While extreme temperatures call for drinking something cool and soothing which not just satiates you but also is refreshing and healthy, there are way too many options. Apart from water, you can go for coconut wa loaded with heart-healthy electrolytes. However, if you think buying a coconut from a street vendor and drinking its water then and there is a great help for your health, you need to stop right away.

Doctors are warning against drinking from the coconut directly, so you need to make sure to check the interiors of the tropical fruit before consuming the water.

Coconut water not only eases digestion and regulates urination while hydrating you, but it also provides an instant boost of energy. A powerhouse of various minerals and electrolytes like potassium, calcium, manganese, antioxidants, amino acids, and cytokinins—coconut is a health elixir. However, the inside of the fruit can easily develop mold - a fungus that grows on organic matter and often appears fuzzy or slimy on surfaces, particularly in damp or humid conditions. It leads to decay and an unappealing taste and texture. While some mold is safe to consume in certain foods, it causes severe allergies, breathing problems, and even deadly effects from mycotoxins.

Experts say it is best to first check the inside of the coconut that you intend to drink from and then pour the water into a transparent glass to make sure it is clear and without any off smell as well.

Mold is a tiny, living organism—also called a fungus. According to experts, it has hair-like structures known as hyphae, which form colonies that you can see on many surfaces, including foods. Mold thrives on warm, wet spots and gets its nutrients by breaking down the substance it lives on.

Doctors say since mold reproduces through its spores, which fly and spread to other areas as well and can survive in any weather, you need to be careful. When the spores land on a proper surface with adequate water and organic material, they begin to grow, spreading even more.

There are a few life-threatening health scares you may get with mold exposure, like:

Mold can cause severe allergies which include symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose, red or watery eyes, skin rashes, hives, a stuffed nose, itchy or teary eyes, coughing, and breathlessness.

Harmful mycotoxins can lead to poisoning – several issues with your stomach, liver, and kidneys. However, long-term and low-level exposure to mycotoxins causes a weaker immune system, hormone imbalances, and a higher risk of cancer.

A few ways you can avoid the growth of mold in fresh fruits and vegetables is by taking a few important steps for proper storage and management of foods:

Make sure to put items that can go bad in the fridge or freezer to keep mold from growing and spreading further.

Always use airtight containers to keep your food in clean, tightly sealed boxes which help cut airborne mold spores.

Always be sure of how long different foods can stay safe and try to eat them within that period.