Zesty Life Granola

Health Nut Trail Snack

Are you going nuts trying to find a healthy snack that tastes good, is easy to prepare, and also works as a grab and go? I’ve got it!

When you’re acting like a nutcase because you’re hungry, you need high energy, nutrient-dense foods. Zesty Life Granola is the perfect fix! Full of healthy raw seeds and nuts and a hint of banana, this snack is super easy to prepare and it makes a nice big batch.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy

Healthier fare, like fruits, veggies and raw nuts can be more expensive than unhealthy foods, but you’re going to pay for it one way or another. Eating unhealthy foods like crackers, sugar-filled granola bars, saturated fat-filled and salt-laden trail mix, chips, pastries, flavoured yogurt, etc are all not good for your body and you’ll pay a high price down when they negatively affect your health…just sayin’.

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

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

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.)

Sunflower Butter – High in free-radical fighting Vitmain E and Digestion-aiding fibre and blood-boosting iron.

Almonds – 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.

Cinnamon – Cinnamon is known to promote heart health and eyesight through beneficial antioxidants, it’s been found to kill E. coli and many other bacteria, and its anti-inflammatory compounds help relieve pain and stiffness of muscles and joints due to arthritis —or a day on the trails!

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.