any health benefits.

Regular Coconut Water & Pressed Coconut Water

Their original coconut water is made from fresh coconut water, sugar (less than 1% of the beverage), and added vitamin C. Compared to Nature’s Nectar‘s product, Vita Coco has 3.7 more grams of sugar.

Vita Coco has around 1 gram of added sugar. While it’s not uncommon for other coconut waters to contain added sugar, there are also lots of retailers selling 100% pure natural coconut water without any extra sugar or additives. This is because coconut water is naturally sweet, so there’s rarely a reason to mess with pure coconut water.

Vita Coco Boosted

Vita Coco’s Boosted range is made from coconut water, coconut cream, and coconut-based MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides). An 8 oz serving will contain around 61 calories, 4.2 grams of fat, and 3.8 grams of sugar.

It also contains added B-vitamins and caffeine derived from tea. These vitamins are integral for maintaining overall health. Their roles include helping the body to break down fat and carbs to maintain muscle function, transporting oxygen and energy-containing throughout the body.

Studies have found that MCT provides a quick boost of energy, which makes this drink ideal before undertaking physical activity. Research has even noted that it can help you feel fuller for longer, so you’re less likely to overeat later.

Flavored Drinks

Their flavored coconut water drinks, Pineapple and Peach & Mango are flavored using real fruit puree with no added sugar. Although it is not advertised as a way to add more fruit to your diet, the best way to reap the health benefits from fruit is still to eat them.

These drinks contain:

• 60 calories
• no fat
• and more sugar than plain coconut water (14 grams per 8 oz, and 15 grams per 8 oz respectively)

Sparkling Coconut Water

Vita Coco Super Sparkling is made from sparkling water, coconut water, natural flavors, and citric acid.

One 12 oz can contain only 20 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 3 grams of sugar.

As there is less coconut water in this drink, you won’t reap all the benefits associated with pure coconut water from this beverage. However, it’s not high in sugar or calories at all, so it’s a refreshing beverage to enjoy on occasion.

Chocolate Coconut Water

Vita Coco Choc-O-Lot is made from coconut water, coconut Purée, and cocoa powder It also contains fructose in small amounts and added vitamin C.

This drink is intended to be a sweet treat, and not so much a health drink. However, an 8 oz serving will contain only 1.4 grams of fat, 9.2 grams of sugar, and is somewhat low calorie with 58 calories. So, if you are looking to replace chocolate milk, this is a good option.

This drink is also still a decent source of vitamin c and potassium.

Cold Brew

Vita Coco Cold Brew contains less coconut water than its other drinks. Around 41% of this drink comes from coconut water, with the majority being made up of regular water. It also contains coconut cream, coffee concentrate, sugar, and natural flavors.

An 8oz serving will contain around 22 calories, 0.8 grams of fat, and around 3.2 grams of sugar.

For comparison, one plain cold brew made from just water and coffee will typically have 0 calories or sugars. However, anything with added milk, sugars, and creams can easily contain considerably more calories.

Overall, Vita Coco drinks seem generally healthy. They at least seem to be a better choice than soft drinks and many sports drinks.

What are the health benefits of pure coconut water?

Coconut water is a good source of potassium. Although it is rare to be deficient in potassium, coconut water is still a handy way to add some of this mineral to your diet. It keeps your muscles, heart, and nerves functioning properly. It also helps the body to metabolize carbohydrates.

Drinking coconut water is also an easy way to add more vitamin C to your diet. This vitamin has been associated with keeping your skin glowing and healthy. It is also important for maintaining a strong immune system.

Coconut water may be good for heart health.

A study found that it can lower blood pressure in instances where high blood pressure is an issue.

Animal studies also found that it may lower cholesterol. Keep in mind that animal studies do not always pan out the same way in humans.

Is coconut water an alternative to sports drinks?

Coconut water is hydrating, largely due to the electrolytes like sodium. Fresh coconut water is naturally sweet so there is rarely – if any need – for added sugars. It contains electrolytes, which are important for hydration post-workout. As we lose sweat during activity, we also lose electrolytes. It’s important to replenish these to maintain the proper fluid balance in the body.

You can even drink coconut water instead of a sports drink. Coconut water is cooling and refreshing during activity. Anecdotally, I find it much more effective in the gym than drinking regular water.

Studies have found that participants have also benefited from using coconut water as an alternative to sports drinks. A Brazilian study noted that those who drank coconut water had a greater exercise capacity than those who drank water or sports drinks on a hot day. They even had a reduced urine output, which means your workout will not be interrupted by as many bathroom breaks if you use coconut water as a sports drink.

Are coconut drinks high in fats?

Not all fat is “bad” or “unhealthy.”

Some people can be fearful of coconuts, coconut milk, and coconut oil because it contains saturated fat. While it is true that coconut contains this kind of fat, coconut water is much lower in fats. The Vita Coco products which made use of real coconut oil, contain fairly little and are still low in fats.

Finally, if you enjoy coconut drinks as a treat, you should not feel the need to deprive yourself of them.

Is Vita Coco Vegan?

Vita Coco products are vegan.

Their drinks come from coconut milk and coconut water, which is 100% plant-based. This includes their chocolate drink, sparkling water, and other coconut-based drinks.

Is Vita Coco Keto?

Generally, Vita Coco is not keto-friendly. People on this diet try to limit their carb intake. Coconut water, in general, is quite high in carbohydrates. For example, an 8 oz serving of Vita Coco pressed coconut water contains 11 grams of carbohydrates. While you could have a small serving on a keto diet, people seem to prefer not to use up their carbs on liquids.

Is Vita Coco good for diabetics?

There is not a lot of extra sugar in this brand of coconut water, but the fact that there is any at all in their original coconut water and pressed coconut water should be noted.

The research on whether coconut water is suitable or even beneficial for diabetics is limited. However, it does seem to be promising. Keep in mind that much of this is on animals. Animal studies do not always yield the same results in humans.

An animal study concluded that coconut water can help prevent hyperglycemia and oxidative stress caused by alloxan. Other studies yielded similar results. Another noted that rats fed mature coconut water decreased blood glucose levels.

Is Vita Coco good to drink everyday?

There’s no reason why you cannot drink some of the products from this coconut water brand every day. There is not a lot of added sugar in their plain and pressed coconut water drinks. There are lots of health benefits associated with pure coconut water, so drinking coconut water often is a handy way to add some more minerals to your diet.

However, you might want to keep their cold brew and chocolate coconut water for a sweet treat.

The Bottom Line

Vita Coco is one of the most popular coconut water brands for good reason. Their coconut water is fairly healthy. While there is some additional sugar, they certainly do not go overboard. It is a much more natural product compared to sports drinks and even some other coconut water brands.