Vita Coco is one of the popular leading brands of coconut water known for its wide distribution and availability in many countries.
It is made from real coconut water and has been fortified with vitamin C.
Vita Coco was started in 2004 and became a go-to coconut water option for many people.
Today, it is available in many delicious flavors such as pineapple, peach & mango, pressed and more.
However, is Vita Coco healthy?
Short answer: Vita Coco is a healthy because it is made from real coconut water, has a high level of vitamin C and potassium, and has no unnecessary additives. However, some of it’s flavors contain added sugar and it is not a good source of electrolytes like sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
Read on to find out more about Vita Coco including its ingredients, sugar, sodium, vitamin C content and more.
I’ll also compare Vita Coco to other popular coconut water brands to see how they stacks against them.
So let’s start.
Also read: Is Jumex Healthy? The Truth About This Fruit Nectar
What are the ingredients in Vita Coco?
The exact ingredients in Vita Coco vary depending on the variety or flavor.
In general, Vita Coco is made from pure coconut water(from-concentrate & not-from-concentrate).
It is fortified with vitamin C and contains no added preservatives or artificial flavors.
Vita Coco also contains several essential electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium and magnesium, which help regulate fluid balance and support optimal hydration.
Here are some common ingredients you would find across most Vita Coco flavors.
- Coconut water
- Sugar(less than 1%)
- Vitamin C
- Natural flavors
- Fruit puree
- Gellan gum (To maintain consistency in texture)
Overall, the ingredients in Vita Coco are simple that anyone can go through them.
How much sugar is in Vita Coco?
Vita Coco is low to high in sugar providing 3 to 17g per serving(240ml) depending on the flavor.
Coconut milk original and Coconut milk vanilla are the flavors with the least sugar(3g per serving), while coconut juice with mango is the flavor with the most sugar(17g per serving).
The sugar in Vita Coco comes from both natural(present in coconut water) and added sources(sugar). However, the majority of the sugar content is naturally occurring.
According to the American Heart Association the daily sugar limit for men is 36g, while for women is 24g.
A single serving of Vita Coco can provide anywhere from 8% to 47% of the daily sugar limit for men, and 12% to 70% for women, depending on the flavor.
Note that the majority of Vita Coco flavors contain 10g or more of sugar. While most of this sugar is naturally occurring, it is still important to consume it in moderation.
Here is a table showing the sugar content of all Vita Coco flavors.
| Vita Coco flavor | Added sugar(g) | Total sugar(g) |
|---|---|---|
| The original | 1 | 10 |
| Pineapple | 5 | 12 |
| Peach & mango | 0 | 15 |
| The original(pressed) | 1 | 10 |
| Pineapple(pressed) | 1 | 10 |
| Coconut juice with pulp | 6 | 10 |
| Coconut juice with mango | 11 | 17 |
| Farmers organic | 1 | 10 |
| Coconut milk original | 0 | 3 |
| Coconut milk vanilla | 0 | 3 |
Is Vita Coco keto-friendly? Only the Coconut milk original and Coconut milk vanilla flavor are Keto friendly as they have only 5g of carbs per serving.
How much sodium is in Vita Coco?
Vita Coco is low in sodium providing 25 to 60mg per serving(240ml) depending on the flavor.
That’s around 1 to 4% of the daily ideal sodium limit(1500mg) set by the American Heart Association.
Sodium is an essential mineral that act as electrolyte and plays crucial role in many physiological functions.
If compared to real tender coconut water, Vita Coco has 75% less sodium.
The low sodium content in Vita Coco does might be good for those limiting sodium intake but not for those who want to enjoy the full benefits of real coconut water.
Here is a table showing the sodium content of all the Vita Coco flavors.
| Vita Coco flavor | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|
| The original | 35 |
| Pineapple | 55 |
| Peach & mango | 40 |
| The original(pressed) | 30 |
| Pineapple(pressed) | 60 |
| Coconut juice with pulp | 60 |
| Coconut juice with mango | 60 |
| Farmers organic | 35 |
| Coconut milk original | 25 |
| Coconut milk vanilla | 25 |
How much vitamin C is in Vita Coco?
Vita Coco is a good source of vitamin C providing anywhere between 5 to 288mg per serving, depending on the flavor. It does not contain vitamin C naturally but is fortified with it.
Coconut water (pineapple) is the flavor with the highest vitamin C (288mg per serving). That’s a whopping 300% of the daily recommended vitamin C for adults.
However, some flavors, such as original coconut milk and vanilla, do not contain vitamin C.
Here is a table showing the Vitamin C content of all Vita Coco flavors.
| Vita Coco flavor | Vitamin C(mg) |
|---|---|
| The original | 34 |
| Pineapple | 288 |
| Peach & mango | 26 |
| The original(pressed) | 67 |
| Pineapple(pressed) | 5 |
| Coconut juice with pulp | 50 |
| Coconut juice with mango | 43 |
| Farmers organic | 13 |
| Coconut milk original | 0 |
| Coconut milk vanilla | 0 |
Is Vita Coco good source of electrolytes?
