Vaccination Schedule for Cattle

Vaccination is very important part of any cattle operation. Here is the table for the vaccination schedule for cattle mostly for Pakistan and Indian region.

Month	Cattle &Buffaloes		Sheep & Goat
	Calves upto one year	Adults	Lambs/Kids	Adults
January	FMV & ETV	HSV	ETV	ETV
February	--	FMV & Anthrax	--	Anthrax
March	--	Theliria	--	Pox Vaccine
April	--	Black Quarter	--	FMV
May	FMV & ETV	--	ETV	CCPV
June	HSV	HSV	--	HSV
July	--	--	--	ETV
August	FMV & ETV	FMV & Anthrax	--	Anthrax
September	--	HSV	ETV & FMV	Pox Vaccine
October	--	Rinder Pest	--	FMV
November	--	--	--	CCPV
December	HSV	HSV	--	HSV

FMV= Foot & Mouth Vaccine;        

Enterotoxaemia Vaccine;  

HSV=Hemorrhagic Septicemia Vaccine

CCPV=Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia Vaccine

10 Key Principle of Profitable Calf Rearing

(NRM) Dr Bas Schouten Key Principles in Successful Calf Rearing

1. Calf Selection – Purchase a good quality calf

• Minimum weight 40kg
• No twins, sick, or induced calves
• Must be 5 days of age
• Dry and clean naval cord
• Bright and alert
• Check joints for swelling and pain

2. Colostrum – A good colostrum intake is vital for animal health and survival

• A calf needs at least 4 litres of colostrums within the first 12 hours after birth (ie 2 litres twice a day)

3. Entry into Barn

• Do health check (as in rule 1)
• Transport calves humanely in a covered vehicle with soft clean base of shavings, straw or bark at a minimum depth of 100mm. There must be enough floor space for calves to be able to sit - about 1 square meter per calf
• Spray cord with iodine before and after transport
• On entry into barn allow time for calves to de-stress by allowing rest
• Feed only electrolytes for the first 12 hours

4. Pen sizes

• Allow at least 1.5 – 2 square meters per calf
• No more than 10 – 12 calves per pen
• No more than 100 calves per barn
• Use more than one barn to control diseases and to separate age groups
• Separate old calves from young calves
• Avoid mixing calves – leave in one pen for the first 3 weeks

5. Housing – Calves must be sheltered for at least 3 weeks

• Calves should be dry and draught free
• Best is a barn that is twice as deep as it is wide
• Check for draughts at ground level
• Flooring – base of clay/sand with a slope to allow drainage
• Slats or raised flooring is often draughty and less suitable
• Bedding – straw, bark or shavings at least 200mm deep
• Add to bedding when required
• Control rodents and birds to prevent disease transfer
• There must be no water lying around barn or feeding areas

6. Ventilation and Drainage

• Good ventilation is critical to remove affluent gases.
• Ventilation should be adjustable by doors and windows on exterior walls in the barn
• High levels of ammonia indicates insufficient ventilation
• Drainage – see housing

7. Feeding Schedules

• Feed milk or a good quality Calf Milk Replacer (CMR) at the rate of at least 10% of the body weight daily (ie 40kg calf requires at least 4 litres a day)
• CMR – Follow the recommended mixing rate and volumes on the bag
• Make changes in volume or strength gradually and allow 3 days between changes
• When animals are under environmental or nutritional stresses, or when recovering from disease challenges, increase CMR concentrate to aid recovery

8. Milk and Milk Feeders

• Best results are achieved if calves are fed twice a day for at least 10 days
• Feed hot (40oC) for at least the first 14 days
• Teat feed – with a compartmentalised feeder
• Feed by the same person each day – preferable a woman

9. Concentrates and Roughage

• Feed a highly palatable concentrate ad lib from 5 days of age
• Allow access to hay or straw from 5 days of age
• Allow access to clean fresh water at all times
• Calves can be weaned off milk when consuming 1 kg concentrate per calf per day
• Continue meal/pellet supplement for at least 1 month post weaning off milk at the rate of 1.5 – 2 kg per day

