Last weekend I celebrated Rosh Hashanah and now I’m thinking ahead to Yom Kippur and fasting from sundown Sunday to sundown Monday. Some people I know cringe at the thought of fasting because they immediately think of starvation. But, a synonym for fast is also cleanse; and that, to me, is what the holiday is really about. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement and an opportunity to cleanse one’s body and mind from the sins of its past. I’m actually looking forward to it.
Of course, the thought of getting a headache or feeling my stomach rumble during the day is not pleasant. In years past, I’ve consumed some of the popular sports drinks during the 48 hours before Yom Kippur to make sure my body was complete with electrolytes, potassium and other nutrients. However, I realized that consuming those beverages is in direct conflict with my beliefs about nourishing my body and mind with whole foods. Alas, my “power” beverage of choice is coconut water.
Benefits of coconut water:
- A very high source of potassium – – more than two bananas [I love what Vita coco coconut water says on the side of its container: don’t tell the monkeys.]
- Contains a high level of manganese, essential for bone health
- It is an isotonic beverage – – it has the same salt concentration as the normal cells of the human body. DID YOU KNOW…during WWII, when IV solutions were not available, coconut water was used as an IV drip for patients in hospitals.
- No sugar added
- Only 60 calories per 11.1oz serving
Zico and Vita Coco are brands I drink often and are readily available in health food stores and sometimes local delis.
Coconut water is also a great drink after an empowering yoga session or energetic workout.
