Taking a closer look at the health benefits of coconut water

Alternatives to plain water are trending—but that doesn’t mean you should jump on the bandwagon for every new “health beverage” craze. You’ve probably heard of mineral water and alkaline water, and now, coconut water is gaining popularity. But is coconut water good for you? Here’s what science says so far about the benefits of coconut water.

What is coconut water?

Coconut water is the clear liquid found in green coconut fruit centres, according to Caroline Apovian, MD, director of the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at the Boston Medical Center and professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. As the coconut ages and turns brown, the water solidifies, turning into coconut meat. This coconut meat could become coconut milk, NPR reports. No matter your water of choice, this is how much you should drink to stay hydrated.

Is coconut water good for you?

Asking, “is coconut water good for you” is a misnomer or kind of a trick question. Coconut water does have two main science-backed health benefits—it provides electrolytes like potassium and sodium, and it’s good for rehydration after physical activity or after illnesses that cause vomiting or diarrhea, says Ali Webster, PhD, RD, the Associate Director of Nutrition Communications for the International Food Information Council Foundation. Still, there is very little human research on the benefits of coconut water over plain, run-of-the-mill H20. One study in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise reported that coconut water replaced bodily fluids as efficiently as sports drinks and only slightly better than water. The athletes, however, preferred the taste of sports drinks—meaning you have to like the taste of coconut water to reap the benefits.

Although it’s an acquired taste, if you do want something healthier than a sports drink, coconut water could still be a good albeit unnecessary option. Most people aren’t professional athletes and don’t exercise long or intensely enough to really need the extra electrolytes from coconut water, Webster says. That’s why Dr. Apovian says it doesn’t replace her regular water intake because she doesn’t want the extra calories. Even though coconut water has less sugar than regular soda or juices, the calories still add up, Dr. Apovian says. (Check out 30 more painless ways to cut 100 calories.) As for the benefits, there’s also plenty of other ways to get potassium from foods such as potatoes, bananas, beans, spinach and legumes, Webster says. “These foods provide other beneficial nutrients that coconut water doesn’t, like fibre and other vitamins and minerals,” she says. This is how much fibre you should eat to prevent disease.

How to drink coconut water?

Is coconut water good for you? It could be a healthier alternative to other non-water beverages. For example, Dr. Apovian doesn’t drink alcohol and instead uses coconut water to make tasty mocktails. “When I’m looking to relax on my own or with friends, I like to mix coconut water, pomegranate juice, or small amounts of tart cherry juice, and something fizzy like sparkling water,” she says. So feel free to dip your toes into this trend, and note that there are only a few potential benefits of coconut water.

Next, find out six surprising health benefits of staying hydrated.

Let’s face it—hotel rooms are pretty germy places. You should avoid the hotel hair dryer at all costs, for starters, and don’t even get us started on the kettle that brews your morning coffee. But when it comes to the most germ-ridden spots in your hotel room, there’s one place you probably don’t need to be too worried about: your bedsheets.

Why? It’s all thanks to the sheets’ bright, white hue.

At first glance, using all-white bedding in a hotel might seem a bit absurd; white fabric is the easiest to stain, after all. But that’s also exactly why it makes sense. White sheets assure guests that the bed is clean and fresh. And because they look and feel so clean, they also give the impression of luxury—even if the hotel itself is rather inexpensive. (Here’s why you should think twice before sitting in a hotel chair.)

Guests expect their hotel bed to be the same, if not better, quality than their bed at home, according to Laura McKay, the Creative Director and Vice President of Interior Design of Omni Hotels & Resorts. “We use white sheets in all of our hotel rooms because it gives them a fresh, crisp, and clean feel,” she says.

Westin hotels were the first popularize the white hotel linens back in the 1990s. The all-white beds make guests think their all-white hotel bed is more luxurious, according to Les Roches, a global hospitality management school. The white sheets even gave guests a better overall experience including better sleep as well as a better perception of the hotel.

And if you haven’t noticed, the all-white colour theme often applies to towels and bathrobes, as well. This has a practical purpose: bed linens, towels, and any other dirty laundry can be washed together without any colours bleeding.

Plus, if all else fails, white sheets are just one easy bleach bath away.

Don’t miss these red flags you’re about to stay at a bad hotel.

Is yawning contagious really?

It’s an age-old question: Why is yawning contagious? Countless studies have backed up how yawning is contagious.

But an experimental psychologist at the University of Oxford, Rohan Kapitány, wasn’t convinced. He didn’t ask why is yawning contagious. Instead, he asked: What if yawning isn’t actually contagious? The truth might surprise you! After reviewing the literature, Kapitány’s research found no proof of a conclusive trend.