10. Animal Health

• Sterilise barn, bedding and feeding utensils with a proven virucidal spray before entry into the barn and then twice weekly
• Carefully observe calves daily. Record and treat properly at therapeutic levels
• Autopics and faecal cultures and blood tests are valuable for the prevention and prevention of disease – consult with your vet
• For the treatment of calf scours remove calves from milk. Treat with a good quality electrolyte mixed at adequate levels to correct dehydration and to maintain fluid and energy balance. About 6 – 10 litres of electrolyte are required daily. Return to milk feeding when the scouring stops

Haldi – A Victim of Bio-Piracy

The rich Traditional medical knowledge of the Indian sub-continent, has always been subjected to victimization and exploitation. Time and again many patents are registered abroad by firms and researchers alike, claiming to have ‘invented’ something which has been around for ages.

The most well-known controversy is the patent obtained for the ‘wound healing’ properties of our very own haldi [turmeric], by researchers associated with University of Missisippi Medical Center. They fraudulently obtained patents on turmeric, making use of the big loopholes of American patent laws.

Turmeric has been an indispensible part of Indian cuisine & also has religious significance. Bridal beautification ceremonies are never complete without turmeric. And our women use it as a natural epilator to get rid of the superfluous hair & stained themselves with it to keep tan at bay. This association with haldi, runs really deep. Thus, it was no wonder that these patents made our blood to boil.

The patents were finally declared null and void, on March 1995, but only after a lot of campaigning and intervention by [CSIR Council of Scientific & industrial research]. This issue became a matter of national pride and created quite a furore among the masses.

Adding insult to injury, Neem & basmati, our traditional treasures, were also shrouded by patent controversy soon thereafter.

Ricetec, Inc, a texas based firm, patented breeding crosses involving 22 farmer-bred basmati varieties from India & Pakistan. This aromatic rice with slender grains and a unique fragrance is known as the ‘crown jewel’ of South-Asian Rice. These patents, though technically applied only within the United States, threatened Indian basmati exports in the international market.

Another patent was granted for a neem-based pesticide, to W.R. Grace & Co. This Maryland based firm claimed to have developed a process, to isolate a stable form of Azadirachtin. The European patent office [EPO], finally ruled in India’s favour on March 2005, accepting the bare truth that the practice has been in use in India for more than 2000 years.

These incidents garnered sufficient global attraction. Opposition against this ‘Corporate colonialism’ gathered momentum as more than 200 organizations, from 35 nations, raised their voice in the global arena.

How can a product of natural origin, which has been in practice since time immemorial, be patented? Isn’t this immoral and un-ethical? Turning public-goods into a private commodity is crass-commercialization at its inhumane worst.

But these Bio-piracy incidents have exposed some chinks in our armour. In its appeal to EPO, W.R.Grace & Co, alleged that ‘Prior Art’ about the product was never published in any scientific journal.

To stem out such threats to our native treasures, it becomes highly essential to educate the farmer-fraternity about our knowledge resources and make them aware of the available folk-wisdom.

Patents for natural products should never be granted if they clashed with traditional knowledge systems. If not, the Multinational Companies, who have huge funds at their disposal, may procure basic raw materials like neem in large scale. Such a scenario, in due course of time, will escalate the prices of unprocessed raw materials, pushing them far beyond the reach of farmers.

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A farm in your balcony

You can use any type of container to grow vegetables and herbs. Plastic pouches, old strainers, curd boxes, even unused bathtubs come in handy, writes Vandana Krishnamurthy

Have you ever felt the joy of harvesting tomatoes, brinjals or ladies finger from a container growing in your apartment balcony? It’s actually possible! All you need are a few old containers, some soil, manure and seeds or a sapling. Many vegetables and herbs can be grown in a very small space in your balcony or terrace. Even the smallest verandah, window sill or portico can boast a crop of vegetables or a garden of flowers in containers. 

Planter boxes, old plastic containers, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are just some of the containers that can be used. You can grow just about any vegetable in a container and also save money by growing your own vegetables. Cities that are fast expanding mean that there is very less area for green and open spaces. Gardens and natural areas have been sacrificed to build roads, commercial buildings and apartments. 

