Zesty Life gluten-free nut & seed granola

This granola is nuts!

Healthy snacking can be difficult, especially when you’re in full-on hangry mode. The trick is to plan ahead, make big batches and make healthy eating easy.

In order to curb your hunger you need high energy, nutrient-dense foods that won’t spike your blood sugar. This Zesty Granola makes a delicious snack or add-on to your breakfast. Full of healthy raw seeds and nuts, you can play around with whatever nuts and seeds appeal to you, although a mixture is will give you the most variety of nutrients. —Keep in mind that peanuts are not included, as they’re not nuts, they’re legumes.

Why nuts are awesome

Nuts make you feel full

While nuts indeed contain calories, eating nuts promotes a sensation of fullness that will curb your hunger. This is because nuts are high in protein and fibre, both of which are satiating. Numerous studies show that nuts are not associated with weight gain.

Nuts reduce cancer & heart disease.

Nuts are rich in soluble fiber, the best kind for reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease. Nuts also contain plant sterols which are thought to bind to bad cholesterol and help remove it from the body; phytosterols are even recognized by the American Heart Association as a natural way to reduce heart disease risk.

Nuts contain healthy fats and oils.

Nuts are rich in the essential fatty acids and help with heart and brain-health, such as enhanced memory, improved concentration, and higher brain processing speed.

Nuts are a great source of Vitamin E.

Natural vitamin E from nuts and seeds delivers the full spectrum of this antioxidant, helping protect your cells from damage.

Why I don’t eat peanuts

I steer clear of peanuts for several reasons. Peanuts are a common food allergen because they often contain naturally occurring molds that can trigger an immune response. This fungi found most commonly on peanuts and corn is called aflatoxins. The National Cancer Institute explains how exposure to aflatoxins can cause an increased risk of liver cancer.

Nutritional Highlights

Sunflower Seeds – High in free-radical fighting Vitmain E and Digestion-aiding fibre.

Flax Seeds – Contain a large amount of recovery-enhancing manganese, inflammation-reducing Omega-3 and energy-boosting Magnesium.

Chia Seeds – Chia is high in muscle-building protein, skin-repairing antioxidants and healthy blood-sugar levelling fibre. A complete protein high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants, chia has been shown to promote heart health, boost endurance, increase oxygen uptake and impede dehydration. It’s also a great “slow carb”, providing sustained energy over a long period of time.

Walnuts – Full of healthy fat, Walnuts have Bone-strengthening ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid), blood flow improving amino acids, disease-fighting Vitamin-E and free-radical fighting manganese and copper.

Hemp Hearts – Packed with brain-boosting Omega-3’s, muscle-repairing protein, anemia-fighting iron, immunity-boosting zinc, recovery-accelerating magnesium and free-radical fighting Vitmain E.

Pumpkin Seeds – Full of anemia-fighting iron, immunity-boosting zinc, recovery-accelerating magnesium and mood-boosting tryptophan.

Banana– Bananas are high in heart rate and blood pressure stabilizing potassium. Rich in antioxidants, which can provide protection from free radicals (not the tubular kind of radical.)

Almond Butter – Full of muscle-repairing protein, energy-boosting Riboflavin and Vitamin B2, free radical fighting antioxidants and blood sugar and blood pressure stabilizing magnesium.

Coconut Oil – Loaded with natural pH feeding electrolytes, immunity and energy enhancing lauric acid and  fat burning MCTs.

Pink Himalayan Salt – Containing at least 84 naturally occurring trace elements in their natural mineral form, the benefits of natural Himalayan Crystal Salt range from Regulating the water content throughout your body and promoting healthy pH balance in your cells to preventing muscle cramping and aiding in proper metabolism functioning.