Lunch: Bal's Homemade Granola

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Cinnamon, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Cranberries, Honey, Flax Seed

Health and fertility benefits of Bal's Homemade Granola

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). Sunflower seeds are an excellent food for PCOS as they are packed with vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Just one cup of sunflower seeds provides 30% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin B6. Sunflower seeds are also loaded with two other important of PCOS busting minerals: zinc and magnesium. Sesame seeds help with progesterone balance. Lignans found in in sesame seeds help to prevent excess estrogen production. Researchers believe that cranberries contain substances that prevent infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls. However, store-bought cranberry juice is typically all sugar - so make sure to stick with straight cranberries. One tbsp of honey has a glycemic index (GI) of 55. Flaxseed can be used to combat PCOS as it helps decrease androgen levels. It contains lignans that increase the production of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) that binds testosterone in the blood, thereby preventing it from wreaking havoc in the body. Being high in fiber, flaxseed helps slow down glucose metabolism and lower cholesterol levels. The omega-3 fatty acids in this flaxseed also reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease.

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup cashews, hand crushed or roughly chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut,
1/2 cup pecans, hand crushed or roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground green cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seeds
3 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons molasses
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup dried banana chips, roughly chopped
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup chopped dried mango
1/3 cup chopped dried papaya
Fresh raspberries or blueberries, for serving (optional)
Plain yogurt, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the oats, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews, coconut and pecans. Mix in the cardamom, cinnamon and fennel. Whisk together the oil, molasses and honey in a measuring cup, and pour this over the dry ingredients. Mix well so that everything is thoroughly coated. Spread the mixture out on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake until lightly browned, 40 to 45 minutes, stirring every ten minutes or so. Remove the granola from the oven and let cool to room temperature. When cool, break up any large clumps. Mix in the banana chips, cranberries, mango and papaya. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Serve with yogurt and fresh berries, if desired.

Add a review for Bal's Homemade Granola