Green spaces not only provide us with clean air and recreation, and they also provide a habitat for a large variety of plants, birds and insects. Apart from the biodiversity they also protect the city from absorbing pollutants, preventing soil erosion, absorbing solar radiation, reducing noise pollution and maintaining the health of the urban ecosystem overall. However, the city and this concrete jungle are going nowhere. We need to be innovative to create our own green spaces within our existing system. 

Fun way to raise crops

Container gardening is a simple and fun way to grow edible crops in just about any situation. You can use any type of container. Strong plastic pouches, old strainers, curd boxes, two-litre soft-drink bottles, old airtight plastic boxes that have lost their lids, old trays, even unused bathtubs, the list can be endless. 

Get creative! Apart from these recycled containers, you can also have specific planters and terracotta pots for planting. Any kind of container that is attracting and appealing to you and has a drainage hole on its bottom can be an option. 

To start off, you need a container, plant, soil, manure and some water. Make sure there is enough room for all of these. Provide good drainage for the container by creating a hole at the bottom of the container. Do not stack up the soil around the holes, but place some large old clay pot pieces to allow for easy draining. Be sure to balance the size of your plant and container. Mix the soil with some manure and make it moist with a little water. 

Fill it into the container and place the seeds/saplings. Provide ample water to the plant after planting, without drowning it. Water every day initially and depending on your plants’ need, you can water accordingly. Some people say that container gardening is best for those who do not have the time to attend to their plants.

It will not take so much of time and effort. There are some creative containers called earth boxes and self-watering containers that provide water at all times. Container gardens offer the advantage of changing your garden with every season.

Almost any vegetable that will grow in a typical backyard garden will also do well as a container-grown plant. Vegetables that are ideally suited for growing in containers include tomatoes, capsicum, brinjal, green onions, beans, lettuce, gourds, pumpkin, radishes and parsley. Beans and cucumbers also do well in this type of garden, but they do require considerably more space because of their vining growth habit. Most herbs and leafy vegetables do well in small containers. Vegetables require a little more root space and therefore require larger containers.

The following are some plants that can be grown:

Tomatoes: Tomatoes need tons of sunlight to grow. It would be best to grow them in the sunniest part of your balcony. Bury the roots/seed deep into the soil because they are able to develop roots all along their stem. Autumn is the best time to sow tomatoes and you can harvest it 80-100 days from planting. Gather fruits that are just reaching the ripening stage. Do not leave it till a tiny crack appears at the stalk end, or a softening of skin indicates complete ripeness.

Beans: Green beans are one of the easiest vegetables to grow. They don’t take up a lot of space and require very little maintenance. Pole bean plants need some sort of support structure - like a pole. If you have limited time and garden space, bush beans are probably the way to go. Sowing season is between August and October. Such crops can be harvested in about 45-60 days. During the flowering season, be careful when it comes to watering and drainage of excessive moisture. Flowers generally stop falling after the pods have developed. Watering is advised on a very dry day, because the crop is susceptible to water logging.

Chilies: This is the most rewarding plant of the vegetable family. The best time to harvest chilies is before the monsoon, which can be harvested after about two months. Hot peppers are usually harvested at the red-ripe stage; but green chilies are also required for many south Indian recipes. Plastic or rubber gloves are helpful when picking or handling hot chilies.

Onions: Onions are one of the most popular vegetables for growing in home gardens. Onions can be planted from seed or from sets (partly grown onion bulbs). When the plant is fully grown, bend over each bunch of foliage to cut off the supply of sap from the leaves to the bulb. After a week or ten days the crop may be harvested.

These are just few of the many plants that can be grown in limited balcony spaces. You can grow your own mini pharmacy of medicinal herbs like amrutha balli (tinospora cordifolia), curry leaves, basale soppu (basella alba), garlic, ginger, mint, etc. 

