The amazing health benefits of eating more coconut

Aloha! We thought we could all use a little vacation right now, so we’re debuting something new. Even if you can’t hop on a plane to sit by some sunshiney beach, you can at least take your tastebuds on a trip. Our new Goes Hawaiian bars give you a taste of the tropics. 

We paired our indulgent, no-sugar dark chocolate (yep, you read that right) with our favorite flavors of Hawaii — coconut and macadamia — for a treat we think is truly special. 

You didn’t think we’d give you a JOJO’s Chocolate option without functional ingredients, did you? Of course not. You probably already know that the healthy fats in macadamia nuts are great for your brain and heart health, but these nuts don’t steal the show. Their compatriot, coconut, pulls its weight, too. 

The health perks of coconut

With the hype for coconut oil reaching an all-time high in recent years, you probably have a decent sense that coconuts can do your body some favors. But if you’re not pressing coconut flesh to get an oil, does it still deliver? 

Absolutely. Coconut gives you:

Manganese

The mineral manganese is a big player in your body’s game. It helps your body build healthy bones, metabolize food, clot your blood when you get injured, maintain balanced blood sugar levels, and address inflammation. Plus, it’s important for antioxidant production. Not bad for a mineral most of us don’t think much about. 

Healthy fats 

Coconut is rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), fatty acids your body can metabolize quickly. This means they don’t build up in your bloodstream, giving your body the fats it needs to thrive without the risk of cardiovascular compromise. 

Fiber

Just one ounce of coconut contains about 20% of your recommended daily fiber intake. Not only is coconut rich in fiber, but it’s also low-carb. Paired with its healthy fat levels and amino acids, coconut helps your body maintain healthy, stable blood sugar levels. 

Antioxidants

Your cells have to do a lot to keep themselves healthy. Fortunately, you can lend them a helping hand by consuming foods — like coconut — with antioxidants. Antioxidants help your cells fight free radicals, which cause oxidative stress. That stress heightens your risk for cancer, heart disease, and other serious health conditions. 

After the coconut oil mania of the last few years, you may have heard some naysayers caution against coconut. And we get it. Coconut milk can be super high in sugar, while coconut oil is a saturated fat. That’s why we chose to add dried coconut meat to our Goes Hawaiian bar. With coconut meat, you get healthy fats in moderation. Plus, each Goes Hawaiian bar has — count them — zero grams of sugar. 

Let’s get tropical. You can take your tastebuds on an island vacation with no guilt — and no pricey plane ticket.