Neither the name “natural” nor “sports drink” tells you whether a beverage suits your activity. Look at the product and your own exercise needs.
Read the same serving size
Compare sodium, carbohydrate and portion size across products. Do not assume all coconut waters or all sports drinks have the same formulation.
Keep the research in proportion
A small 2012 study in trained men did not show a significant performance advantage among the tested drinks. It does not establish that coconut water replaces every sports drink in prolonged or hot-weather activity.
Plan for your activity
For longer or demanding exercise, get an individualized plan from a sports dietitian. See our comparison with plain water for everyday context.
Sources and further reading
Prepared by the A de Coco Team for general information. We are not providing a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan.