Coconut water—the natural juice from green coconuts—is often touted as a natural alternative to sports drinks. But does it really deliver? “It depends on the brand,” according to ConsumerLab.com president, Tod Cooperman, MD. ConsumerLab.com recently purchased and tested three of the most popular brands of coconut water: O.N.E. Coconut Water, Vita Coco 100% Pure Coconut Water and Zico Natural Pure Premium Coconut Water. Test results showed that two of the products had far fewer electrolytes than claimed. One had only 18% of the listed amount of sodium, the key electrolyte for rehydration. The other had only 59% of its promised level of sodium. Magnesium levels were also lower than claimed (77% and 64% of the listed amounts). Only one of the three popular coconut water products delivered its claimed electrolytes.

Coconut waters have become a big business. The company behind Vita Coco, All Market Inc, predicts $100 million in sales this year for its product alone. Among the coconut waters tested by ConsumerLab.com, all contained significant amounts of potassium (about 570 mg to 670 mg per serving), which is about 25% more than in a banana. However, this amount of potassium is not essential for efficient rehydration. Sodium, which accounts for the vast majority of mineral loss during exercise, is much more important. Amounts of sodium in the coconut waters ranged from just 11 mg (in a 330 mL suggested serving) to 160 mg (in a 414 mL suggested serving). Typical sports drinks such as original Gatorade provide about 110 mg of sodium per cup (8 fluid ounces or 240 mL).

In a separate review, Consumer-Lab.com provided quality ratings for more than 20 menopause supplements that contain estrogen-like isoflavones (from soy or red clover), the herbal remedy black cohosh or creams containing progesterone. Most products evaluated passed the review, however, one supplement contained only 32% of its listed isoflavones and another black cohosh supplement was contaminated with a small amount of lead.

“Alternative therapies can help some women cope with menopause,” said Dr. Cooperman. “However, not every product can be expected to work. And it is difficult, if not impossible, to really know what’s in a product and make meaningful comparisons without laboratory testing.” With soy products, for example, as much as half of the “isoflavones” listed on the label are actually just sugar molecules that are naturally linked to the phytoestrogens, he added. Experts at ConsumerLab.com, such as pharmacognosist William Obermeyer, PhD, calculated the amount of “active” isoflavones in each product, making it possible for consumers to compare products to one another and to clinical standards.