Protein content
1.7 g of protein in 1 cup (240 g) of coconut water, or 3.8 g for every 100 kcal it supplies.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is more of an energy food than a protein food.
| Protein per 100 kcal | 3.8 g |
|---|---|
| Protein per 100 g | 0.72 g |
| Protein per serving | 1.7 g in 1 cup (240 g) |
| Calories from protein | 15% |
| Leucine per serving | 0.13 g |
| Rank in fruits, per 100 kcal | 3rd of 71 |
| Rank of all foods, per 100 g | 761st of 796 |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 3% per serving |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
One 1 cup, 1.7 g protein.
Every 100 kcal of coconut water brings 3.8 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 3rd of the 71 fruits in this database and 541st of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 0.72 g per 100 g ranks 44th in its group.
Around 15% of the calories in coconut water come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
USDA lists 0.2 g of fat per 100 g of coconut water, too little for a protein-to-fat ratio to mean much.
Set against currants, another fruit entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (currants has 1.2 g per 1/4 cup).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving quoted here is measured by volume at 240 g, and it covers about 3% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Serving sizes
| Portion | Weight | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 100 g | 0.72 g | 19 kcal |
| 1 cup (serving used here) | 240 g | 1.7 g | 46 kcal |
| 1 tbsp | 15 g | 0.1 g | 3 kcal |
| 1 coconut yields | 206 g | 1.5 g | 39 kcal |
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Amino acids
| Amino acid | Per 100 g | Per serving | mg per g protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| leucine | 0.053 g | 0.13 g | 74 |
| lysine | 0.032 g | 0.08 g | 44 |
| valine | 0.044 g | 0.11 g | 61 |
| isoleucine | 0.028 g | 0.07 g | 39 |
| threonine | 0.026 g | 0.06 g | 36 |
| phenylalanine | 0.037 g | 0.09 g | 51 |
| methionine | 0.013 g | 0.03 g | 18 |
| histidine | 0.017 g | 0.04 g | 24 |
| tryptophan | 0.008 g | 0.02 g | 11 |
Per-100 g values are the amino acid analysis on the USDA record. The serving and per-gram-of-protein columns are arithmetic on those values; they are not a protein quality score.
Related
Highest-protein fruits per serving · Most protein-dense foods · Highest protein per 100 g
Quick answers
0.72 g. The 1 cup serving used on this page weighs 240 g and so carries 1.7 g.
3.8 g. That figure divides its 0.72 g of protein per 100 g by its 19 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
No. On its own, the protein in coconut water is short of at least one essential amino acid; other protein sources across the day fill the gap.
About 3%. One 1 cup serving has 1.7 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #170174 (Nuts, coconut water (liquid from coconuts)), SR Legacy data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.