Coconut is the latest " super food",with everyone from Madonna to Erin O'Connor and Miranda Kerr reaping the benefits, and now a unique new product, COYO coconut milk yoghurt, is being created for the first time in the UK.
COYO is made from coconut milk and is free from any added sugar, lactose, dairy, gluten, soya and additives.
Unlike soya, which some people find hard to digest and can be an acquired taste, COYO is "simply delicious" says nutritionist Bethany Eaton, who is dairy intolerant herself, and came across the product in Australia whilst trying to source alternatives to yoghurt for her clients.
She liked it so much she immediately started talking to creators Henry and Sandra Gosling about bringing COYO to the UK and she is now producing it under licence at a small family run factory in Hastings, East Sussex.
"When I first tried the yoghurt I was blown away by how good it tasted and it is wonderful to now be able to share it with people here", says Bethany who has run a busy nutrition practice at the Hale Clinic in Central London since 2004.
"Coconut is an amazing food with a multitude of health benefits", she adds.
"Some people used to avoid it at all costs because of its high fat content but increasingly research is showing just how good it can be for you in so many ways.
Coconut is very nutritious, satisfies hunger really well and also increases the metabolism."
COYO is the perfect dairy alternative for both adults and children and has been entered for the Free From Food Awards 2012.
COYO can be used in exactly the same way as normal yoghurt. You can have it in a bowl with honey, add it to your breakfast muesli or fruit salad , dollop it into a soup or have it alongside chilli con carne.
COYO comes in 400g and 250g sizes in two delicious flavours; natural and mixed berry, with more flavours to be released early 2012. The average calorie count per 100g serving is 150 calories.
COYO can be found in Planet Organic and other health food stores this month and launches in John Lewis food halls February. COYO retails at £5.49 for 250g, £6.99 for 400g and £3.49 for single serving pots
For more information email info@coyo.co.uk also see website www.coyo.co.uk
The Freeform Food Awards take place in April 2012.
FACTFILE:
Bethany Eaton 33, lives in Chislehurst in Kent with her husband Paul and two children, Megan 5 & James, 7 months. Bethany retrained as a nutritionist after serving as a police office in Hackney.
Bethany has a Bachelor of Science degree in nutritional medicine.
Henry and Sandra Gosling started COYO Australia in 2009; they now ship throughout Australia.