Vita Coco contains several essential electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.
These electrolytes occur naturally in the coconut water used in Vita Coco and are not added from the outside.
Although the levels of these electrolytes are not very high in Vita Coco, they can still be beneficial for you.
If I compare Vita Coco to popular electrolyte drink Gatorade(regular), Vita Coco has relatively low sodium but more potassium.
Moreover, Vita Coco contains several minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, which are not in Gatorade, making it less beneficial in terms of electrolytes.
Overall, the natural electrolyte content and low-calorie profile of Vita Coco make it an ideal choice for anyone looking for hydration.
Is Vita Coco good for hydration?
Vita coco is good for hydration, especially when you want electrolytes in your drink.
However, it is not a better choice than water in everyday situation.
Drinking Vita Coco can be a good choice if you want to rehydrate yourself after heavy exercise or heat exposure. It can help you replenish some of the lost electrolytes due to sweating.
Can you drink Vita Coco in illness? Drinking Vita Coco during an illness can be beneficial due to its electrolyte content. It can help replenish lost electrolytes during illnesses and can also prevent dehydration.
Is Vita Coco good for weight loss?
Vita Coco is not the ideal drink for weight loss as most flavors contain 10 or more sugar. However, because it’s natural sugar, you can consume it in moderation on a weight-loss diet.
If you are on a weight loss diet and want to enjoy Vita Coco, opt for the coconut milk varieties as they contain just 3g sugar and 50 calories per serving.
Remember that weight loss depends not only on one food but on overall diet and lifestyle.
Is Vita Coco vegan?
In general, all the Vita Coco flavors are considered vegan as they do not contain any animal-based ingredients.
However, strict vegans may not consider Vita Coco completely vegan due to its added sugar.
The sugar in industries is filtered using bone char during processing to give it a white appearance.
This bone char is made from the bones of animals as a result most people don’t considers sugar as vegan-friendly.
However, some vegans do not have an issue with the use of sugar.
For those who do, the Vita Coco Farmers Organic flavor may be a suitable alternative, as it contains organic sugar.
Is Vita Coco better than other coconut water brands?
Vita Coco is indeed a good option when it comes to coconut water, but is it better than other coconut water brands?
Let’s compare.
1. Vita Coco vs Kirkland coconut water
Vita Coco is less healthier than Kirkland coconut water.
Kirkland coconut water uses organic cane sugar, whereas most Vita Coco flavors use table sugar. This makes Kirkland coconut water a more natural and vegan-friendly option than Vita Coco.
In addition, Kirkland coconut water has higher levels of potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus than most Vita Coco flavors.
2. Vita Coco vs Harmless harvest coconut water
Vita Coco is less healthier than Harmless harvest coconut water.
Harmless harvest coconut water does not contain any added sugar, whereas most Vita Coco flavors contain at least 1g or more added sugar.
In addition, Harmless harvest contains higher sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium levels, making it a better electrolyte option.
However, it’s worth noting that Harmless Harvest contains no vitamin C, an essential nutrient found in Vita Coco.
3. Vita Coco vs Taste nirvana
Vita Coco and Taste nirvana are similar in terms of their sugar content and electrolytes.
However, Vita Coco is more healthier due to added vitamin C, which is missing in Taste nirvana coconut water.
4. Vita Coco vs Zico 100% coconut water
Vita Coco is less healthier than Zico coconut water.
That’s because Zico 100% coconut water does not contain added sugar and has higher levels of potassium, sodium and magnesium, making it better electrolyte option.
Note that Vita Coco has most varieties of coconut water than any other coconut water brand.
Is Vita Coco better than sodas?
Vita Coco is a better option than sodas on any day for both hydration and electrolytes. It is free of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives found in most sodas.
Although the total sugar content of Vita Coco may be higher than most sodas, most of it is natural.
Moreover, sodas are less nutritious than Vita Coco.
Here is a quick nutrition comparison of Vita coco to popular sodas.
| Nutrients | Vita Coco(The original) | Coco cola | Pepsi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 18.7 | 44 | 43 |
| Carbohydrates(g) | 4.5 | 10.9 | 10.9 |
| Sugar(g) | 4.1 | 10.8 | 10.8 |
| Vitamin C(mg) | 14.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sodium(mg) | 14.5 | 8.5 | 11 |
| Calcium(mg) | 15.8 | 0 | 0 |
Final words
After looking at the ingredients and nutritional value, it can be conclude that Vita Coco is healthy option.
There are few reasons for this such as:
- Majority flavors are made with not from concentrate.
- It is a good source of vitamin C.
- It is a good source of potassium.
- It is free from artificial additives.
However, there are also couple of downsides to Vita Coco such as:
- Some flavors contain added sugar.
- It is not a good source of electrolytes like sodium, calcium and magnesium.
Despite this, Vita Coco is still a better hydration option than artificially sugary drinks like sodas.
Moreover, Vita Coco may taste delicious than real coconut water due to its wide range of flavors, but, it is not as healthy as real coconut water.
Overall, Vita Coco can be a good way to stay hydrated and get some beneficial nutrients.
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