“The belief that yawns are contagious seems self-evident,” Kapitány told PsyPost. “But there are some very basic reasons for why we might be mistaken in this… In this instance, the literature hasn’t questioned the basic features of contagious yawning, and ended up with a wide range of unstandardized methodologies and conclusions.” Having issues staying awake? Try these surprising tricks to fight off sleep.

Why do we yawn when other people yawn then?

In Kapitány’s experiment, researchers placed a group of 79 college students together at a table and played Chopin’s Complete Nocturnes through their headphones. While some of the participants were blindfolded, the others were not. Then, the researchers counted the number of times each person yawned, including when and if they did so after seeing somebody else do it.

The good news: Initial results supported the contagious-yawn theory; the participants’ yawns increased over time, especially among the non-blindfolded folks. But more detailed data suggests that everything was not as it seemed.

According to Kapitány, one person’s yawn could not reliably make another person yawn. In other words, there didn’t seem to be a causal relationship between the two. Looks like we no longer have an excuse for our 2 p.m. drowsiness, unfortunately.

But don’t lose hope yet! Kapitány says that more research is needed to make a definitive conclusion, rather than “simply demonstrating it over and over [in] slightly different contexts with richer and richer explanations.” Don’t miss the many signs of evolution you can still find on your body.

Contagious yawning shows empathy

You may still be wondering why is yawning contagious then? Despite the study, you know you always yawn when you see your coworker getting tired after lunch. Turns out, empathy may be the reason why yawning seems contagious.

According to Dr. Sujay Kansagra, director of Duke Unversity’s pediatric neurology sleep medicine program and a sleep expert for Mattress Firm, children begin yawning as fetuses. However, they don’t begin yawning when others do it until they’re about five-years-old.

“This age and stage of emotional growth coincide with a child’s development of empathy and social awareness,” Kansagra said. “We are more likely to mimic the yawn of others when we know them well.”

So perhaps contagious yawning is real after all.. .if you’re hanging out with pals.

Next, check out the scientific explanations behind 22 quirky body reactions.

On the afternoon of April 15, 2019, one of the most iconic architectural structures of Paris went up in flames. Notre Dame cathedral is one of the oldest and most memorable buildings in France’s history. People gathered around the cathedral to watch as beautiful parts of the structure fell, praying and watching in disbelief. It was a sad day for architectural history and the world.

The initial construction of Notre Dame

Looking back at images of this Gothic cathedral, it’s almost impossible to believe that the initial build of this masterpiece happened over 800 years ago. The build started during the reign of King Louis VII in 1163. Located in the Ile de la Cite, in the middle of the River Seine in Paris, the cathedral build took 182 years from start to finish. It was officially completed in 1345. Now, it’s one of the most Instagrammed destinations in the world.

Notre Dame is one of the oldest structures in Paris

While the Eiffel Tower is another iconic structure to symbolize the City of Lights, it actually isn’t as old as Notre Dame. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1887 and was finished two years later in 1889. Both structures are important to the history of this city, but in terms of years, Notre Dame is certainly the oldest to date. Even the famous Arc de Triomphe at the centre of Place Charles de Gualle doesn’t come close in age. Construction started in 1806, 643 years after the initial construction of Notre Dame. Did you know that taking photos of the Eiffel Tower at night is actually illegal?

This isn’t the first tragedy to occur for Notre Dame

According to Notre Dame’s website, the cathedral was “one time in a stage of disrepair and close to the point of demolishing,” but was soon saved by Napoleon. He was crowned Emperor in 1804 inside the cathedral.

The cathedral also experienced threats during World War II from German soldiers who said they might destroy the stained-glass Rose window, which is the biggest glass window in the world. In order to preserve this 13th-century beauty, the stained glass was removed and then replaced after the war. It has been reported that after the recent fires, the Rose window is still intact.

This also isn’t the first restoration for the cathedral. The gorgeous spire was actually a replica of the original, which was removed in 1786 for not being stable. It was rebuilt in the 1860s. The famous gargoyles around the structure are also new, which came about in the 19th-century cathedral restoration.

The fire wasn’t the first sign of problems

Back in early 2018, CBS News reported Notre Dame Cathedral’s announcement for renovations on the building. It was currently undergoing $6.8 million in renovations both on the spire, which is made of 250 tonnes of lead. Problems within the cathedral were noticed when cracks started to appear in the stone, which could make the structure unstable.

