Coconut water shaved ice is a great flu treatment for kids because it helps replace lost electrolytes that are drained from your child's body when they're fighting the flu or any other sickness. The flu is worst for younger kids because they have so little life experience. They don't know what sick is. One day they're running around the playground with their friends, the next, boom! They're sick. When you're a little kid, having the flu for the first of second time, is one of the worst things you will experience in your young life. Your body aches, you have a hot fever, but cold sweats, you can't eat or drink and when you do, you throw up. Then, you throw up some more, and you're like, "what is going on? This sucks!!! Waaaahhhhh, make it better mommmyyy!!!"
Keeping food and beverages down without throwing them up when you have the flu is hard for younger kids because of the viral effects, the flu has on their sensitive little stomachs. When holding down water becomes a chore on your little ones body, chances are, they aren't getting enough food or water to stay properly hydrated and fight the flu. When I was a kid, my mom used to give me ice chips or popsicles so I could rehydrate slowly, without upsetting my stomach. It gave me the little bit of the moisture that my body needed to stay hydrated, without making me throw-up. However, her method could have been more effective. (I love you mom, you're the best!!!) In her defense, the benefits of coconut water weren't that highly circulated 25 years ago, when I was a little whipper snapper. Like mentioned above, when your body looses electrolytes through fighting the flu, your body is going to dehydrate, especially if you can't hold down food or liquids. When you're dehydrated, your body doesn't operate at full capacity, hence, your child's body will not be fighting the flu at maximum strength.
Coconut water is 100% all natural and has the same electrolyte balance as our blood. In the South Pacific Islands during World War II, coconut water was used by both sides of the war and intravenously injected into the veins of injured and dehydrated soldiers when military doctors on the field were out of blood plasma. Coconut water is called the "fluid of life for a reason," it has literally saved lives. Not only that, but it tastes good and one 11.2 ounce serving, has more potassium than two and a half bananas. The flavor reminds me of the milk in the bottom of my cereal bowl when I eat Honey Nut Cheerios, only not as sweet, with a much thinner texture than milk. Some of the additional health benefits of coconut water that make it a great flu treatment for kids are:
It helps calm the stomach.
It helps rehydrate your body helping eliminate cramping, aching, dizziness and headaches.
It helps detoxify your system, helping flush the sickness and toxins out of your child's body.
It helps strengthen immunity, helping prevent the flu, other sickness and disease.
It's 100% all natural.
Hopefully your sick child can hold down food and beverages, so he/she can take advantage of drinking coconut water to help their bodies fight the flu. If not, coconut water shaved ice is a great flu treatment for kids because it melts slowly, slowly making its way down into their stomach, helping them rehydrate, while preventing any stomach discomfort. It's also a much more effective alternative than ice chips because of the added electrolyte boost and overall health benefits that coconut water provides.