Many people have adopted organic terrace gardening in Bangalore, a movement pioneered by Vishwanath. He began this initiative in 1992 by providing training to residents in their own locality and supplying the needed inputs like seeds, manure, plant protection materials, implements, containers, etc. 

There are many organisations in Bangalore involved in plants and gardening. For example, Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (IAIM) in Yelahanka, Bangalore has a large nursery with all kinds of medicinal plants that can be home grown.

Resolutions for cattle producers in 2012

(Iowa Beef Center) A recent publication listed the top New Year’s resolutions for 2012. As you might guess the most popular ones had to do with pushing away from the table, getting more exercise, getting their lives more organized including budgeting and getting more out of life. By the time you read this you have probably already broken one of them.

The following list is 10 resolutions for your beef operation that you can stick to in preparation for the challenges coming in 2012.

1. Keep better records.

Whether it is a feedlot or a cow calf operation, management of costs in a high cost environment requires knowing what they are and making sound decisions on that basis. Increasingly, good records on environmental management, animal production, animal health and animal care are needed for good stewardship and market access.

2. Attend an educational event.

You never quit learning and the business and technology changes fast. Check the upcoming events on our website for an event near you.

3. Become a better environmental steward.

Do you know where the water goes when it leaves your feedlot or feeding area? Are you a medium CAFO? Learn about the changes in rules and permitting that might affect you. The IMMAG website (www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/) and the Iowa DNR (www.iowadnr.gov/) are good resources.

4. Develop a health program.

Work with your veterinarian to develop a state of the art health program. Don’t wait until an emergency to give him or her a call.

5. Manage feed storage and handling losses.


The first step in managing feed storage losses, whether it is wet corn co-products, commodities, silage or forages is to measure it. Weigh your feed in and out of storage. You might be surprised how much feed you are losing before the cattle see it.

6. Test your feeds and balance your rations.

Underfeeding reduces productivity and overfeeding increases costs. Send your feeds in for analysis and share the information with your nutritionist. If you balance your rations yourselves, consider the BRANDS program to fine tune and reduce feed costs.

7. Take credit for your manure value.

With increasing value of fertilizer nutrients this is a resource that should be accounted for. This requires testing and applying the manure at agronomic levels.

8. Evaluate your facilities.

Cattle comfort can pay off in better performance, particularly during periods of weather extremes. Efficient handling facilities are makes life easier for both human and bovine.

9. Manage your margins.

Risk management today involves managing the risk of both input costs and market prices. Learn more about the cattle “crush margin” and how to use it for managing volatility and price risk.

10. Get more out of your pastures this summer.

Take a pasture walk or attend a grazing clinic. Forage and grazing management is one way to get more productivity out of fewer available acres.

IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension and outreach program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. Call us at 515-294-BEEF, or e-mail us at beefcenter@iastate.edu

Dan Loy is the interim director for the Iowa Beef Center. This column originally appeared in the Growing Beef e-newsletter

15 cost-saving ideas for poultry housing

By Mike Czarick and Gary Van Wicklen

These technologies will provide outstanding in-house environmental control while using less energy and reducing operating costs.

(Watt AgNet) There are a lot of questions as to what the future holds for the poultry industry. One thing, however, is certain. Poultry houses will have to be designed and built with a much greater emphasis on operating costs, in particular, heating and cooling, than they were in the past, most experts agree, as increases in propane and electricity costs are here to stay.

When building a new poultry house, emphasis has traditionally been placed on containing construction and equipment costs and not on energy use. In many new developments, new technologies that have been proven to reduce energy usage are not adopted as if, they were, the added initial cost would appear to negatively affect a producer's returns. The benefits of lower energy usage are rarely considered.

A new energy efficient tunnel fan, tunnel door or improved air inlet may increase the initial cost of a house. However, if operating costs are significantly reduced, the net cash flow of a house is improved, especially when a long-term view of energy prices is taken.

At a propane cost of $1.75 per gallon or an electricity rate of 10 cents per kilowatt hour, a piece of equipment that may reduce energy usage by 10-20% may not seem to offer a great return on investment. But with propane and electricity prices likely to rise by 20% or more over the next few years, a little extra money spent upfront could offer significant future savings.