Although the roof (made of 5,000 oak trees) caught fire, The New York Times claimed that Notre Dame is still structurally sound after the devastating fire. As investigations of the fire continue, there seems to still be hope for this incredible structure to once again stand in all of its majestic glory.

Next, check out these mind-blowing facts about the Eiffel Tower!

Want to go on every ride at Disney World? Here’s how long you’ll need!

It’s safe to say Disney super fans know a lot about the parks. They’re well-versed in these tips to optimize their Disney vacation and know the best ways to save money on their trip. But not every fan knows how to hit as many rides as possible on their Disney trip, let alone every ride in the park.

But two Disney fans managed to accomplish this. In 2013, Shane Lindsay and Ted Tamburo, founders of the Disney parks blog, Parkeology, decided to try riding every ride at Walt Disney World in a single day as part of what’s now known as the “Parkeology Challenge.” The two failed their first attempt at the challenge due to inclement weather but managed to master it the following year in 2014.

Whether or not people can hit every ride in a single day depends on a lot of factors, the pair says. The hours of the park vary day-to-day, from 15 to 17 hours of operation. The number of rides open can vary as well as Disney places certain ones under refurbishment. On any given day, anywhere from 45 to 50 rides could be in operation (with a ride counting as anything when you’re riding a vehicle and is listed on the official Disney website). And the effort to do so is not for the faint of heart… The pair says they’ve had hundreds of people sign up to complete the challenge with only about 8 per cent succeeding.

With those factors in mind, Lindsay and Tamburo say most people who complete the challenge finish in at least 17 hours. Many, if they try, can hit every ride in 18. The average time is about the same to finish all the rides at Disneyland. This is with the use of Disney’s FastPasses, but not with any other perk not available to the average park guest.

Looking to try the challenge or simply ride as many rides as possible during your Disney vacation? Lindsay and Tamburo have some tips.

• Plan ahead. “You have to strategize wisely,” Lindsay says. This includes scheduling FastPasses ahead of time and big rides that otherwise would suck up most of your time.
• Know the times for the rides. “They have to be aware of when rides open and close,” Lindsay advises.” The Main Street vehicles only open for a couple hours in the morning. That defines a lot of your plans.”
• Split the parks. It may seem intuitive to tackle each park at once, but going back and forth between parks will actually help you minimize wait times and catch rides only open certain hours.
• Show up early –– really early. “Disney will often unofficially open parks even earlier than stated times,” says Tamburo. “If you get there really, really early before opening time, there’s a good chance Disney will open the park early and you’ll be able to get on and off those rides before the theme park even opens.”

Other than that, focus on your strategy. That’s what the two men say people enjoy doing the most when taking on this challenge. To avoid unnecessary hassle, you should also avoid bringing these items banned from Disney parks.

Here in the Great White North, storing your eggs in the fridge is about as Canadian as hockey and maple syrup. But depending on where you place them in the fridge, you could be harming your health, a storage expert reveals. By the way, have you ever wondered why North Americans refrigerate eggs and Europeans don’t?

According to Vlatka Lake, a marketing manager at the storage company Space Station, you should never store these breakfast staples in the plastic egg rack that comes built-in—or as a separate insert with—fridges.

“When it comes to eggs, there is a huge debate on where they should be kept, with some saying in the fridge and others saying on the counter,” she told The Sun. “The general consensus is to store eggs in the fridge, but not in the egg racks commonly found on the fridge door.” (Here are 20 foods you’re spoiling by putting in the refrigerator.)

Why this little-known rule? Placing the eggs in the door of the fridge could expose them to fluctuating temperatures as you open and close the door throughout the day, Lake said. That, in turn, causes them to rot faster. You’d be better off storing the eggs on a shelf in the fridge, where the temps will remain fairly constant. There you have it!

Find out why you should never wash fresh eggs before cooking them.

What is a black hole?

You know all those pictures of black holes you’ve seen online or in your high-school astronomy textbook? They’re all illustrations. Yep, they’re just fake representations of what scientists thought they looked like based on their calculations. Black holes were one of those science mysteries no one has figured out. That’s why the recent release of the first-ever actual image of a black hole, located in the M87 galaxy, is so important: It’s the first direct, observational evidence that black holes exist. “It’s simply inspiring to have a real picture of this amazing object that we’d previously ‘seen’ only in diagrams and simulations and equations,” says astrophysicist Benjamin Monreal, PhD, Agnar Pytte Associate Professor of Physics at Case Western Reserve University.

But that leads us to the next question: What is inside a black hole?

