Vita Coco is one of the leading brands of coconut water made from real coconut water and fortified with vitamin C and a little sugar.
The brand was started in 2004 and has become a go-to coconut water option for many people.
And while it comes in a variety of deliciously flavored coconut water, is Vita Coco healthy?
Short answer: Vita Coco is a healthy as it is made from real coconut water, is low in added sugar, high in vitamin C and is free from unhealthy ingredients. In addition, it’s a average source of naturally occurring essential electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.
In fact Women’s Health has ranked Vita Coco as the third-best coconut water brand.
Let’s dive deeper into Vita Coco, including its ingredients, sugar content, sodium levels, vitamin C content, and much more.
I’ll also explore whether Vita Coco is a better option than other coconut water and soda.
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.
However, at its core, Vita Coco is made from pure coconut water(from-concentrate & not-from-concentrate).
It contains no added preservatives or artificial flavors. Instead, it’s fortified with vitamin C, which provides an additional nutritional boost.
In addition, Vita Coco also contains several essential electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium and magnesium, which can 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, natural, and healthy.
How much sugar is in Vita Coco?
Vita Coco is low to moderate in sugar ranging from 3 to 17g per serving(240ml) depending on the flavor.
Coconut milk original and 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 comes naturally.
Although the sugar content in Vita coco is not significantly high, if consumed in excess, it can quickly add up lots of sugar to your diet.
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 & mangoo | 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 vanilla flavor of the Vita Coco are Keto friendly as they have only 3g of carbs per serving.
How much sodium is in Vita Coco?
Vita Coco is low in sodium containing 25 to 60mg per serving depending on the flavor. However, the low sodium in Vita Coco is not a disadvantage.
The American Heart Association recommends ideally limiting your daily sodium intake to 1500mg.
Sodium is an essential mineral for the body, and most people get enough of it from their regular diet. Drinking Vita Coco won’t likely impact the sodium intake.
For comparison, Vita coco contains half the sodium present in a popular drink like Gatorade.
The low sodium content in Vita Coco makes it a great addition to the low-sodium diet.
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 & mangoo | 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, i.e. 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. However, they have some level of sodium and potassium.
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 & mangoo | 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 |
Does Vita Coco have 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 compared to popular electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade(regular), Vita Coco has relatively low sodium but more potassium.
In addition, 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 situations.
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 perfect drink for weight loss as it contains moderate sugar in most flavors. However, you can still consume it in moderation on a weight-loss diet.
Even though Vita Coco has the majority of sugar as natural, consuming it in excess or regularly can still have the same negative impact as added sugar.
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 on one specific food but on your overall diet and many other factors.
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 granulated appearance. This bone char is made from the bones of animals as a result most people don’t considers it 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?
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 Vita Coco to some of the most popular coconut water brands.
1. Vita Coco vs Kirkland coconut water
Vita Coco is less healthy than Kirkland coconut water.
Kirkland coconut water uses organic cane sugar, whereas most Vita Coco flavors use regular 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 healthy 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 is healthy than Taste nirvana as it contains added vitamin C.
However, both are similar in terms of their sugar content and electrolytes.
4. Vita Coco vs Zico 100% coconut water
Vita Coco is slightly healthier than Zico coconut water.
The highest sugar flavor of Vita Coco contains 17g of sugar, while Zico has 19g of sugar. However, there is no added sugar in Zico coconut water.
Zico is a better electrolyte option with more potassium, sodium and magnesium.
Note that Vita Coco has more variety of coconut water than any other brand.
Is Vita Coco better than soda?
Vita Coco is a better option than soda on any day for both hydration and electrolytes. It is free of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives that are present in most sodas.
Though the total sugar content of Vita Coco may be higher than that of soda, most of it is natural.
Moreover, sodas may contain some sodium levels, but they 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
Vita Coco can be considered a healthy choice as it is made from real coconut water, contains little added sugar, is high in vitamin C, and contains no unhealthy ingredients.
While it may not contain high levels of certain electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, it is still a better hydration option than artificially sugary drinks like sodas.
However, it is important to drink Vita Coco in moderation as it does contain natural sugars.
Overall, drinking Vita Coco can be a good way to stay hydrated and obtain some beneficial nutrients. Just keep your eye on the sugar consumption.
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