There are a number of proven as well as emerging technologies and building practices that have been shown to significantly reduce the cost of heating and/or cooling a poultry house. If a short-term view is taken, however, the ROI may, at times, look questionable.

When a long-term view is taken, with the high probability of increased fuel and electricity prices, many new technologies may prove a good investment for both poultry companies and growers.

Proven technologies

1. Circulation fan systems: A properly designed circulation fan system that thoroughly mixes the air within a house from floor to ceiling and from one end of the house to the other has proven not only to reduce fuel usage by 10-30% but to improve litter and air quality as well.

2. Totally enclosed houses: In a curtain-sided house, 30-50% of the heat loss can be attributed to the side-wall curtains. By replacing side-wall curtains with well-insulated solid side walls, not only are heating costs dramatically reduced but the house will run cooler in the summer. In addition, the increased level of environmental control possible in a totally enclosed house tends to result in improved bird performance.

3. Insulated tunnel doors: Replacing traditional tunnel curtains with insulated tunnel doors in a totally enclosed house has been shown to reduce fuel usage by 10% or more. Tunnel doors also generate increased air movement over the birds in the vicinity of the tunnel inlet during hot weather, resulting in cooler birds and drier litter.

4. Larger houses: Wider houses cost less to heat during cold weather than traditional 40-foot-wide houses due to the fact that they have less overall surface area. With the increasing popularity of totally enclosed houses, producers have discovered that it is possible to build larger houses than previously though possible, without having excessive temperature difference between the tunnel inlet and fan ends of a house.

Houses as long as 550 feet can have the higher air velocities required for the larger birds grown today at a lower initial investment and, more importantly, lower operating cost per bird, than in 400-foot and 500-foot-long houses.

5. Litter treatments: By using a litter treatment to limit ammonia production, ventilation rates during brooding can be kept to a minimum, reducing heating costs by 30%. This easily offsets the cost of litter treatment.

6. Radiant heating systems: Radiant heaters have been shown to provide 10-30% fuel savings when compared with hot-air furnaces.

7. Attic inlet systems: The attic in the typical dropped ceiling poultry house is 5 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than outside during daylight hours. Attic inlets allow producers to reduce fuel usage during cold weather by 10-20%. Increased daytime ventilation rates result in drier litter, lower ammonia levels and overall improved air quality.

8. Energy efficient fans: There are a number of tunnel fans on the market that have energy efficiency ratings of 21 cubic feet per minute per watt or better at a static pressure of 0.1 inches. Installing highly energy efficient tunnel fans can easily reduce the cost of ventilating a poultry house by thousands of dollars a year.

9. Improved side wall air inlet systems: Traditional galvanised side wall and cooling inlets are not nearly as effective at distributing cool fresh air throughout a house during the cooler times of the year as many of the newer recessed European-style air inlets. By installing more efficient air inlets, producers are better able to control house temperature and air quality. This results not only in lower heating costs but also in improved bird performance.

Emerging technologies

10. Dimmable fluorescent lighting: There are new high intensity (1,600 lumens) compact fluorescent light bulbs in the market that can reduce the cost of lighting a house by up to 75% while providing the wide dimming capacity that many modern producers require. In the typical 40-foot-wide house, when operated at full intensity, two rows of high-intensity compact fluorescent bulbs (20 feet on centre) are capable of prducing a light intensity at floor level of 2-foot candles or more. The bulbs can be dimmed to us as low as a 0.1-foot candles. The durability of these bulbs, however, remains to be seen.

11. Biomass heating system: Heating systems that burn waste wood products are currently being developed and/or modified for use in poultry houses. Most of these systems do not totally eliminate propane but they have been shown to reduce propane use by 80% or more.  

Depending on the price of the biomass product used, fuel cost savings can be as great as 50%. Most of these systems have an installed price of $25,000 or more per house but payback can be within five years.

12. Solar walls: One relatively popular form of solar walls consists of a finely perforated black sheet metal wall, contructed approximately a foot from the south side wall of a poultry house.