Although everyone knows the term, most of us (who aren’t astrophysicists) might not know exactly what is a black hole. “A black hole is an object so massive that its extreme gravity makes everything, even light, fall inward,” Monreal says. Still confused? Think of a bowling ball on a trampoline: It makes a big depression in the middle, so if you throw some marbles on it, they will fall down. Black holes warp the space and time around it (together called spacetime) the same way. “From a black hole, even the speed of light isn’t enough to escape,” Monreal says. “Space is so warped that the only direction is down.” That’s why they are “black,” or rather invisible: No light can escape for us to see them.

How is a black hole made?

OK, but exactly what is a black hole? “Black holes get their start when ordinary matter is squeezed into a small enough volume,” Monreal says. For example, when huge stars run out of fuel, they collapse in on themselves through gravity, creating a black hole. “The M87 black hole that we have this new picture of probably formed from huge clouds of hydrogen gas that collapsed,” Monreal says.

What is inside a black hole?

Although black holes themselves can’t be seen, scientists knew they were there because of the way other objects such as stars act around them; these objects in the safe zone don’t get pulled in but are still affected by its force. On the other hand, matter that goes past the point of no return, called the event horizon, can’t escape the black hole—picture it like going over a waterfall into an abyss.

But scientists are still trying to figure out what happens after the matter goes in; basically, what is inside a black hole. “Once the hydrogen [from the collapsed star] went in, the theory of gravity tells us it got squeezed into a ‘singularity’ at the centre, and nobody knows what it’s really like there—although it’s certainly not hydrogen anymore,” Monreal says. So the interior of a black hole probably doesn’t look like you’d think it would from the movies. “Between the event horizon and the singularity there’s nothing but empty space, subjected to tremendously strong gravitational fields,” Monreal says.

What happens to the stuff that goes into the black hole is still up for debate. The phrase “black holes have no hair” describes the theory that the information thrown into black holes basically disappears to outside observers and can’t be measured. Famous physicist Stephen Hawking threw a wrench into this, suggesting that some mass could actually “leak” back out or be released by the black hole as it slowly dies—which may actually contradict the prevailing theory of gravity. Hawking was working on this idea up until his death last March, with his final paper on the topic published by his colleagues in December 2018. (Don’t miss these unsolved mysteries about planet Earth.)

What can the new photo tell us about what is inside a black hole?

The new M87 image, which is not exactly a photograph but rather a compilation of data from eight observatories around the world collectively called the Event Horizon Telescope, provides the first evidence to support—or contradict—black hole theories. “Astronomers who study galaxies have been hungry to know the masses and rotation rates of black holes, and they’ve come up with indirect methods for inferring those numbers—those methods now have a very precise reality check,” Monreal says. “Physicists who want better and better tests of Einstein’s theory of gravity—or who are looking for evidence for a breakdown of that theory—will want to see which theories were able to account for the details of this image.” In the image, the bright rings are the accretion disk, an orbiting mass of gasses right before the event horizon. The black space in the middle is the black hole’s “shadow;” remember, because there’s no light, we can’t see inside the hole itself. Even so, examining the measurements and the specifics of the image will give astrophysicists more information than ever before to help us understand how they work.

Even though it’s right there above us, scientists still have a lot of questions about Earth’s own moon.

Why Meghan is skipping the photo op

A royal mother making an appearance outside the hospital following the birth of a new baby is somewhat of a tradition—Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, introduced her children to the world this way, and so did her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales. Like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade or the festivities surrounding a presidential inauguration, it’s something people have come to expect as a marking of a special occasion. However, it’s already been speculated that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will be raising their newborn very differently from the Cambridge children—and it looks like this will be the case from the moment the little one is born.

With Meghan’s due date rumoured to be in late April or early May, preparations have begun for the birth of the new royal. Buckingham Palace recently released a statement announcing that Meghan and Harry plan to keep the arrival of their baby private—meaning no traditional photo op on the hospital steps. (Discover the real story of how Prince Harry and Meghan met!)

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very grateful for the goodwill they have received from people throughout the United Kingdom and around the world as they prepare to welcome their baby,” a palace spokesperson said. “Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private. The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family.” (On the other hand, these are the royal rules Duchess Meghan must follow.)

According to Vanity Fair, Meghan is “uncomfortable” with the idea of staging an appearance so soon after giving birth and will likely wait to share images of their baby when she feels ready. While it’s unlikely that Meghan would deliver the baby at the same hospital as Kate given the distance from their new home in Windsor to St. Mary’s Hospital in London, Meghan and Harry might not even be at a hospital—the Duchess of Sussex is reportedly considering a home birth at the couple’s new residence, Frogmore Cottage. Meghan’s personal team of medics, along with her mother and Harry, will be at her side and the Queen’s doctors will be on standby should something go wrong.

