1. It tastes great.

Okay, so maybe it doesn't taste great at first. But unlike other love-it-or-hate-it healthy drinks (kale-based juices) or hate-it-or-what-is-wrong-with-you healthy drinks (anything with wheatgrass), this one has a taste that grows on you as you drink it. I wasn't sold on it at first, but the more of it I drank, the more I learned to love it.

Plus, the major brands have all come out with different flavors of coconut water, ranging from the wonderful (Vita Coco's Peach & Mango / O.N.E Coconut Water's Guava) to the utterly terrible (Zico's Chocolate Coconut Water). Give each of them a shot before settling on your favorite.

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2. It's not just for drinking.

In a former life of mine, I wrote an article on three different ways to prepare oatmeal. One of them-- my favorite way-- was to prepare oatmeal by mixing the oats with coconut water the night before, according to the recipe on the package, then simmering it slowly over the stovetop the day after.

3. It's so, so healthy for you.

I personally give pause to anything I drink that can also be applied directly to my skin to help with rashes and general irritations. That's just one of the many curative properties of coconut water. It's loaded with potassium, low in sodium, and chock-full of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. All of that works towards your strengthening your bones, shrinking your waist-line, curbing your sugar cravings and regulating your blood pressure.

4. Drink your hangover away.

Here's the big one, and we mean *the* big one. Because of the high electrolyte and potassium content in this island elixir, drinking a glass of carton of coconut water is the equivalent of drinking a hangover away. You can almost feel it leaving your body as the cold juice of the young coconut races down your esophagus like so many shots of vodka. Some have even taken to using it as a mixer or a chaser for this specific reason: it replenishes what alcohol depletes.

But don't take our word for it-- try it!