During the day, the sun heats the space between the perforated metal wall and the side wall to temperatures of 30F or more above outside temperature. The fine perforations allow outside air to be drawn into the heated air space and then into the house, utilising the air inlets on the south side of the house (inlets on the north side would not be used during cold weather).

The overall ventilation system needs to be designed so that the solar wall can be bypassed during moderate weather.

With an installed cost of $20,000 or more per house, these systems can have a long payback period. With modification, however, they may be able to be made more cost-effective.

13. Variable speed exhaust fans: There are very specific laws that dictate the relationship between fan speed, air moving capacity and energy use for any fan.

For instance, fan speed and air moving capacity are proportional. A second fan law states that fan power is propotional to the cube of fan speed. This means that when fan speed is decreased by 10%, fan output is decreased by about 10% but power usage can be reduced by some 30%. In principle, it is possible to significantly lower fan operating costs by operating more fans at a lower speed than fewer fans at full speed.

There are still a few issues to be addressed but the fact of the matter is that varying the speed of all the tunnel fans in a house, as opposed to staging in fans one by one, could reduce electricity use by 20% or more.

14. Solar power: Photovoltaic panels use sunlight to generate electricity. A 42kW PV system with 210 panels, for exampls, has been used to provide electricity for a Delaware broiler house since April 2007. Renewable energy credits ($200 per 1,000kWh) have been received for the "green" power produced. The PV technology has worked flawlessly. Systems cost is the obstacle preventing wider use of solar energy. The initial cost of equipment and installation is approximately $8 per watt.

15. Wind power: Wind turbines designed and marketed for residential use are of a size that could be used to supply electricity for a typical poultry farm. However, the cost of purchasing and installing a wind-power system is approximately $5 per watt. This makes it a highly unlikely option without substantial government grants.

Michael Czarick is an extension engineer at the University of Georgia while Garet L. Van Wicklen is an extension poultry engineer at the University of Delaware.

Updated: Apr 07, 2010 This article appeared in Poultry International, April 2009.

Coconut Water Benefits – What Can Coconut Water Do For Me?

Coconut water is one of the healthiest drinks around. People adore the natural flavor and its all-natural appeal. While new to America, its benefits are no surprise to tropical islanders and Latin Americans that have been drinking it for centuries. Coconut water products range from pure coconut water to flavored varieties to those with real pulp. Aside from its natural, sweet taste, this thirst-quenching drink is also popular thanks to all of the coconut water health benefits that we’ll discuss here.

The fact that coconut water has many health benefits is not at all surprising since coconuts themselves also do wonders for our bodes. So, what are the health benefits of coconut water? First, let’s talk about its nutritional value. After understanding its nutritional properties, you’ll easily understand the various health benefits.

Coconut Water Benefits – Nutrition – Electrolytes

Coconut water has the five electrolytes that are already in our bodies. This includes potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and calcium. All of these electrolytes help in certain functions of our body. Also, being a natural health drink, coconut water does not contain any preservatives, fats or cholesterol. This makes it a good drink for everybody regardless of your conditions.

For instance, coconut water contains a considerable amount of potassium – about 295mg – far more than any other sports drinks and energy drinks, which contain only about 117mg of potassium.

Electrolyte Drinks (Like Coconut Water) Help Lower Blood Pressure

One thing you may not know is that hypertension, or high blood pressure, is oftentimes caused by an electrolyte imbalance. Many hypertensive patients only worry about sodium, but all of the electrolytes take part in the “blocking” of ducts in our veins. Fortunately, coconut water has all five electrolytes, unlike your favorite sports drink.

Coconut Water Benefits – Nutrition – Low Sugar Content

By now, you should certainly know that processed sugar, especially high fructose corn syrup and fructose in general, are responsible for the massive growth in obesity rates happening in the Western World.

While coconut water does have some sugar content, it is nowhere nearly as potent or dangerous as that of sodas, sports drinks, or even processed juices like apple juice that contain no fiber. According to the chief of United nation’s Food and Agriculture, coconut water contains about 5mg of Natural Sugars whereas all the other drinks contain about 10-25mg of refined sugars.

