Why Eating Coconut Chips Matters

From time to time, I enjoy sharing thoughts that often seem very commonsensical – but I realize they’re still good to share!

I’m sure you’ve heard the term ‘good fat’ many times in your life. Perhaps you’ve also heard the newly popular suggestion that you base your food choices on whether or not ‘your grandmother’ would eat the item in question. Maybe you’ve made a simple resolution not to shop the center aisles of the grocery store or perhaps you’re just starting to critically think about all of those ‘fake healthy’ foods that were marketed to us over the last 35 years or so. Wherever you are on your food journey, I would bet you’re starting to challenge the status quo in some way – in your own way – and I know for certain that if you haven’t already, exploring the whole coconut chip alternative to a traditional potato or corn chip will satisfy a more critical approach to your own snacking habits.

 As someone who examines health and vitality from all angles (you’d be hard-pressed to find me sitting on the couch when I could be out for a run or on a bike ride), I’d like to share with you some reasons I choose whole coconut chips over corn or potato chips. What follows is my Top Five list for you – reasons I find important personally and culturally to turn away from these highly processed chips and toward simple, whole fruit & vegetable snacks…because snacking should be better-for-you AND absolutely delicious.

1. I want to consume GOOD FAT because it actually helps my body store less fat

Lauric Acid is the main type of fat in coconut and it’s sent directly to your liver to be used as energy instead of being stored on your body like the fat most of us are trying to lose. It also keeps you feeling full & prevents storage of fat from other sources. Potato and corn chips are largely produced using some type of seed oil – corn (canola), sunflower, safflower – and these oils are high in Omega-6s but totally absent Omega-3s. A 1:1 ratio is ideal and was naturally achieved for hundreds of years with a ‘traditional’ diet – but it’s suggested that too many Omega-6s can contribute to cardiovascular disease, obesity, and cancer.

2. I eat foods high in FIBER because I stay full longer and my blood sugar doesn’t spike off-the-chart

One half cup of dried coconut has about 4x the amount of fiber than the same measurement of corn on the cob and about 6x more fiber than the equivalent of baked, white potatoes. When we consume foods that are high in fiber, sugar is absorbed into our bloodstream much slower, preventing insulin spikes and reducing our chances of developing type 2 diabetes. It also keeps us feeling full longer and doesn’t result in an energy ‘crash’ later on.

 3. I avoid HIGHLY-PROCESSED FOODS which are poor in nutrients compared to whole, minimally processed foods

 Simply put: the closer the food to it’s whole, natural state, the higher both the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of that food. Antioxidants fight free radicals, free radicals damage cells, and damaged cells can lead to cancer.

 4. I’m trying to achieve and maintain a HIGH HDL versus LDL cholesterol ratio

 Once again – I’ve gotta hand it to Lauric acid, the superstar medium-chain-triglyceride (you can abbreviate it & say MCT!) that actually raises our HDL levels, promoting a healthy cholesterol ratio and reducing our chances of suffering a stroke or heart disease. The typical seed oils used for corn & potato chips actually lower your HDL and increase your LDL levels…no thanks.

 5. I’m choosing to consume NON-GMO foods

 I could go on for some time but the truth is, I’m confused – probably like many of you are – due to conflicting information available on GMOs. What we do know is that over 85% of corn in the United States is genetically modified and the first wave of GMO potatoes hit the market last year. Additionally, 16 European countries have opted out of growing GMO crops due to health & environmental concerns while the state of California has added a GMO herbicide to it’s known list of carcinogens. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the same herbicide (the world’s most widely used) poses a 2x increase in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in farmers exposed to the chemical. Again, I’m choosing non-GMO for my own as well as the overall wellbeing.