Is Coconut Water Actually the Hydration Hero It Claims to Be?  We all know the struggle of trying to stay hydrated. Water is great and all, but sometimes it’s, well… boring. That’s when we start eyeing other options—sparkling water, sports drinks, and that trendy alternative flooding social media feeds: coconut water. It’s been hyped as nature’s sports drink, a hangover cure, and even a coffee mix-in. But does it actually do a better job at hydration than regular water? Or is it just a fancy way to make your wallet sweat? Let’s dive in. What Actually Makes a Drink Hydrating? Before we start crowning coconut water as the king of hydration, let’s talk about what makes a drink truly hydrating. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that hydration depends on two key things: Total volume – The more liquid you drink, the more hydrated you’ll be. (Shocking, right?) Nutrient composition – Beverages with small amounts of carbohydrates, protei...