Eager royal baby fans can still count on an announcement of the newborn’s birth on an easel outside Buckingham Palace.

Check out the strangest conspiracy theories about Meghan and Harry.

Psst—here’s how to avoid the line!

Travelling is an adventure, and you probably want to make the most of every minute—especially if you’re on a faraway, once-in-a-lifetime getaway. Unfortunately, long lines that suck an hour (or more) out of your day tend to be part of the experience. Thankfully, there are some tried-and-true methods for beating the crowds at even the most popular tourist attractions.

Check for skip-the-line tickets

The extra fee tacked onto queue-jump tickets is invaluable when you consider how much more time you’ll get to spend gazing at exhibits instead of staring at the back of someone’s head in line. Buy an express pass from official vendors of sites like the Roman Colosseum or Tokyo’s Sky Tree, or hunt down third-party fast-track options, which often include a guided tour. (Don’t miss these airport tips for seniors!)

Snag your ticket ahead of time

At some attractions, skipping the line doesn’t cost you any extra money—just a little bit of extra planning. The Eiffel Tower, for instance, doesn’t have an official skip-the-line option, but buying passes up to 60 days ahead of time means you’ll blow straight past the ticketing line and get a jump ahead at security. At the Vatican, you can reserve your tickets two months in advance, too; the Acropolis in Athens gives you the flexibility to arrive any time of day, even if you pick a specific hour. If you’re the type who likes to plan out itineraries ahead of time, options like these are no-brainers. (Check out these must-have travel accessories for the frequent flyer.)

Buy a city-wide pass

For those who want to squeeze in as much as possible rather than focusing on one must-see attraction, a pass that covers the whole city could be a good option. For instance, the London Pass lets you skip the line at big-name spots like St. Paul’s Cathedral and the London Zoo. For American visits, you’ll want to look into CityPASS; it has options for 13 cities around the country. Not every attraction includes expedited entry, but you can avoid the main line at some attractions, such as Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary and the Skydeck Chicago.

Get a group together

Travelling in packs can be a blessing, and not just because of the great company. Plenty of museums and attractions would rather know about and plan around large groups, speeding them through their visits—starting with the line. At the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., for instance, groups of 20 or more can get quicker entry starting May 2019.

Psst—memorize these packing tips before your next trip!

First, they’re not all bad

Anyone who has had a ladybug infestation knows that these buggers can become a real nuisance. Here’s how to get rid of ladybugs that are bugging you.

To be fair, some ladybugs are wonderful insects that help control plant-eating pests like aphids. The “good” ladybugs are smaller, have bright red shells and all-black heads with white cheeks. (Want to avoid those itchy bug bites this summer? Find the right repellent for you.)

There are 450 ladybug species in North America alone, and some of those eat the plants (instead of the aphids), such as the Mexican bean beetle (yellow-orange with black spots) and the squash beetle (yellow-orange with larger black spots). And, there’s the dreaded Asian lady beetle, which is known for aggravating asthma symptoms and excreting a foul smelling liquid that stains. (Here are 13 things your exterminator wishes you knew.)

Ladybug pest control

There are ways to protect your home from an infestation and things you can do if you’re too late and they’re already inside.

• Prevent ladybugs from coming inside your home by sealing it up. One of the main ways ladybugs get inside is through all the small crevices, cracks and spaces around doors, windows, siding, fascia and the like. Use caulk and expanding foam insulation to seal up and fill all the gaps.
• Vacuum them up right away: You don’t want to squash Asian lady beetles because it could leave behind a stain and an unpleasant smell. Instead, suck them up with the vacuum and empty the dust cup or bag immediately. If you don’t dispose of the sucked-up bugs right away, your vacuum will be stinky the next time you use it.
• Use citrus or citronella cleaners: Ladybugs, specifically Asian lady beetles, are attracted to their own scent but are not a fan of citrus or citronella. Use a cleaner with those scents to discourage an infestation.
• Plant mums: Mums are the most unattractive flower to ladybugs, so, if you plant them near your doors, you can discourage these bugs from coming into your home.
• Set out some home-made potpourri: Bay leaves and cloves are a big detractor for ladybugs but they smell great to humans! Wrap some bay leaves and cloves in cloth bags and place them around your house to deter the bugs.
• Call in a specialist. If you still have a ladybug problem after trying these remedies, it might be time to call a professional.

Check out the most disgusting house bugs—and the best ways to get rid of them.