 Living Fuel CocoChia Snack Bar™
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Contents: 12 x 40g bars Net weight: 480g Total calories: 220 per bar Calories from fat: 130 per bar |
 Living Fuel CocoChia Snack Mix™
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Contents: 20 servings (2 tablespoons in each serving). Net weight: 490g. Ingredients: CocoChia™ only contains the highest-quality shredded organic coconut and whole organic chia seeds. |
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CocoChia — Nutritional Considerations and Applications
Coconut
The peoples of the world’s tropical regions long have consumed coconut as a nutritious food and for its health giving properties. It has been cultivated for over 3000 years by the peoples in southern Asia and the Pacific islands. Coconut is one the richest vegetable sources of saturated fat and saturated medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). Medium-chain fatty acids are used immediately by the body to create energy. Consequently, they increase the body’s metabolic rate and are not stored as fat. Moreover, because the MCFA in coconut are processed directly by the liver and are quickly converted into energy, less stress is placed on the digestive system and the pancreas. Our fresh shredded coconut is prepared using a proprietary process that locks in its rich flavour.
The MCFA in coconut are antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic. According to Bruce Fife, N.D., author of The Healing Miracles of Coconut, MCFA have proven to be effective in destroying the viruses that cause influenza, herpes, hepatitis C, and AIDS; the bacteria that cause pneumonia, food poisoning, urinary tract infections, and meningitis; fungi and yeast related to ringworm and candida; and parasites that cause intestinal infections. Coconuts and coconut oil are the richest natural sources of lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that is especially effective against viruses and bacteria, and that strengthens the immune system. Human breast milk is high in MCFA, showing the need during lactation for consuming foods (such as coconut) that contain significant amounts of these fatty acids. In addition, coconut and coconut oil have been shown to protect the heart and arteries from damage caused by viruses, bacteria and free radicals. For all these reasons, coconut is classified as a “functional food,” a food that can provide benefits to health well beyond its nutritional content (Fife 119).
Chia
These tiny seeds are nature's perfect food, containing essential fatty acids (the best known vegetarian source of alpha-linolenic acid, omega-3), protein, soluble fibre, protective antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Native Americans in Mexico and the southwest United States consumed the seeds of the chia plant for hundreds of years before the arrival of Europeans. Chia was cultivated by the Aztecs, Mayas, Tehuantapecs and other tribes.
Chia seeds contain 32-39% oil. The oil offers the highest natural percentage known of alpha-linolenic acid (60-63%). Alpha-linolenic acid(omega-3) is an essential fatty acid that in the human body acts as a substratum for the transformation into EPA and DHA through the action of desaturation and elongation enzymes. In addition, the seeds contain some omega-6 essential fatty acids and exhibit a favorable omega-3 toomega-6 ratio of 3:2. Modern diets contain too little omega-3 fatty acids. The seeds also contain 19-23% protein and the amino acids ofchia protein have no limiting factors in the adult diet (i.e., they are a complete protein source with all essential amino acids in anappropriate balance). Chia seeds also are a good source of B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, boron, and copper. Chia seedspossess strong antioxidant activity. The most important antioxidants obtained are chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and flavanol glycosides.Because oxidation is delayed significantly, chia shows great potential within the food industry when compared to other alpha-linolenic acidsources, such as flax seeds (which exhibit rapid decomposition due to a lack of antioxidants).
Chia seeds absorb more than seven times their weight in water and form a gel that causes a slow release of carbohydrates and an equally slow conversion of carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar) for energy. The outer layer of chia seeds is rich in mucilloid soluble fibre (the seeds contain 5% soluble fiber). When the seeds are mixed with water or stomach juices, a gel forms creating a physical barrier between the carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that break them down. The carbohydrates eventually are digested, but at a slow and uniform rate.There is no insulin surge necessary to reduce blood sugar levels. The water retaining capacity of the gel helps level out water intake and maintains electrolyte balance. For additional reading, we highly recommend The Magic of Chia by James Scheer.
- Composition: Serving Size: 24.5 g (2 Tablespoons)
- Servings per container: 20
- Total calories per serving: 139 Calories from fat per serving: 95
Nutrient |
Amount |
% Daily Value* |
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| Total Fat | 11.5 gm | 17.7% |
| Saturated Fat | 8.6 gm | 43% |
| Sodium | 7 mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 9.9 gm | 3.3% |
| Dietary fiber | 5.1 gm | 20% |
| Sugars | 4.8 gm | |
| Protein | 2.3 gm | |
| Calcium | 40 mg | 4% |
| Iron | 4% |
* Based upon a 2,000 Calorie diet.
Red indicates updated nutritional changes. Please see our main CocoChia page for more information.