What’s Hiding in YOUR GRANOLA?
Think store-bought Granola is Healthy? Think again! Most store-bought granola is loaded with sugar and unhealthy oils. Easily Make Your Own in less than 30 minutes.
Thousands of us eat this Hippy, Dippy Snack and consider it a Sensational Staple. Did YOU know store-bought granola can be contributing to your poor health and weight gain?
So, how do you eat nutrient-dense, protein-filled, and fiber-rich granola that’s good for you?
Well, beautiful, it’s easy . . . YOU need to make it yourself! :)
Benefits of Homemade Granola
Although there’s little scientific research on granola itself, common ingredients--oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, and almonds--are linked to numerous health benefits.
Granola is filling, high in fiber and Protein. The protein influences levels of important satiety hormones like ghrelin and GLP-1.
Additionally, high-fiber foods like oats, nuts, and seeds slow down the emptying of your stomach and increase digestion time, which can help you feel full for longer and aid in appetite control.
Granola combined with a healthy diet can:
Improve blood pressure. High-fiber ingredients, like oats and flax seeds, have been shown to help reduce blood pressure.
Reduce cholesterol levels. Oats are a good source of beta-glucan, a type of fiber that works to reduce total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, two risk factors for heart disease.
Reduce blood sugar. Whole grains, dried fruit (juice-sweetened, not sugar-sweetened), nuts, and seeds may help reduce and control blood sugar levels particularly in people with obesity or prediabetes.
Improve gut health. Granola has been found to increase levels of healthy gut bacteria, compared with refined breakfast cereals.
Granola provides many antioxidants. Ingredients such as coconut, chia seeds, and Brazil nuts are good sources of inflammation-fighting antioxidants.
I want to know how this granola improves your body, how yummy it is, and how satisfied it makes you feel.
Vanilla Maple Granola with Coconut Milk
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups organic whole rolled oats
1/3 cup organic maple syrup (you can use a little extra if you like things particularly sweet)
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup raw nuts, chopped (almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews
1/3 cup extra virgin coconut oil (melted)
1 tablespoon real vanilla
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Combine oats, seeds, nuts, salt, and coconut (optional) in a large bowl.
Whisk together the maple syrup, oil, and vanilla and pour over the dry ingredients.
Spread out in a large Pyrex baking dish. Make sure the granola is not piled on too high. Use two smaller Pyrex dishes if necessary.
Bake for about 20 - 30 minutes until crunchy and brown.
Note: I like to set a timer for 15 minutes and then carefully watch the granola for the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking to make sure it doesn’t burn.
To make this extra nutritious, add your omega 3’s (¼ cup ground flax seeds, or chia seeds.)
Did you like this recipe? What's your favorite? Please leave your comment below.