These refined sugars wreak havoc on your body due to their simple nature, cause your blood sugar levels to spike, thus causing an insulin spike, and thus finally causing that horrific process known as fat storage. Stop drinking sugar-infested drinks that rot your teeth and cardiovascular system and start drinking some natural coconut water each morning.

Coconut Water Benefits – So Healthy it Can Be Used Intravenously

In tropical countries, coconut water has long been used as a remedy for all types of illness. In an emergency, it can even be used as an intravenous treatment for immediate hydration![2]

Coconut Water Benefits – Healthy Skin

We’re always concerned with the way we look – and our skin is one of our most shining examples of having vibrant health. There’s good news here – Coconut water also has an effect on the skin. Here are some benefits of coconut water for the skin:

• Coconut water adds moisture to our skin. Many lotions and facial moisturizers have this in their formulas – and those are great – but they also only work on the outside. Drinking coconut water hydrates your skin from the inside. Aside from this, coconut water also helps remove excessive oil in the skin and in the scalp. Again, this is why so many conditioners and shampoos make use of coconut water.
• Coconut water can cure acne scars. This is possible thanks to coconut water’s cleansing and toning effects on the skin. Unlike the above bullet point, we’re talking about topical treatment now. You can apply coconut water on your face everyday then see how it goes.

Coconut Water Health Benefits – Weight Loss / Fat Loss

• 
  

I’m going to put it straight to you here. Coconut water does contain sugar, and too much sugar promotes obesity, especially if eaten at the wrong times. However, coconut is far healthier than the alternative sport drinks, sodas, and even commercial fruit juices and juice boxes.

First off, coconut water contains fiber, which slows the absorption of the sugars. This is critical, since other sugary drinks and even fruit juices do not contain fiber, and those fast-digesting sugars lead to fast fat-storage.

Second, there is simply less total sugar in coconut water than there are in the other drinks mentioned above, so if you substitute it for your daily sports drink, you will be taking infar blood-sugar-spiking sugars.

• Coconut water contains a high amount of water along with its electrolytes. As we all know, water keeps our bodies hydrated. As a result, the metabolism rate in our bodies remains high. Due to this fact, water is a big help in maintaining one’s health. This is also the same with coconut water.
• Coconut water has a good effect on thyroid function. There are people that can not burn fat because of thyroid issues; drinking coconut water can be good for them.
• Coconut water does contain many calories compared to the other commercial drinks in the market.

Coconut Water Benefits – Hangover Prevention and Remedy

Another controversial use of coconut water is for hangovers. You might find this use very weird. However, people say that coconut water is actually very effective in preventing or curing hangovers. When you drink too much, chances would be you’ll urinate frequently. As a result, you will get dehydrated and deplete your electrolyte stores in the process. There are two of the main causes of hangovers. Once you drink coconut water, it will rehydrate your body thanks to the water and replenish electrolytes more than all commercial sports drinks.

Other coconut water benefits include:

• Coconut water cures or prevents kidney or bladder stones. Some people say that when you drink coconut water on a daily basis, the best results are achieved.
• Coconut water has anti-viral, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.
• The pH of coconut water is isotonic with our blood. Because of this, coconut water can be used as a plasma substitute in extreme emergencies.
• Coconut water contains lauric acid; a substance that can be found in baby’s milk. This is why it can also be used as a substitute to processed baby milk.
• Infants are given coconut water to get rid of their intestinal worms. This is as effective as the anthelmintic medicines in the market. But since it is natural, it is actually much safer.
• Cholera patients are also recommended to drink a glass or two of this natural drink; it may be helpful for them since coconut water contains albumen.
• Coconut water is a great and natural way to prevent acid reflux.
• It also aids in digestion.
• One of the benefits of coconut water is it also improves blood circulation.
• It also boosts your immune system.

So there you have it, the benefits of drinking coconut water. From blood pressure to hangovers to skin health – this delicious stuff has it all!

[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15892382

[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10674546

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