Lunch: Terrific Trail Mix

Recipe by USA WEEKEND columnist Jean Carper Fruit, seeds, and nuts are mixed together in this flavorful snack mix.

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Sunflower Seeds, Cranberries, Honey, Apples, Nuts, Walnuts

Health and fertility benefits of Terrific Trail Mix

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. 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. Apples will improve your body's sensitivity to insulin (Reference: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/1/281.full) Nuts are a natural source of Inositol, a derivative of Vitamin B (which is often prescribed in the form of supplements for women with PCOS). Inositol can effectively control the symptoms of PCOS by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin sensitivity. Walnuts are low on the glycemic index. What’s more, they also lower the glycemic index of other foods that you eat in conjunction with these nuts. Any kind of nuts provide a healthy source of fat and a great way to encourage PCOS weight loss.

Ingredients

1 cup combination diced dried fruit, such as prunes, apricots, pears and apples
1/2 cup raisins and/or dried cherries or cranberries
1 1/2 cups unsalted sunflower seeds
1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts (or honey-roasted peanuts, chopped walnuts or unsalted almonds)

Instructions

Mix all. Makes 4 cups.

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