Category: AskaVegan™ Blog

It seems that after drinking fresh coconut water (I’m here in the tropics, so I can get actual straight-off-the-tree coconuts) that I feel better hydrated. Particularly, my eyes feel less fatigued/itchy shortly afterwards. If this is not my imagination, what nutrients is the coconut water providing that my Cal/Mag/Zinc supplement, and my 10,000 Volts™ electrolyte supplement, and my Celtic sea salt, and my Moringa/wheatgrass powder are not?

Here’s how ChatGPT responded:

Not your imagination at all — what you’re describing is a real, measurable physiological response, and it makes perfect sense given your current eye-healing focus, detox protocol, and the unique properties of fresh, raw coconut water.

Let’s break it down:

🧪 Why Fresh Coconut Water Feels So Rehydrating — Especially to the Eyes

✅ Unique Combination of Electrolytes in Natural Ratios

Coconut water contains:

• Potassium (~600mg per cup) – higher than most supplements

• Sodium – in smaller but balanced amounts

• Magnesium, Calcium, and Phosphorus

• Chloride, glucose, and trace enzymes

👉 Unlike supplements, which often deliver isolated minerals, coconut water gives these in natural, synergistic ratios — making them more bioavailable, especially to cells under stress (like healing tissues).

✅ High Potassium-to-Sodium Ratio = Intracellular Hydration

This is key:

• Most hydration supplements focus on sodium, but it’s potassium that pulls water into cells, especially in soft tissues like:

  • Eyes

  • Skin

  • Kidneys

  • Lymphatic vessels

Your 10,000 Volts and Celtic salt are good for plasma volume and blood pressure — but coconut water excels at cellular hydration, especially for tissues like eye capillaries.

✅ Naturally Occurring Cytokinins & Antioxidants

Coconut water (especially from young green coconuts) contains:

• Cytokinins – plant growth hormones that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress

• Small amounts of vitamin C, B vitamins, and L-arginine

👉 These may support microvascular circulation and tissue regeneration, which would benefit your eye fatigue, post-surgery healing, and general hydration.

✅ Hypotonic Nature = Fast Absorption

Unlike many electrolyte drinks or powders, coconut water is hypotonic — its osmolarity is lower than blood plasma, allowing:

• Faster absorption

• Immediate hydration at the cellular level

• Minimal digestive energy required (perfect during detox or fasting)

You’re likely absorbing it within minutes, which explains the rapid improvement in eye feel and systemic clarity.

🆚 Compared to Your Other Hydrators:

My trusty MRAN device revealed higher-than-normal levels of arsenic in my system, so I did a little research to find out the possible source. Here’s what I found. The folks at Health Babies Brighter Futures (HBBF) conducted their own independent research to determine which samples of rice contained the highest levels of arsenic and other heavy metals. According to the report:

[Rice] is the top source of arsenic from solid foods in the diets of children under two, and a concern during pregnancy, the most critical window
for brain development. New tests commissioned for this report found arsenic in 100% of 145 rice samples purchased nationwide. More than one in four exceeded the FDA’s action level for infant cereal, a limit above which FDA can consider the cereal to be adulterated. For parents making baby food at home, this means homemade rice cereal could contain arsenic levels considered unsafe if sold in stores.

We found four toxic heavy metals in rice — arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. While each contaminant has different health effects, they can contribute to serious risks like cancer, developmental harm including IQ loss, and accumulation in the body over time. Arsenic was found at the highest levels, with cadmium next.
Like many crops, rice absorbs these metals that are naturally present in soil.

But rice tends to accumulate significantly more arsenic*, making it a unique and concerning source of exposure. Tests also showed elevated cadmium in
some samples, and, in a saffron-seasoned rice, lead levels far above amounts in other samples.

Therefore, if you want to reduce your exposure, it’s important to know which type of rice is safer than others. Here’s a chart from the report:

The full report is here: https://hbbf.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Arsenic-in-Rice-Report_May2025_R5_SECURED.pdf