Coconut water is a universally appealing drink-Dr.K.Govindaraju

SEVAI Shanthi School surrounded by Coconut groves

SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary school, Arumbuhalnar is situated by coconut trees groves. Coconut Grove is filled with natural beauty which makes it an ideal location for school pupils. Dr.K.Govindaraju, Senior Principal of SSMHS mentions, “Coconut water is the juice in the interior or endosperm of young coconut. The water is one of the nature’s most refreshing drinks consumed world-wide for its nutritious and health benefiting properties. Its juicy water is usually obtained by opening a tender, green, healthy and undamaged coconut. The liquid is clear, sweet, and sterile and composed of unique chemicals such as sugars, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, enzymes, amino acids, cytokines and phyto-hormones. In general, young and slightly immature nuts harvested when they are about 5-7 months of age for drinking purpose. Each nut may contain about 200 to 1000 ml of water depending on cultivar type and size. Any nuts younger than 5 months age tend to be bitter in taste and devoid of nutrients. Whereas, older nuts have less water and their endosperm becomes thicker as white edible kernel. A coconut tree may yield several hundred tender nuts each season. Coconut water is a universally appealing drink. There are no known reactions of any sort notified so far using it. It is not only cherished in healthy but is considered safe in pregnancy, infants as well as in diseased conditions as well.”  

Dr.K.Govindaraju

 Senior Principal further added “Coconut trees are of vital importance to villagers’ life. There are literally thousands of different uses of the Coconut tree. It represents strength, life and endurance. Coconut trees endure all kinds of weather surviving hurricanes, typhoons and droughts. A coconut tree and its fruit are used at every stage of growth. Coconut to villagers is a symbol of life, sustenance, and endurance. Coconut thatching lasts for a long period of time. Fronds from coconut are used for shelter, decoration, baskets, and many things. Shade cover is created using the fronds over a frame. Coconut fronds are used to cover the ground over the sand for seating under the cover. Spines from leaves are removed, bundled and tied with coconut rope to make local brooms, fly swatters, or used to harvest sap by rolling in the wounded bark of the of the breadfruit tree to be used as glue or cover paint on canoes or a single spine is used as a handle for a pinwheel and other woven toys. Fronds are also woven to use as disposable food plates, baskets to carry the harvest of garden produce. Woven coconut baskets are biodegradable so are used as mulch when old or torn. Each stage the fruit of a coconut goes through is useful as well. When a tree blooms, selected blossoms are cut off, the stem bent down and secured with coconut rope forcing the wounded stem to drip into a coconut shell cup. Young men climb coconut trees with machetes to cut young coconuts. Once on the ground, machetes are used to cut away husk accessing the water inside the coconut. It is a refreshing drink.”. Govin